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Animal use reduction in occupational toxicology

Occupational chemical hazard evaluation - Continued progress in reduction, refinement and replacement of testing in laboratory animals in 2004
Creation of GlaxoSmithKline products from earliest research & development through to full-scale manufacture requires that employees work directly with, or in proximity to, chemicals. To safeguard worker health, GlaxoSmithKline health and safety programmes have been organised to provide information on unique chemical hazards and to define health-protective occupational exposure control strategies. This dual approach supports design of equipment and facilities to prevent or minimise human exposure and the possibility of harm. It also provides appropriate information for first aid and other care in the event of accidental contact with chemicals.

Occupational toxicologists in the Corporate Environment, Health and Safety (CEHS) group focus on understanding the potential adverse health effects of GlaxoSmithKline pharmaceuticals and the chemical building blocks for these substances handled in research and development and manufacturing settings. Special emphasis is placed on understanding the results of possible chemical exposure to the skin and eyes and by inhalation, because they are common routes of workplace chemical exposure.  Often this assessment results in development of in-house occupational exposure limits (OELs) or hazard categories.. Historically, achieving an understanding of the effects of chemicals in the workplace has involved use of laboratory animals as models for human systems. Growing scientific and public awareness around ethical use of laboratory animals has guided GlaxoSmithKline’s long-term efforts to continuously reduce reliance on animal models for occupational toxicology testing wherever possible without compromising worker safety. CEHS toxicologists have developed a programme to characterise the occupational health hazards of GlaxoSmithKline materials based on computer-generated prediction, cell and tissue culture and other methods not relying on animal testing. Data on numbers of animals used for hazard determination are submitted for regulatory reporting and the numbers of animals involved in occupational toxicology testing are included in the animal research section of the Corporate Responsibility Report. These data illustrate a general trend for reduction in animal useage as alternative test programmes mature.

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