Prepare for and support regulated surgical procedures on animals in a Home Office designated establishment

This standard covers preparing for and supporting regulated surgical procedures on animals in a Home Office designated establishment.

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

You will be required to prepare for and support surgical procedures by confirming that the required equipment and materials are available for use, the environment is clean, environmental conditions such as light, temperature and noise are monitored and by following infection control procedures. You will prepare animals for the planned procedure by applying the appropriate method of restraint, carrying out the necessary pre-procedure activities and minimising stress.

You must also obtain accurate monitoring information throughout the procedure from observations and measurements of vital signs.

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 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 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 requirements of the planned regulated surgical procedure
8. maintain communication with colleagues and all those involved in, or affected by, your work
9. select, prepare, sterilise where required, and position equipment and materials in accordance with the planned regulated surgical procedure and organisation’s procedures
10. confirm the animal’s identity, condition and the planned regulated surgical procedure against the available information
11. acclimatise the animal to the environment to minimise stress
12. carefully handle, position and restrain the animal using suitable equipment and methods
13. identify surgical sites and undertake appropriate pre-procedure activities correctly
14. confirm that an appropriate level of anaesthesia has been achieved
15. obtain monitoring information throughout the procedure and take the required action when problems arise
16. monitor environmental conditions, and adjust as necessary, to suit the needs of the animal and the type of regulated surgical procedure being undertaken
17. deal with waste from the activity safely and correctly, in accordance with the relevant legislation and the organisation’s procedures
18. keep accurate and up-to-date records as required by the relevant legislation and the organisation
19. 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 current 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 personal protective equipment (PPE) for the surgical environment in a Home Office designated establishment
5. the importance of maintaining the appropriate levels of hygiene and biosecurity and the procedures for this
6. the common routes of infection and the difficulties that infection can cause
7. the appropriate infection-control procedures and aseptic techniques for different types of regulated surgical procedure
8. the equipment and materials required for different types of regulated surgical procedure, and the correct ways of preparing and positioning them
9. the common faults that occur with equipment and materials, and the action to be taken for each type of fault
10. the type of information that could be used to identify the animal, its condition and the planned regulated surgical procedure
11. the different identification methods, methods of application, their limitations and contradictions
12. how to interpret identification marks and codes
13. how to acclimatise animals to the environment to minimise stress
14. how to position and restrain different types of animals for different types of regulated surgical procedure
15. the purpose of applying pre-medication prior to anaesthesia
16. what types of pre-procedure activities should be undertaken for different types of regulated surgical procedure
17. how to monitor animals for different types of difficulties and what action to take where concerns arise
18. the environmental conditions for different animals and for different types of regulated surgical procedure and how to monitor these and make adjustments
19. the legal and organisation’s requirements for the handling, storage and disposal of waste produced by the activity
20. the information that needs to be recorded and the organisation’s procedures for this
21. 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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LANAT14

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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; surgical; procedure; anaesthesia; infection

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