Minors and Volunteers in UAB Research Laboratories Campus-only
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Are you going to have a minor present in your lab?
For all minors not enrolled as a student at UAB and under the age of 18 at the time of starting, the following documents must be completed and submitted to UAB Employee Health (
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) prior to the minor starting at UAB:- UAB Employee Health Initial Enrollment Form
- Proof of vaccinations/vaccination records
- Physician letter – a letter from the physician of the minor indicating that the minor is cleared to work in a lab at UAB
- If the minor is NOT being paid, Consent for Minor in Lab or Animal Facilities form completed by minor and PI/Supervisor
- If the minor is being paid, Consent to Employ Minor in Lab form completed by minor and PI/Supervisor
- Faculty Member Researcher ARP Director Acknowledgement of Minor in Laboratories and Animal Facilities form completed by PI/Supervisor
- Before the minor can begin, a lab safety review will be conducted and the space approved by EH&S Lab Safety
- After the minor is Medically Cleared by Occupational Health and the lab is cleared by Lab Safety, a Notice of Compliance/Lab Safety Clearance will be sent to the minor and Designated Supervisor/Faculty/Researcher/PI. Although Occupational Health will notify The Office of Youth Protection Services that a minor will be entering the lab area, the Designated Supervisor/Faculty/Researcher/PI must verify compliance with The Office of Youth Protection Services separately.
Notes:
- A “Minor” is defined for purposes of these policy guidelines as any individual less than 18 years of age.
- For employment of a minor, Employment of Minors describes the UAB policies that cover minors that want to be employees at UAB; Employing Minors Request for Clearance Form and Instructions has detailed instructions that must be followed to allow a minor to become a UAB employee.
- If the minor wants to volunteer or visit in your laboratory, UAB’s policy can be found at Minors in Laboratories and Animal Facilities.
- Minors less than 10 years of age and not enrolled in grade four or higher are not allowed in UAB laboratories or animal activity areas where there are physical hazards, where hazardous chemical, biological, or radiological agents are used or stored, or where laboratory animals are present.
- Minors who accompany UAB employees to the UAB workplace for reasons other than participation in UAB research-type activities are not permitted in UAB research laboratories or animal facilities. Admittance to other UAB areas is subject to approval by the appropriate dean, director, or department.
- There is an additional policy regarding protection of children on UAB premises and in UAB sponsored activities that applies to minors that are working/observing in UAB laboratories. All individuals that will have contact with minors or supervise minors in UAB laboratories should review the Youth Protection Policies and Procedures. Any UAB employee, trainee, student, volunteer, or other representative that fails to follow this policy may have disciplinary action taken against them as described in the policy. All activities and programs, including virtual programs with youth participants that fall under UAB’s Protection of Children Policy must register their program with the Office of the Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration at least eight weeks prior to the start date of the activity or program.
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Are you going to have adult visitors/volunteers present in your lab?
For all adults, that will be in the lab and NOT being paid, the following documents must be completed and submitted to UAB Employee Health (
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) prior to starting at UAB:- UAB Employee Health Initial Enrollment Form
- Proof of vaccinations/vaccination records or titer results proving immunity
- Request for Clearance/Consent for Volunteer in Labs form
- Before the volunteer can begin, a lab safety review will be conducted and space approved by EH&S Lab Safety
Note: This does NOT include UAB students that will be in the laboratory in conjunction with a class and coursework.
UAB International Visiting Scientists, Scholars and Observers
This policy is under current review
Due to the Disparity of immunization requirements among many foreign countries, all UAB international visiting scientists, scholars, and observers are required to be immunized as outlined by the UAB International Student & Scholar Service and UAB Employee Health program.
In lieu of being re-immunized, international scholars must present proof of receiving the required immunizations. If the scholar does not have such proof or has not been immunized, the scholar must be immunized against the specified diseases prior to attending, enrolling, or participating in UAB academic research, research observation, or clinical programs and activities. All International Scholars must be screened for tuberculosis (TB). Additionally, all international scholars and students from countries or territories with a TB incident rate greater than 20 cases per 100,000 population according to the latest available information from the World Health Organization, must be tested prior to starting activities at UAB. This testing must be done in the United States and must be completed no more than three months before start of UAB activities. The type of testing will be determined by the UAB Employee Health Program.
