Prepare animals for anaesthesia in a Home Office designated establishment

This standard covers preparing animals correctly for anaesthesia ready for the conduct of procedures in a Home Office designated establishment. You will have due regard for the care and welfare of the animals.

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

Preparation will include checking bodyweight, calculating dosages of anaesthetics and applying the appropriate level and method of restraint for the administration of the anaesthetic. You will be required to monitor the animal prior to anaesthesia for injury or distress and monitor the environmental conditions, adjusting where necessary for the species’ requirements.

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

It is essential that you work strictly within the limits of both your personal licence and the relevant project licence

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1. confirm that your work is carried out in accordance with the approved codes of practice and 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 practices 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 the organisation’s 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. implement infection-control measures and use aseptic techniques in accordance with the organisation’s procedures
8. maintain communication with colleagues and all those involved in, or affected by, your work
9. confirm the animal’s identity, condition, and the planned anaesthetic procedure being administered, against the available information
10. position and restrain the animal safely and humanely using suitable methods and handling equipment where required
11. perform the required pre-anaesthetic checks and procedures prior to pre-medication and induction
12. monitor the animal carefully to detect any potential difficulties and take the appropriate action
13. minimise stress to the animal to avoid complications due to anaesthesia
14. adjust the environmental conditions to suit the needs of the animal
15. keep accurate and up-to-date records as required by the relevant legislation and the organisation
16. conduct all activities within the provisions and standard conditions of your personal licence and the project licence

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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 the 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 appropriate levels of hygiene and biosecurity and the procedures for this
6. the appropriate infection-control measures and aseptic techniques for different types of anaesthetic procedures
7. the different levels of anaesthesia and what they are used for and the different anaesthetic agents
8. the type of information that could be used to identify the animal, its condition and the planned anaesthetic procedure
9. why it is important to know the procedure and the intended outcome
10. how to safely and humanely position and restrain different types of animals for different types of anaesthetic procedure
11. the pre-anaesthetic checks that should be undertaken, the different types of preparation needed to administer anaesthetics and when pre-medication is beneficial
12. the pre- and post-medication checks that should be undertaken
13. how to monitor animals for different types of difficulties and the action to take
14. how to minimise stress to the animal and why this is important
15. the adjustments to environmental conditions needed for different types of animals, including light, temperature, ventilation and noise
16. the information that needs to be recorded and the organisation’s procedures for this
17. the provisions and standard conditions of your personal licence and the provisions of the project licence

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3

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2030

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Current

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Original

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Lantra

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LANAT22

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Animal Facility Manager, Licensed Animal Technologist, Team Leader, Senior Animal Technologist

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6129

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animal; research; anaesthesia; monitor; pre-medication

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