What is the purpose of OHSP in research?

The Occupational Health and Safety Program (OHSP) in research serves a critical function by ensuring the health and safety of individuals who work with or around laboratory animals and their environments. This program is designed to manage and mitigate risks associated with handling animals, including exposure to zoonotic diseases, allergens, and other hazards that may arise within a research setting.

The focus of an OHSP is predominantly on creating a safe work environment for personnel, which includes providing training, monitoring health, and implementing safety protocols. By doing so, the program helps ensure compliance with regulations and promotes best practices in occupational health that are vital for the sustainability and integrity of research activities.

The other options do not accurately capture the main purpose of OHSP. While promoting the health of lab animals or facilitating health research might be important aspects of a research setting, they do not align with the specific focus of managing occupational health and safety. Similarly, overseeing funding for health programs falls outside the scope of OHSP's primary responsibilities.