The required immunizations are as follows:
- 2 documented MMR vaccinations or a mumps, measles and rubella titer demonstrating immunity (documentation should include reference ranges)
- 2 documented Varicella vaccinations, or documentation of having the disease, or titers demonstrating immunity (documentation should include reference ranges)
- 3 documented Hepatitis B vaccinations, or documentation of having started the series, or titers demonstrating immunity (documentation should include reference ranges)
- 2 documented Covid-19 vaccinations (and proof of booster if completed)*
- Tdap vaccination within the last 10 years
- Meningococcal vaccinations (if less than 22 years old)
- Current flu vaccination will also be in clinical space during 10/1 - 3/31
*In May 2023, the federal government removed the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for hospitals and healthcare workers; in compliance with this, UAB no longer requires employees or visitors to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Vaccination is still safe and strongly recommended, and if you have received a COVID vaccine dose previously, we ask that you provide a copy of your vaccine information to add to your record.
All immunizations must be complete within 6 weeks of the international scholar’s arrival upon UAB’s campus. Immunizations must be paid for by the international scholar. TB chest x-rays must be done in the United States. If any titer results do not demonstrate immunity, international scholars will be required to receive the vaccination. Any international scholar that does not complete the required immunizations within the 6-week windows will have all facilities access revoked by UAB Physical Security via their OneCard and the discrepancy will be reported to the scholar’s Primary Investigator and the department. Immunization records must be sent to the UAB Employee Health program. Upon receipt of immunization records and completion of all requirements, the international scholar will receive a compliance email from the UAB Employee Health program.
Please complete the “Enrollment Form”, TB Screening Questionnaire, and provide proof of vaccination to UAB Employee Health by scanning and emailing to
UAB Medicine Observers & VolunteersMedicine-Only
For non-employees that will be in the hospital or clinical areas, you must complete all paperwork and visit Employee Health for required testing, such as TB screening and Fit Testing. TB screening will require payment of $10 for non-UAB employees.
For persons requesting to observe patient care activities in UAB Medicine Clinical Facilities, including UAB Hospital, UAB Hospital Highlands, UAB Hospital Emergency Department main campus and Gardendale, UAB Spain Rehabilitation Center, UAB Center for Psychiatric Medicine, UAB Hospital-Women and Infants Center, The Whitaker Clinic of UAB Hospital, The Kirklin Clinic at UAB Hospital, The Kirklin Clinic at Acton Road, UAG Health Centers and HSF-operated clinical sites.
View Observer Policy Opens an external link.
Volunteers
It is UAB belief that volunteers support the mission, values and strategic imperatives of UAB Medicine by enhancing patient satisfaction, assisting staff, and contributing to the overall financial viability of the institution through each volunteer’s altruistic efforts. It is therefore UAB belief that demonstrating thanks and appreciation to volunteers will promote goodwill and enhance retention of volunteer contributions to the institution. It is also UAB belief that volunteers should be selected, oriented, trained assigned in a manner consistent with UAB’s mission and values.
VolunteersMedicine-Only
For non-employees that will be in the hospital or clinical areas, you must complete all paperwork and visit Employee Health for required testing, such as TB Skin Testing and Fit Testing.
It is UAB belief that volunteers support the mission, values and strategic imperatives of UAB Medicine by enhancing patient satisfaction, assisting staff, and contributing to the overall financial viability of the institution through each volunteer’s altruistic efforts. It is therefore UAB belief that demonstrating thanks and appreciation to volunteers will promote goodwill and enhance retention of volunteer contributions to the institution. It is also UAB belief that volunteers should be selected, oriented, trained assigned in a manner consistent with UAB’s mission and values.
Non-Employee Onsite Exposure or Injury
As the largest academic medical center in the state of Alabama, UAB not only has a large number of employees, it also has many contractors, visitors, and other non-employees who provide onsite services or participate in activities throughout the campus and medical center complex. Any non-UAB employee (contractor, visitor, volunteer, minor, etc.) who experience an exposure or injury requiring immediate medical treatment while onsite at UAB is responsible for all costs associated with the provision of such care. Non-UAB employees should consult with their employers about their specific process for reporting exposures or injuries while providing onsite services at UAB.
Students
Students who experience an exposure or injury requiring immediate medical treatment while providing services or participating in activities onsite should contact UAB Employee Health (see chart below) for triage options. Depending on the type of exposure or injury, students may be seen at UAB Employee Health or sent to Student Health & Wellness or The WorkPlace.
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