Inhalation Chamber Technician
Class Specifications – I.10
Principal Inhalation Chamber Technician – 9513
Senior Inhalation Chamber Technician – 9514
Inhalation Chamber Technician – 9515
July, 1977
Series Concept
Inhalation Chamber Technicians operate inhalation toxicology exposure chambers and provide care for experimental animals in support of research into the effects of toxicological gases or drugs; and perform other related duties as required.
Incumbents typically operate inhalation chamber controls to insure that proper atmospheric pressure is maintained and that correct amounts of toxicological materials are introduced into chambers; feed and care for experimental animals; recognize and report subtle changes in animal behavior or health; perform biological sampling and monitoring of animals including drawing blood, collecting urine samples and weighing animals; and maintain daily log records of animal weight, behavior and symptomatology.
The series consists of three levels. Principal Inhalation Chamber Technician is the supervisory level; Senior Inhalation Chamber Technician is the fully qualified operational/lead worker level; and Inhalation Chamber Technician is the entry level.
Class Concepts
Principal Inhalation Chamber Technician
Under general supervision, incumbents are responsible for the operation of all inhalation chambers; record and summarize inhalation chamber data; supervise or perform animal care and preparation; insure that all facets of experimental protocol occur properly and in a timely manner after experiment is under way; maintain preventive maintenance and safety locker inspection schedules; supervise Inhalation Chamber Technicians, including shift assignments, employee evaluations and conducting formal training programs. Supervision is generally over ten or more Inhalation Chamber Technicians.
Senior Inhalation Chamber Technician
Under general supervision incumbents perform the full range of duties listed in the Series Concept. In addition incumbents typically have lead assignments over Inhalation Chamber Technicians.
Inhalation Chamber Technician
Under close supervision, incumbents learn to perform the chamber operation duties listed in the Series Concept. This is the entry level class of the series, and incumbents are expected to be able to perform as fully qualified animal technicians. In addition, incumbents participate in formal training courses in the operation and safety considerations of inhalation and altitude chambers.
Minimum Qualifications
Principal Inhalation Chamber Technician
Graduation from high school, completion of training equivalent to the Laboratory Animal Technologist certification of the AALAS, and three years of related inhalation chamber/animal care experience with demonstrated supervisory ability; or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and knowledges and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.
Senior Inhalation Chamber Technician
Graduation from high school, completion of training equivalent to the Laboratory Animal Technician certification of the AALAS, and two years of related inhalation chamber/animal care experience; or high school graduation and three years of experience in the operation of inhalation chambers and care of animal species appropriate to the particular job; or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and knowledges and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.
Inhalation Chamber Technician
Graduation from high school, completion of training equivalent to the Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician certification of the AALAS, and one year of animal care experience; or high school graduation and two years of animal care experience in the care of an animal species appropriate to the particular job; or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and knowledges and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.