Final answer:
The safety of staff members at animal research facilities is ultimately overseen by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), which includes various stakeholders such as administrators, researchers, and community members. Other parties like the principal investigator and laboratory technicians have responsibilities, but the IACUC provides ultimate oversight.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks who is ultimately responsible for the safety of a staff member at an animal research facility. This responsibility falls on multiple parties, but primarily it is the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), which is mandated to ensure compliance with the NIH guidelines for the humane treatment of animals and the safety of the personnel. The IACUC includes administrators, researchers, a veterinarian, and at least one community member who have the duty to oversee the well-being of both animals and staff, conducting inspections and reviewing research protocols. While the principal investigator (PI) holds responsibility for safety during the conduct of the research, and lab technicians have a duty to maintain safety practices, the ultimate oversight and adherence to regulations lie with the IACUC. The Institutional President is responsible for ensuring that the institutional policies, including the operations of the IACUC, align with federal regulations and ethical standards.