Latest News

Keeping your safety documents up to date and easily accessible are key for staying safe.

If your research work includes field operations, visit the new Field Operations Safety webpage on the Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) website for new resources to conduct work safely in the field. The new field operations safety guidance is focused on policies and risk management practices relevant to field courses and research, international trips, research expeditions, and other outdoor excursions.

Stormwater drains on the UW campuses empty directly into local waterways, which can carry pollution that harms wildlife, such as birds and fish. Campus activities can put the surrounding natural areas at risk when garbage, oils, chemicals and other potentially harmful substances are allowed to flow into stormwater drains.

Important Notification

The table below was updated with additional lot codes on February 11, February 18 and April 16, 2021.

The University has been notified that counterfeit 3M respirators have been sold to governmental agencies, hospitals, and other institutions in several states, including Washington state.

EH&S launched a new Chemical Container Labels webpage where UW employees can learn about the requirements for labeling chemical containers of various types and download a number of customizable chemical label templates.

Honeywell issued an Immediate Mandatory Inspection Notice for users of Miller® MightEvac and MightyLite Self-Retracting Lifelines.

University faculty, staff, and students must complete an animal use health screening prior to work in any University animal care and use environment to evaluate and address potential health risks related to working with research animals.

You can help speed up the health screening process by following these tips when completing the online Animal Use Medical Screening (AUMS) form:

1. Verify your contact Information.

The UW Fall Protection Program Manual and five additional fall protection resources were updated to reflect revisions to Washington state fall protection regulations that went into effect on October 1, 2020. University units and departments with personnel who may be exposed to fall hazards are required to update their Fall Protection Work Plans to align with the updated regulations.

The University’s new Administrative Policy Statement 12.7 supporting laboratory safety is now published. The policy establishes University requirements for oversight of chemical and physical safety in research and academic environments, including the establishment of the Institutional Chemical and Physical Safety Committee (ICAPS), and an escalation process for addressing laboratory safety findings.

MSA issued a User Safety Notice to inform customers that MSA has received field reports of a limited number of Latchways Standard Self-Retracting Lifelines (SRL) in which some internal bolts came loose. MSA has not received any reports of injuries associated with this condition; however, it may lead to window of time in which a fall may not be arrested.