Environmental Health

A hazardous material spill is an uncontrolled release of a substance that is potentially hazardous to humans, animals and/or the environment. University personnel and students working with hazardous materials should be prepared to respond in the event a spill occurs.

UW Environmental Health & Safety's mission is to partner with the UW community to provide a healthy and safe campus and protect our environment.

The University of Washington is committed to providing a healthy and safe environment for faculty, staff, students, visitors, and volunteers in all sites owned, operated, or controlled by the University. This commitment includes supporting a culture of health and safety across the University.

Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) is an administrative unit that assists University units in meeting their responsibility to protect the environment and to provide a safe and healthful place for employment and learning.

Fine particles in wildfire smoke can be harmful to health because they can reach lower areas of the lungs. University units with personnel who work outdoors are required to plan, prepare, and train for wildfire smoke exposure.

University units with personnel who work outdoors are required to implement safety measures to help prevent heat-related illness, including providing initial and annual training, and implementing a written Outdoor Heat Safety Plan.

Guidance for indoor heat and thermal comfort issues can be found on the Indoor Air Quality page.