Animal observation and handling

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Guideline review date: November 2016

The CARA planner (DOC, 423KB) must be used in conjunction with this guideline to determine additional risk hazards and controls within school-specific circumstances.

Activity scope

This guideline relates to student observation and handling of animals and animal remains such as bones or skins in non-laboratory or non-clinical settings as a curriculum activity. This includes, but is not limited to, care of classroom pets, livestock husbandry activities, collecting of frog spawn, and observation of animals in their natural surroundings or of exhibited animals.

Low risk: Activities with no contact or minimal contact with animals where the threat of injury, bites, stings or scratches being inflicted is minimal (e.g. observation of animals in their natural surroundings, in zoos or registered wildlife parks); low impact care and handling of classroom pets and small domesticated animals; and handling of exhibited animals under supervision.

Medium risk: Routine non-invasive husbandry procedures with low impact on the animal concerned (e.g. grooming, cleaning of cages, non-invasive measurement of body weight); working in environments with medium risk of transmission of zoonoses (e.g. dusty cattle yards); and handling of animals where injury requiring minor first aid treatment is likely.

High risk: Moderate to high impact husbandry procedures requiring animal restraint and which may cause stress to animals (e.g. administering topical livestock treatments, mustering, cane toad collection); and procedures with high risk of transmission of zoonoses or where injury requiring medical treatment is possible (e.g. collection of venomous arachnids).

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All requirements are necessary for the activity to be conducted.

Mandatory requirements

If you are in charge of an animal, regardless of what you are using it for or how long it will be in your care, you have a duty of care to that animal and legal obligations under animal welfare legislation.
Teachers should consider whether approvals or permits are required for the handling and use of animals. For further information, refer to animals in Queensland state schools.
The vast majority of contact between animals and humans does not result in any illness. However animals may carry a range of micro-organisms potentially harmful to humans without showing any signs of illness themselves. Zoonotic diseases can be spread by:
- direct contact through touching or handling animals or their carcases, or animal bites and scratches
- indirect contact with animal faeces, blood and bodily fluids, aerosols, birth products or contact with contaminated objects, such as enclosures, animal environments, aquariums, food and water.
Some animals present a higher risk of zoonoses because of increased shedding of harmful micro-organisms through their faeces and urine. These include:
- birthing and pregnant animals
- newborn hooved animals (e.g. calves)
- newly hatching chickens
- some reptiles and amphibians (e.g. snakes, lizards, frogs)
- animals that are stressed or unwell.
Certain groups of people may be at increased risk of contracting zoonoses and may suffer more severe symptoms (e.g. young children, immuno-compromised individuals).
For comprehensive advice and precautionary measures about safe contact with animals, refer to animal contact guidelines (PDF, 1.7MB).
For the specific requirements and risks pertaining to handling marine organisms, refer to the Handling marine organisms activity guideline.
For the specific requirements and risks pertaining to observation or handling of animals or live biological material in laboratory or clinical settings, refer to the Biological activities activity guideline.
For student involvement in activites where they will be working in and around stockyards, refer to the Stockyards activity guideline.
Where hazardous chemicals are used or generated by the activity (e.g. dust, gas, fumes), complete the Chemical Hazards in the Curriculum template (DOCX, 295KB) and attach it to this risk assessment. Note: Where the overall risk level conclusion for the use of a hazardous chemical is extreme, the activity must not proceed, as risks are not effectively controlled.

Supervision requirements

Qualifications for supervisors

Requirements for facilities and equipment

Hazards and controls

If any listed control measure below cannot be met:

modify the activity (or elements of it)

and/or
identify and implement alternative control measures to meet or exceed the level of safety.

Alternative or additional considerations, hazards and control measures must be included in the planning process.

