The University of Washington celebrated excellence in research safety at the 2025 Laboratory Safety Awards & Innovations Event, honoring 21 laboratories, departments and individuals for their outstanding contributions to building a strong culture of safety across campuses.
The 2025 Laboratory Safety Awards & Innovations Event was held on December 9, 2025.
Guest speakers included Provost Tricia Serio, Phillip Cox, Program Manager for the Washington Clean Energy Testbeds, David Giblin, Herbarium Collections Manager for the Burke Museum, and Tasha Ritchie, Laboratory Safety Coordinator for the School of Pharmacy.
Please join us in congratulating our 2025 awards recipients and innovators!
As the Seattle area heads into its familiar mix of rain, early dusk, and occasionally icy mornings, it’s a great time to refresh our awareness around staying safe on campus.
Slips, trips, and falls are among the leading causes of injury at the University of Washington, and wet or chilly weather can make everyday paths a little more challenging. With a few simple habits, we can all help keep ourselves—and each other—safe this season.
Avoid slips, trips and falls in wet weather
Gathering and sharing food with friends and family is a treasured part of holiday celebrations. Environmental Health & Safety offers the following food safety tips to prevent foodborne illness and help ensure that safe meals are an enjoyable part of your holiday.
Remember to use safe food preparation techniques, including:
Nominations and elections for the next two-year term of UW’s health and safety committees is underway. Every UW employee is represented by one of 10 committees; each plays a key role in supporting workplace health and safety. Don’t miss the chance to nominate yourself or a colleague!
How does a UW employee become a committee member?
Committee members are:
Who is eligible?
Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) published the annual update of the UW Accident Prevention Plan, which contains new and updated safety information and resources to help prevent work-related injuries and illnesses. Department/unit administrators and supervisors are asked to share and review the updated UW Accident Prevention Plan with their current and new employees.
The University is committed to ensuring a healthy and safe environment for working, learning, research, teaching and service. There are several ways UW personnel can report workplace safety concerns: 
During National Fire Prevention Week, Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) will host events on the Seattle campus to educate students and staff about fire prevention and the importance of responding quickly to smoke alarms.
Stop by our table on the HUB Lawn to learn about fire prevention and smoke detectors.
October is Biosafety Month, a time to focus on biosafety practices in your lab. For 2025, Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) encourages labs to learn more about how biosafety cabinets provide protection and how to safely use one.
If you are partially or completely vacating your laboratory for remodeling, relocation or closure, you are required to leave it clean and safe. By following safe practices, we can help prevent exposures and maintain the health and safety of everyone in our workspaces.
Moveout notice