Provide exercise opportunities and enrichment activities for animals in a Home Office designated establishment

This standard covers the provision of exercise opportunities and enrichment activities for animals in a Home Office designated establishment, to allow the expression of natural behaviour and promote health and wellbeing.

When working with research animals recognise humanity’s obligation to them and your responsibility for ensuring their proper care and treatment at all times.

This standard is for animal technologists in Home Office designated establishments.

It is essential that you work strictly within the limits of the relevant project licence.

1. confirm that your work is carried out in accordance with the approved codes of practice and the organisation’s procedures and within the limits of your authority, expertise, training, competence and experience
2. carry out all work in accordance with the relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, risk assessment requirements, codes of practice and the organisation’s policies
3. assess the risks to health and safety before starting and throughout the activity
4. comply with legislation, codes of practice and organisation policies relating to the care and welfare of animals in a Home Office designated establishment
5. use safe practices and the correct clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the activity
6. maintain the required levels of hygiene and biosecurity in accordance with the organisation’s procedures
7. maintain communication with colleagues and all those involved in, or affected by, your work
8. use safe and humane animal handling and restraint methods such that the animal is not distressed or caused harm
9. assess the requirement for exercise and enrichment for the animals you are working with
10. plan suitable exercise opportunities and enrichment activities that allow the expression of natural behaviour and promote health and wellbeing
11. select, prepare and check the equipment and materials required
12. provide exercise opportunities and enrichment activities and monitor the reaction of the animals using suitable methods that will not cause stress to the animals
13. review the exercise opportunities and enrichment activities and make adjustments as necessary to meet the animals’ requirements
14. keep accurate and up-to-date records as required by the relevant legislation and the organisation
15. conduct all activities within the provisions of the project licence

1. your responsibilities under the relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, codes of practice and the organisation’s policies
2. your responsibilities for the care and welfare of animals in a Home Office designated establishment under relevant animal welfare legislation and Home Office codes of practice
3. the reasons for using animals in scientific research and humanity’s responsibilities to them
4. the importance and correct use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when carrying out activities in a Home Office designated establishment
5. the importance of maintaining the appropriate levels of hygiene and biosecurity and the procedures for this
6. safe and humane methods of animal handling and restraint
7. the natural behaviour of the animals you are working with and how opportunities can be provided to encourage the expression of this natural behaviour
8. how the lack of exercise and enrichment may cause problems in animals
9. how the need for exercise and enrichment differs between different animals and the context in which they are being kept
10. the reasons for providing animals with different exercise patterns and enrichment activities and how these differ at different stages of life
11. the types of exercise opportunities and enrichment activities that can be provided for the animals you are working with and the compatibility with facility processes and equipment such as automatic cage washing
12. how to plan suitable exercise opportunities and enrichment activities that allow the expression of natural behaviour and promote health and wellbeing and the importance of consulting the licence holder
13. the different types of equipment and materials that can be used for exercise and enrichment
14. why it is important to check, clean and maintain the equipment in good condition
15. the importance of monitoring the reaction of animals to exercise and enrichment, how to recognise negative responses and what you should do in different situations
16. why and when you may consider changing the exercise opportunity or enrichment activity
17. the information that needs to be recorded and the organisation’s procedures for this
18. the provisions of the project licence