UMKC Service Animal Policy for Teaching and Research Laboratories and Studios

  • Last Modified: Aug 26, 2026
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1. Purpose

This policy establishes procedures for addressing the presence of service animals in University of Missouri–Kansas City (UMKC) laboratory and studio environments. Its purpose is to support the safety of all individuals involved-including the service animal handler, laboratory or studio personnel, and the service animal-while maintaining the integrity of academic and research activities.

UMKC is committed to full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable disability laws. Service animals, as defined by the ADA, are permitted in university facilities in accordance with applicable law and university policy.

Laboratory and studio environments, however, may present unique safety risks. These environments may include hazardous materials, specialized equipment, and biological agents that are not typically found in standard classroom settings. Because of these factors, additional safety considerations are necessary.
To address these risks, UMKC Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) conducts individualized, case-by-case assessments when a service animal is requested in a laboratory or studio setting. This policy provides a structured, objective process for evaluating such requests in environments where documented safety risks may exist.

All determinations are based on current safety standards and objective, environment-specific evidence.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all UMKC students, faculty, staff, and unpaid appointees who require the assistance of a service animal in a teaching or research laboratory or studio located within university facilities or operated by the university. It is intended to complement UMKC’s broader Policy on Service Animals.

Because laboratories and studios may involve exposure to chemicals, physical hazards, and biological agents, this policy addresses additional safety considerations. These include behavioral and health expectations for service animals, requirements for personal protective equipment (PPE), and a structured risk assessment process. The policy also defines the responsibilities of handlers, faculty, and safety personnel, and identifies circumstances in which service animals may be restricted.

These provisions are designed to determine whether the presence of a service animal would pose a direct threat to health or safety that cannot be eliminated or reduced through reasonable accommodation, or result in substantial property damage that cannot be mitigated.

3. Risks and Hazards to Service Animals

Service animals entering teaching and research laboratories or studios face special risks that are not present in typical campus classroom settings. For example, these spaces often contain volatile and toxic chemicals, sharp instruments and equipment, open flames, biological agents, and other hazards that can pose serious health risks to animals through inhalation, skin contact, or ingestion.

In addition to potential chemical exposure, service animals may encounter physical dangers such as broken glassware, slippery surfaces, and high-decibel equipment that can cause stress or injury. Understanding these risks is essential to developing appropriate safety measures and ensuring that the presence of a service animal does not compromise the integrity of the laboratory/studio or the well-being of the animal itself. This section outlines the specific hazards and the rationale for implementing protective protocols. In general, these risks may include (this is not an exhaustive list):

  • Chemical exposure: volatile solvents, corrosives, and toxic reagents.
  • Physical hazards: glassware, open flames, and sharp instruments or equipment.
  • Noise and stress: equipment noise, crowding, and unfamiliar stimuli.
  • Biological agents: potential exposure to pathogens or allergens.

These considerations support an objective evaluation of whether reasonable modifications or protective measures can sufficiently mitigate risk.

4. Service Animal Requirements

To be permitted in a UMKC teaching or research laboratory or studio, service animals must meet the following criteria:

  • Students are strongly encouraged to register with Student Accessibility Services (SAS). SAS can coordinate with the instructor and lab or studio coordinator in advance of attendance to support safe and effective access. Faculty and staff should contact the ADA Coordinator for assistance with accommodations.
  • Must meet all state and local health, vaccination, and licensing requirements; proof of immunization must be submitted to SAS. Faculty and staff should work with the ADA Coordinator regarding applicable requirements and documentation.
  • Be trained to remain calm and unobtrusive in high-risk environments.
  • Be under control at all times via leash, harness, or tether.
  • Be housebroken and free of illness or injury.
  • Not vocalize inappropriately; if trained to alert by vocalizing, the instructor must be informed of the conditions under which this occurs.
  • Not interfering with lab equipment, experiments, or personnel.
  • Don the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) as determined by the laboratory’s hazard assessment.
  • Handlers are responsible for any damage caused by the animal and must clean up all waste immediately, in accordance with applicable school or unit policies regarding student responsibility for damages.

