University of Georgia Office of Research

The UGA Research Occupational Health and Safety Program(R-OHSP) provides high-quality preventative healthcare services to the University of Georgia research community under UGA’s Research Occupational Health and Safety Program Policy.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Research Occupational Health and Safety Program (R‑OHSP) is pleased to announce several important enhancements for 2026:

• New Occupational Health Questionnaire: Beginning January 5, 2026, the program will transition to a new software platform featuring a streamlined questionnaire.

• Annual Resubmission Requirement: To better identify evolving risks and implement timely mitigation strategies, all participants will be required to resubmit the questionnaire annually. The new platform will ease this process by saving prior responses, allowing participants to update information rather than re‑enter it in full.

• Hearing Conservation Program: Employees working in high‑noise laboratories or vivarium spaces are now eligible to enroll in a new, free Hearing Conservation Program, which includes annual hearing monitoring.

We appreciate your patience and support during this transition and look forward to the benefits these enhancements will bring to the health and safety of our research community.

For questions or additional information, please contact occhealth@uga.edu.

The Office of Research Integrity and Safety administers the OHSP through its Support Services Department. A registered nurses provides risk assessments and occupational health preventative services under the direction of a contracted occupational health physician.

The National Research Council’s Occupational Health and Safety in the Care and Use of Research Animals and the CDC’s Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories are used to provide guidance and benchmarks for the UGA Research Occupational Health and Safety Program.

Enrollment

When occupational health program enrollment is mandated, all participants are required to submit a Research Occupational Health Questionnaire.

If you do not wish to participate in theprogram, you must submit the Research Occupational Health Questionnaire and choose “I do not wish to participate.”   This process document your choice not to participate.

However, you are required to participate if you are a URAR employee with animal contact. There are also some specific projects that require R-OHSP participation. To determine if you can decline participation, please check with your supervisor.

For instructions on accessing the Research Occupational Health Questionnaire, go to Enrollment Process.

Can I decline certain recommended services and still participate in the program?

During the enrollment process you can also choose to decline specific service recommendations, but you may be required to sign additional declinations.

Is there a charge for participation in the R-OHSP?

Risk assessment and most preventative occupational health services are provided to the UGA research community free-of-charge. However, there may be instances where project-specific services may incur a charge to the Principal Investigator. The Research Occupational Health Nurse will communicate about any charges prior to the provision of services.

Where are services provided?

The R-OHSP operates its own occupational health clinic on the Health Sciences Campus. Approval and appointments are required. The R-OHSP physician is available by referral at local community healthcare clinic. For more information, contact the occupational health nurse at occhealth@uga.edu