Key Points for Establishing Occupational Health and Safety Management System in Laboratory Animal Institutions

As one of the modern enterprise management systems, the Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) has garnered increasing attention. The OHSMS has undergone continuous refinement and expansion across various fields, emerging as a pivotal indicator of enterprise competitiveness. Currently, both the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) International and the China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS) require for establishing occupational health management related to laboratory animal work. However, within the domestic laboratory animal industry, development of OHSMS is relatively lagging behind due to unfamiliarity with laws and regulations and a lack of experienced management personnel. Consequently, the OHSMS in laboratory animal institutions is still in its early stage. Drawing on the authors' practical experience in establishing OHSMS in laboratory animal institutions, this article first outlines domestic and international occupational health laws, regulations, and safety management systems for laboratory animals, as well as common occupational diseases and their associated risk factors in China. Subsequently, this article highlights key elements for the construction of OHSMS in laboratory animal institutions in areas such as establishing occupational health and safety regulations, conducting training, performing occupational health examinations for staff, monitoring on-site occupational hazard factors, implementing the "three simultaneous" system for occupational disease prevention facilities in construction projects, creating and maintaining occupational health records, developing a notification management system for occupational hazards, and formulating emergency response plans for occupational disease hazard accidents. These points are intended as a reference for professionals in the industry.