In addition, the service animal’s presence must be evaluated through a lab-specific and animal-specific risk assessment conducted by EHS prior to approval to enter the lab or studio. This assessment will consider relevant health and safety risk factors, including but not limited to:

  • The type of laboratory (e.g., chemical, biological, animal research, BSL level).
  • The species, health status, and stress sensitivity of research animals present.
  • Potential exposure risks (chemical, biological, radiological, allergenic).
  • Zoonotic disease considerations and cross-species transmission risks.
  • If the lab also houses or uses research animals, UMKC EHS may coordinate with the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) to ensure the service animal does not jeopardize the health or behavior of research subjects.
  • The ability to maintain containment, biosecurity, and animal welfare standards within the building environment, including ventilation systems, traffic flow, emergency access, and overall suitability.

5. Required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Service Animals

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is essential for service animals in some teaching and research laboratories and studios to safeguard the animal from the same hazards that threaten human occupants (e.g.: chemical spills, airborne particulates, sharp objects, and thermal/noise risks) and hazards that may pose special risks to the animal.

Unlike typical campus environments, laboratories and studios may contain volatile substances and reactive materials that can cause serious harm through skin contact, inhalation, or ingestion. Service animals, while trained and disciplined, are not naturally equipped to detect or avoid these dangers. PPE helps create a barrier between the animal and the laboratory/studio environment, reducing the risk of injury or contamination, and ensuring the animal can safely support its handler without compromising laboratory/studio safety protocols.

To help mitigate the risks and hazards to service animals working in the laboratory or studio setting, the service animal must wear/use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), that at minimum includes the analogous type worn/used by human users in that same setting as well as any PPE to address the special needs of the animal, such as:

  • Chemical-resistant booties to prevent dermal exposure.
  • Protective eye gear (safety goggles) to shield the eyes from fumes or splashes.
  • Lab coat or body covering to minimize fur or skin contact with airborne chemicals.
  • Disposable or disinfectable pad provided for the service animal to sit/rest on during the class period.
  • Noise-dampening gear (as needed) for animals sensitive to sound.

Specific pieces of PPE should be evaluated and approved by the UMKC EHS office prior to purchase. This will serve to ensure that the PPE items are appropriate to the hazards present in the laboratory or studio in which they will be used.

  • If the appropriate PPE, as determined by the laboratory/studio’s hazard assessment, is not provided at the time of entry, or if the service animal cannot remain properly fitted with PPE for the entire laboratory/studio session, access to the laboratory/studio may be limited. In such cases, the University will work with the individual to explore alternative reasonable accommodations in an effort to support access while maintaining a safe environment.
  • In the event of contamination of the animal’s PPE, the owner is responsible for decontaminating the PPE in a manner in accordance with established laboratory/studio procedures.
  • All costs associated with PPE and its maintenance are the responsibility of the handler unless otherwise approved as a formal accommodation.

6. Risk Assessment Protocol

Prior to entering a teaching or research laboratory or studio, handlers are strongly encouraged to participate in an individualized risk assessment process. This process helps identify potential safety considerations and determine appropriate measures to support access.

Individuals seeking to bring a service animal into a research or teaching laboratory should submit a request through Student Accessibility Services (SAS) (for students) or the ADA Coordinator (for employees). Individuals are strongly encouraged to complete and submit a UMKC Animal Laboratory/Studio Risk Assessment Form to SAS or the ADA Coordinator (for employees).

SAS or the ADA Coordinator will serve as a liaison between the individual and relevant university personnel, including the lab instructor, lab manager or coordinator, and UMKC Environmental Health and Safety (EHS). If submitted, the risk assessment form will be shared with these parties to support review.

Together, these stakeholders will engage in an interactive process to determine whether, and under what conditions, the service animal may be permitted in the specific laboratory or studio environment, considering safety, health, and research integrity considerations. UMKC EHS makes reasonable efforts to complete a timely review and allow adequate time for planning, including discussion, identification or acquisition of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), and other safety considerations.

  1. Prior to the service animal’s attendance, individuals are encouraged to participate in a pre-laboratory safety briefing and walkthrough with ADA/SAS, EHS, and relevant laboratory personnel. This process is intended to support preparedness by reviewing PPE, identifying lower-risk or stationary areas, considering workflow, and discussing emergency procedures.
  2. Individuals are encouraged to work with the laboratory or studio instructor to identify lower-risk areas where the service animal may remain during activities - for example, locations that are away from hazards and do not interfere with ongoing work, when appropriate.
  3. Individuals are encouraged to collaborate with the laboratory or studio instructor to develop an emergency evacuation plan that includes the service animal.

