According to the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, who should represent the animal facility on the institution's safety committee?

• A. The facility's business manager
• B. The manager or veterinarian responsible for the animals in the facility
• C. The IACUC chair or designee
• D. A research scientist with expertise on hazardous materials

Answer: (B)

The concept being tested is who should speak for the animal facility on the institution’s safety committee to ensure safety decisions align with animal care operations. The person best suited for this role is the manager or veterinarian responsible for the animals in the facility. This individual has direct oversight of daily husbandry, housing, handling, and medical care, and thus intimately understands the hazards specific to the animals and the workflows in the facility. They can accurately communicate needs related to ventilation, quarantines, handling and restraint practices, anesthesia and analgesia procedures, waste and spill risks, and the use of chemicals or disinfectants around animals. By representing the animal facility, they bridge animal welfare considerations with safety planning, helping to ensure compatible policies, training, and PPE use across both animal care and safety requirements.

The business manager, while important for overall operations, may not have the hands-on experience with animal care and the specific hazards involved. A person like the IACUC chair or a designee is focused on governance of animal use and welfare, not necessarily the day-to-day safety concerns of the facility. A research scientist with hazardous materials expertise can contribute valuable safety insight, but they would not reliably represent the animal facility’s unique needs and operations.