Service Animals in Labs Guidance Document
Due to the potential risk Laboratory Environments pose to a Service Animal, The College of St. Scholastica only allows Service Animals into Laboratory Environments once the following process has been completed, and ultimately, the student is responsible for the safety of their Service Animal. This process should be completed at least two weeks before classes start.
To identify and mitigate these hazards, The lab instructor, lab director, and Center for Equal Access should assess the specific conditions of the work or academic environment in consultation with the animal’s handler. Discussion topics should include:
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The services that the service animal provides to its handler;
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The handler’s need for the service animal’s services during the work period and acceptable alternative ways of providing those services;
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The physical layout of the laboratory to identify safe and potentially hazardous areas for the service animal;
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Potential hazards due to chemicals used and the operations conducted in the laboratory;
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Emergency procedures for both the handler and the service animal;
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Appropriate protective clothing and/or equipment for the service animal, such as goggles, booties, and a lab coat;
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The way the service animal alerts a handler in a case where the service animal is needed for a hearing loss or seizure warning;
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Necessary steps to minimize or prevent negative impact on others in the laboratory.
These discussions will allow an informed decision on the need for the service animal in the laboratory or whether it is in the best interest of the service animal and the handler to leave it in a protected but accessible location during laboratory time. In the event a service animal is found not to be appropriate in the lab setting, the Center Equal Access will work with the student and faculty to determine the most appropriate and reasonable accommodation to ensure the student has equitable access, such as a Lab Assistant.
Guidelines to assist instructors
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Paws covered. The service animal should have its paws covered when it is walking in the lab, to protect them from potentially getting cut by glass or picking up pathogens that might be lurking on the floor. This requirement is no different from students having to wear shoes in the lab.
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Impervious body cover. If the animal must be at the bench, then the animal should be covered with an impervious covering so as to protect the animal from potential spills. We must always keep in mind that the animal will be below the bench surface, so any item that rolls off or liquids that spill off of the bench could potentially harm the animal.
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Eye protection. The service animal should wear goggles/eye covering to protect it from spills (just as we protect the eyes of our students).
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Location of the service animal
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It must be determined how much interaction there needs to be between the service animal and its handler. If the animal is not required to be next to its handler during the lab, then the animal should be housed in an inactive portion of the lab. The animal may have to be in view of its human handler; this has to be accounted for if necessary.
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If the service animal must be right next to its handler, then the location within the lab and at the bench needs to be assessed. If appropriate under the circumstances, the service animal may be located underneath the bench for added protection of the animal.
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In either case, the animal should remain on a surface that can be disinfected before and at the end of each lab. The animal should not lay/sit directly on the floor.
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Possible trip hazard. Always keep in mind the potential for a trip hazard. Locating the student in need of the animal at a bench that is out of the standard traffic flow of the lab may help to prevent a trip hazard if the service animal must be at the bench.
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Exiting the lab. When the animal is to exit the lab, the coat, paw coverings, and goggles should be removed and disinfected.
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Emergency contacts. In case of an accident involving a service animal, the lab coordinator should add to the lab safety manual emergency contact information regarding the service animal (e.g., local pet hospital, poison control).