Workplace Safety

A Crystalline Silica Exposure Control Plan is required when respirable crystalline silica exposure is assumed or known to be at or above 25 μg/m3TWA8e of respirable crystalline silica in air.

The Respirable Crystalline Silica Safety Manual outlines the responsibilities of University units, personnel and the Environmental Health & Safety Department (EH&S) to protect personnel from occupational respirable crystalline silica exposure. This document also contains guidelines and procedures for exposure control, respiratory protection, and medical evaluations. 

Air-purifying devices, such as a portable air cleaner, can be an effective supplement to building ventilation and can help improve indoor air quality, especially when eliminating the source of air pollution is not feasible and/or increasing outdoor air ventilation is impractical or ineffective.

The purpose of the Personal Protective Equipment and Supplies Performance Standards and Guidelines are to assist University units and departments during the procurement process; it serves as a guide to determine whether PPE and related supplies meet minimum performance standards.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an increase in the number of disinfection products used throughout UW departments. This document provides general information about EPA-registered disinfectants, such as potential health hazards and personal protective equipment recommendations, for the commonly used disinfectants at the UW. 

UW employees who are not required to wear a respirator can voluntarily wear a filtering facepiece respirator, such as an N95 or KN95, for their personal use in the workplace.

View the University of Washington Recordable Workplace Injuries and Illnesses Incidence Rate graph showing the annual incidence rates of recordable workplace injuries and illnesses.

Shops can use this template to document shop-specific safety training.

Refer to the Shop and Maker Space Safety page for more information.