Safety & Injuries

Safely handle (and prevent) injuries in the lab

Handling lab animals comes with a unique set of risks, and each person in the lab has the responsibility to keep all work areas and lab spaces safe and compliant.

Long pants and closed-toe footwear are required when working with animals. Food and drinks are strictly forbidden in labs that use or house animals. There are also special considerations for lab personnel who have allergies to animals or latex, and for those who are pregnant or think they might be pregnant.

Find a list of all lab safety procedures in the university’s laboratory safety policy.

Animal bites and other minor injuries

For injuries that break the skin while working with any animals used in research, including mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and birds:

1. Immediately wash the wound and surrounding area thoroughly with an antibacterial soap. Scrub vigorously for 3–5 minutes, rinse, and repeat two more times.
2. Inform your supervisor of the incident.
3. Notify Environmental Health and Safety. If you are on the Bloomington campus, call 812-855-6311 or email iuehs@iu.edu. If you are on the Indianapolis campus, call 317-274-2005 or email ehs@iu.edu.
4. Seek medical attention from the approved list of medical providers.

Allergies to laboratory animals and latex gloves or other latex materials may develop with prolonged exposure. If you have pre-existing allergies, you may be at increased risk for developing these allergies.

Lab staff should be familiar with the signs and symptoms of allergies, as well as how to prevent allergic reactions. If you feel you have developed signs or symptoms of allergies in the lab, contact IU Health Bloomington Hospital at 812-353-9515 or IUI Campus Health at 317-274-5887.