Volunteer Workers
Steps to Follow when Using Volunteers in Your Department:
New criteria have been introduced establishing restrictions for minors in research laboratories of animal facility. Individuals less than 18 years of age that are not registered UF students will be restricted from certain activities and facilities. Restricted areas include any laboratory or facility designated as BSL-3, ABSL-3 or higher for recombinant or infectious organisms, laboratory where select agents or explosives are used or stored. Restrictions apply to any Animal Care Services (ACS) housing or procedure area/lab/facility. Other restrictioned activities include work with radioactive materials or radiation (X-rays) and acute toxins.
A review/approval procedure to allow minors to work on research projects under the guidance of UF faculty or staff has been established. The individual and advisor must submit a proposal that will outline the proposed project and procedure to be met in the conduct of the research or study. The proposal will be reviewed by the UF Biosafety Committee and approved if appropriate by Environmental Health and Safety.
The policy and procedures for requesting approval can be found at: Minors in Labs Policy
Please Note: Effective April, 2002, the College of Medicine no longer allows volunteer service from any immigrant not authorized to work in the United States. (Some examples are; H-4, O-3, L-2, F-2, M-2, TD, R-2) (B1/B2 only allowed for short period/3 weeks or less).
- Ensure that departmental supervisors obtain the approval of the department chairman before assigning any volunteer to the department/unit.
- Have each volunteer give the appropriate departmental supervisor any personal or professional information relevant to the services he or she will provide. The supervisor should be a faculty or staff member who has responsibility for the programs for which the volunteer is being selected.
- Be sure that the individual will not receive any monetary or material compensation from any source for his or her volunteer service.
- Upon selection, submit a Record of Volunteer Service form to the Office of the Dean, Personnel Section. The activities may cease at any time at the request of the volunteer or at the discretion of the University.
- While the individual is providing volunteer services, he or she will be covered by the University's worker's compensation policy or state liability protection as appropriate.
- Both the volunteer and the supervisor should sign the form. If the volunteer is a non-resident alien, please attach a copy of their I-94 card.
- Each department should maintain auditable records of the number, location, and duties of volunteers, along with the number of hours of service provided to the department.
- All visitors to UFCOM will need to complete HIPPA training
- Requests for any patient observation will need to be approved through the Office of the Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs. For information and forms: http://privacy.health.ufl.edu (Click on: SHADOWING)
- Volunteer Checklist
For further information regarding Volunteer Workers, please contact the Worker's Compensation Office at 392-4940.
Location: http://www.med.ufl.edu/personnel/hradmin/volunteerworkers.shtml