An innovative approach for health and safety training and occupational health program annual enrollment for laboratory animal care and use personnel.

Animal care and use personnel in research laboratory facilities are inherently exposed to a variety of workplace hazards. The health and safety of the workforce working directly with or around research animals is of paramount importance, and as such, an occupational health and safety program for at-risk staff is essential. In order to maximize participation in and the effectiveness of health and safety training and occupational health program enrollment for animal care and use personnel at an academic health sciences university, an innovative annual "health fair" was developed and implemented at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

Practical Considerations for Navigating Withdrawal from the Federal Select Agent Program.

Introduction: Clear guidance is provided by the Federal Select Agent Program (FSAP) to assist registered entities in nearly all facets of compliance with the Federal select agent regulations (7 CFR Part 331; 9 CFR Part 121; 42 CFR Part 73). If a registered entity chooses to discontinue its registration, detailed instructions for registration withdrawal are deeply embedded within a document entitled "eFSAP Form 1 Amendment Instructions," which is found on the FSAP website within the electronic Federal Select Agent Program (eFSAP) Resource Center.

Methods: Using the information found within the eFSAP Form 1 Amendment Instructions, as well as extensive written and verbal guidance provided by the lead assigned entity point of contact at the FSAP, we completed the FSAP withdrawal process during a 12-month period between 2022 and 2023.

Characterization of Work Settings in Which Biosafety Professionals Conduct Operations: Results from the First Survey of the Biosafety Analytics Initiative Survey Series.

Introduction: With the endorsement and support of the ABSA International Council and the Prevention, Preparedness and Response (P2R) Academy of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health, a survey to characterize the work settings in which biosafety professionals operate was conducted. The survey was the first of a planned series of 10 solicitations in support of an overarching "Biosafety Analytics Initiative," the goal of which is to identify commonalities, trends, possible benchmarking opportunities, and professional training needs.

Methods: The survey was developed, tested, and then distributed electronically for a 3-week period between May 29 and June 19, 2019.