Before the activity

Hazards	Control measures
Considering environmental conditions	Remain aware of the allergen and disease risks associated with dust, dry matter and airborne organisms (e.g. Q fever (PDF, 415KB))
Accessing facilities and using equipment	Implement appropriate handling and protective measures relevant to the route of transmission of potential zoonoses as outlined in Appendix 1 of Animal contact guidelines Establish and follow hygiene guidelines when handling animals, their food and water, and when cleaning out cages and pens Ensure animals, especially those in the wild, are handled as little as possible, using protective equipment (e.g. leather gloves) when appropriate Ensure all animals are screened thoroughly for parasites (e.g. ticks and fleas) and students are warned of the potential hazards, symptoms and course of remedial action Ensure animal remains (e.g. skeletons) are free of body tissue prior to handling Additionally for medium and high risk activities: implement control measures identified in Chemical hazards in the curriculum template (DOCX, 295KB) obtain from supplier or ChemWATCH (login required) safety data sheets (SDS) for any hazardous chemicals used. SDS contain information to control the risks of exposure and must be available for immediate reference (near to where chemicals are used/stored) less than 5 years old correctly label and securely store all chemicals according to storage compatibilities in the SDS in a cool, dry area, away from general student use
Managing student considerations	Ensure staff and students are aware of the potential disease transmission risks associated with the animal or animal part being handled Ensure staff and students are aware that exposure to animal faeces, body fluids, birth products, or enclosures contaminated with these materials can expose them to disease risks Establish a class procedure in case an animal escapes or is unexpectedly encountered in the field or school grounds. This procedure would relate to the: anticipated class reaction location (e.g. classroom, farmyard or bush) capture equipment particular animal or type of animal

Hazards

Control measures

Considering environmental conditions

Remain aware of the allergen and disease risks associated with dust, dry matter and airborne organisms (e.g. Q fever (PDF, 415KB))

Accessing facilities and using equipment

Implement appropriate handling and protective measures relevant to the route of transmission of potential zoonoses as outlined in Appendix 1 of Animal contact guidelines

Establish and follow hygiene guidelines when handling animals, their food and water, and when cleaning out cages and pens

Ensure animals, especially those in the wild, are handled as little as possible, using protective equipment (e.g. leather gloves) when appropriate

Ensure all animals are screened thoroughly for parasites (e.g. ticks and fleas) and students are warned of the potential hazards, symptoms and course of remedial action

Ensure animal remains (e.g. skeletons) are free of body tissue prior to handling

Additionally for medium and high risk activities:

implement control measures identified in Chemical hazards in the curriculum template (DOCX, 295KB)
obtain from supplier or ChemWATCH (login required) safety data sheets (SDS) for any hazardous chemicals used. SDS contain information to control the risks of exposure and must be

available for immediate reference (near to where chemicals are used/stored)
less than 5 years old

correctly label and securely store all chemicals according to storage compatibilities in the SDS in a cool, dry area, away from general student use

Managing student considerations

Ensure staff and students are aware of the potential disease transmission risks associated with the animal or animal part being handled

Ensure staff and students are aware that exposure to animal faeces, body fluids, birth products, or enclosures contaminated with these materials can expose them to disease risks

Establish a class procedure in case an animal escapes or is unexpectedly encountered in the field or school grounds. This procedure would relate to the:

anticipated class reaction
location (e.g. classroom, farmyard or bush)
capture equipment
particular animal or type of animal

During the activity

Hazards	Control measures
Accessing facilities and using equipment	Assess the size and temperament of, and the potential for injury by, the animals being observed and/or handled Constantly monitor the animal for distress, pain or injury resulting from the activity to assess its ongoing suitability for the activity
Managing student considerations	Instruct students in appropriate low-stress handling techniques for the particular animal or species Assess, and ensure staff and students are aware of, the likely impact of environmental conditions (e.g. noise, adverse weather) on the behaviour of a particular animal Assess the capacity of individual students to handle and restrain an animal using low-stress handling techniques Additionally for medium and high risk activities: as relevant, ensure students are instructed in the appropriate storage and administration of veterinary medicines and chemical treatments

Hazards

Control measures

Accessing facilities and using equipment

Assess the size and temperament of, and the potential for injury by, the animals being observed and/or handled

Constantly monitor the animal for distress, pain or injury resulting from the activity to assess its ongoing suitability for the activity

Managing student considerations

Instruct students in appropriate low-stress handling techniques for the particular animal or species

Assess, and ensure staff and students are aware of, the likely impact of environmental conditions (e.g. noise, adverse weather) on the behaviour of a particular animal

Assess the capacity of individual students to handle and restrain an animal using low-stress handling techniques

Additionally for medium and high risk activities:

as relevant, ensure students are instructed in the appropriate storage and administration of veterinary medicines and chemical treatments

Additional links

Wildlife permits and licences

Disclaimer

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Use or adaptation of, or reliance on, this information by persons or organisations other than the State of Queensland is at their sole risk. All users who use, adapt or rely on this information are responsible for ensuring by independent verification its accuracy, currency and appropriateness to their particular circumstances. The State of Queensland makes no representations, either express or implied, as to the suitability of this information to a user's particular circumstances.

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