The University will work collaboratively with the individual to determine whether the service animal’s presence can be accommodated in a manner that avoids direct threats to health or safety that cannot be eliminated or reduced to an acceptable level by a reasonable accommodation.

7. Safety Requirements and Responsibilities

Ensuring the safe inclusion of service animals in UMKC teaching and research laboratories and studios requires coordinated efforts among multiple stakeholders. Each party plays a vital role in maintaining a secure and accessible laboratory/studio environment while protecting the health and safety of the service animal, its handler, and others present. Safety requirements are designed to prevent exposure to hazardous materials, minimize disruptions, and uphold the integrity of laboratory/studio procedures.

  • SAS facilitates student registration, coordinates accommodations, and supports communication between the handler, laboratory or studio personnel and EHS. Faculty and staff should work with the ADA Coordinator for accommodation coordination and communication. Together, these roles form a comprehensive safety framework that balances accessibility with rigorous scientific safety standards. The animal handler is responsible for:
    • Monitoring the animal’s behavior and health.
    • Purchasing any required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
    • Ensuring PPE compliance.
    • Cleaning up any waste immediately.
    • Preventing the animal’s interference with lab/studio operations.
    • Seeking emergency care for their service animal should the need arise.

Laboratory/studio instructors and coordinators must:

  • Review the risk assessment and consult with UMKC EHS to discuss potential accommodations and safety considerations that may support the inclusion of the service animal in the laboratory or studio environment.
  • Provide reasonable accommodations such as designated safe zones or alternate laboratory/studio formats if needed.
  • Enforce laboratory/studio safety roles consistently for all participants.
  • Introduce and explain the service animal’s role to the other laboratory/studio users, without sharing unnecessary confidential information related to the handler.
  • Provide general information to laboratory students regarding expectations and safety. considerations related to the presence of a service animal, without sharing unnecessary confidential information related to the handler.

UMKC Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) will:

  • Advise on PPE and hazard mitigation.
  • Review risk assessments for all lab experiments.
  • Provide guidance on contamination control, zoonotic risk, chemical exposure, and other relevant safety concerns.
  • Ensure compliance with university safety standards and applicable regulatory standards.

SAS will support students, while faculty and staff should work with the ADA Coordinator for assistance to:

  • Coordinate and document approved accommodations in accordance with university policy and applicable disability laws.
  • Notify the instructor of record, laboratory coordinator, and EHS as soon as reasonably possible once a request involving a service animal in a laboratory/studio is received, in order to allow adequate time for risk assessment, safety review, procurement of PPE, and implementation of necessary arrangements.

8. Restrictions

A service animal may be excluded from a specific laboratory/studio area or activity if its presence would result in a fundamental alteration of the nature of the program or activity, or would pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others that cannot be eliminated or sufficiently reduced through reasonable accommodations.

Any determination to restrict access must be based on an individualized, case-by-case assessment of the specific laboratory/studio environment, the particular service animal, and the tasks performed. Decisions may not be based on generalizations, assumptions, or speculation about service animals.

Examples of laboratory environments or activities where restrictions may be appropriate, if supported by an individualized assessment, include but are not limited to:

  • Laboratories involving highly toxic or high-hazard chemicals (e.g., hydrofluoric acid, cyanides) or biological agents classified at Risk Group 2 (RG2) or higher.
  • Laboratories involving select agents or other high-risk pathogens subject to enhanced regulatory controls.
  • Animal research laboratories or vivariums where the presence of a service animal could compromise animal welfare, biosecurity, containment standards, or research integrity (e.g., risk of stress, allergen exposure, disease transmission, or escape).
  • Procedures involving open flames, pressurized systems, volatile materials, or other operations presenting significant and unavoidable safety hazards.
  • Areas where environmental conditions or operational requirements create a direct threat to the safety of the service animal, laboratory personnel, research animals, or property that cannot be mitigated through reasonable safety measures.

Any restriction must be documented by EHS in coordination with SAS for students, or with the ADA Coordinator for faculty and staff, including a description of the specific risk identified and the rationale for determining that reasonable modifications would not sufficiently mitigate the risk.

Contact Information

UMKC EHS

UMKC Student Accessibility Services

UMKC ADA Coordinator