Share thisToday’s equipment and control systems have been developed into reliable and safe systems that are easy to operate.
The first automated cage wash system was installed in early 1990’s. These early installations were undertaken to improve quality, throughput, and enhance the working environment for technicians.
These original reasons are still the main drivers for the automation installations of today.
A new step has recently been taken where the movement of dirty cages from a cage change station is fully integrated into the system and dirty cages travel directly as they are changed through to the feed robot at the cage wash. In this type of installation the cage does not require any operator intervention after the cage change until the cages are moved into the autoclave. The first system with this innovation was installed in Sweden last year.
There are some important questions that often come up when customers are considering investing in automation:
CAN AUTOMATION SAVE MONEY?
This is how an investment in automation is justified in other industries. The answer for our industry is yes. The re-payment period though can be longer than in other faster moving industries. Merck in West Point, Pennsylvania installed a robotic cage handling and vacuum bedding system in 2001. According to Glass, Klein, Terpeluk, and Pouch, “The system has allowed our facility to increase its production capability and achieve its desired ergonomic objectives. A net cost saving of $2.7 million will be achieved over its useful life by the redeployment of workload, reduction in overtime, and utilities savings.”1
This repayment time can be significantly reduced when claims for compensation for repetitive strain, back injuries or allergen exposure are taken into consideration. These intangible costs, relating to not only employee health and welfare but also research integrity, and the reallocation of resources should also be considered.
Advances in technology have also resulted in an automated cage processing systems that are now more reliable, user friendly, and more affordable than systems installed only five years ago.
CAN AUTOMATION IMPROVE ANIMAL HEALTH?
An automated washing process will always operate within its programmed parameters. This ensures cages are cleaned in the prescribed manner every time they are processed. An automated cage handling system reduces the amount of human interaction required to process animal cages. By limiting the number of individuals and their required exposure to the cages, the opportunity for error is greatly reduced.
Incorrectly processed caging can send unclean residues back into the animal environment and could have an effect on the quality of research projects.
CAN AUTOMATION IMPROVE EMPLOYEE HEALTH?
The USA Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) expressed concerns with ergonomic injuries and allergens that exist within an animal facility. The OSHA Health Act mandates that employers provide a safe and healthy workplace for their employees. Implementation of automated cage handling and vacuum bedding systems addresses these OSHA occupational health concerns, and helps to reduce on the job injuries and achieve the organizational safety objectives.
Laboratory animal workers can be exposed to high levels of allergen in a laboratory animal research facility. According to Robert K. Bush and Gregg M. Stave, “Allergic reactions are among the most common conditions affecting the health of workers involved in the care and use of research animals. Between 11 and 44% of the individuals working with laboratory animals report work-related allergic symptoms. Of those who become symptomatic, 4 to 22% may eventually develop occupational asthma that can persist even after exposure ceases.”2
Laboratory animal exposure can result in significant lost time from work. More than one third of individuals working at the US National Institutes of Health reported lost time from work due to their symptoms from laboratory animal allergy sensitivity (Bland et al. 1986).3
The implementation of a robotic cage handling and vacuum bedding system will not only address occupational health concerns, but also may reduce operator exposure to laboratory animal allergens. This technology can reduce worker’s compensation claims, future litigation due to operator health, and will result in a more stable workforce.
Many laboratory animal facilities adopt the approach that manual cage wash operation is an entry level position, and employees will be promoted to more desirable positions within the facility. Operators that are not promoted are either lost due to attrition or can become disgruntled employees who do not follow proper procedure.
AUTOMATION FOR TODAY’S WORLD
The greater use of individually ventilated cages and automated watering systems has resulted in additional density in research capabilities, with some large facilities now housing over 30,000+ rodent cages.
The traditional cage wash process is no longer sufficient in these situations, as the increased volume of soiled caging generates logistical and operational challenges. Automation can meet these needs and reduce exposure to animal allergens operators would face if engaged in handling large numbers of soiled cages in a manual way.
AUTOMATION IMPROVES STAFF MORALE AND RETENTION
An automated cage handling system not only improves operator health and safety, but it also changes the status associated with the cage wash operations. Operators now have the opportunity to work with technology rather than soiled caging.
Including an automated cage handling system will result in a prestigious, technologically advanced facility that promotes employee safety and welfare. The dedication of the institution to their employee and researcher health will be seen as an asset, and assist when recruiting for additional employees.
The automated cage handling system does not result in the loss of jobs, but rather the reallocation of resources. The number of full time employees (FTEs) is reduced in the cage wash facility, as is the need for recruiting, hiring, training, management and the associated benefit costs for this process. Employees can now be dedicated to other animal care departments, allowing additional resources to be allocated to laboratory animal research.
BEDDING DISPOSAL
The potential risk of exposing operators to allergens and the potential risk for cross-contamination can be limited by use of a bedding vacuum disposal system. The dump station used in the process will be designed to limit the dust and allergen exposure for the operators. The contained way for transportation of soiled bedding in a vacuum system will limit the risk of cross-contamination compared to the traditional way by wheeling the soiled bedding in bins out through the facility.
Well designed soiled side vacuum bedding disposal systems have become more critical for the success of automated cage handling operation. The demands on the systems have been increased by the trend to add more animal enrichment to the cages and by more wet bedding caused by increased time between cage changes. The vacuum bedding disposal system has to be designed to meet all the new requirements without any risk of clogging or build up blockages to let the automated cage wash system process all cages coming through the facility.
BEDDING DISPENSING
Clean side bedding transportation and dispensing systems have become more common for the modern design of an animal facility. The clean vacuum bedding transportation system offers benefits in less personnel required to bring bedding into the facility and less risk for cross-contamination from contaminated crates and packaging material (that can stay outside the barrier).
Clean bedding dispensing, especially if dispensed from a contained vessel and if bedding is metered, will give less dust exposure to the room and operators and no over consumption with the controlled bedding volumes.
The vacuum bedding delivery and disposal system is typically purchased with a robotic cage handling system; however the vacuum bedding system requires a substantial amount of planning to ensure the transportation piping has a clear path through the building. HVAC, electrical, and plumbing utilities must be coordinated in tandem with the bedding system to minimize conflicts with the highly valued utility and interstitial spaces.
CONCLUSIONS
During the past decade the laboratory animal research industry has experienced a tremendous amount of change. New ways of conducting research studies, animal welfare and housing affect the throughput and standard operating procedures for cage washing in all facilities.
Automated cage handling has been in operation successfully for the last ten years. These systems will continue to prove themselves as a valuable asset towards improving standards, operator safety, cost reduction, and facility management.
REFERENCES
- Glass, Joan and Klein, Hilton J. and Terpeluk, William, and Pouch, Walter. The Implementation of Robotic Technology in an Animal Facility: A Case Study. Contemporary Topics, May 2004, Volume 43, No. 3, pp. 13-16.
- Bush, Robert K. and Stave, Gregg M. 2003. Laboratory Animal Allergy: An Update. ILAR J 44:1084-2020
- Bland SM, Levine MS, Wilson PD, Fox NL, Rivera JC. 1986. Occupational allergy to laboratory animals: An epidemiologic study. J Occup Med 28:1151- 1157.
Paul Careless is Sales Director at DETACH AB and can be reached at paul.careless@detach.com; DETACH, Sundbyvagen 24, SE 645 51, Strangnas, Sweden