Control volatile organic chemical smells
Does your laboratory have volatile organic chemicals that produce strong, pungent odors even when the cap and bottle are intact? Controlling these smells, often found in chemical storage areas, will…
SOP templates for Aqua Regia and Piranha Solution
Does your research require the use of Aqua regia or Piranha solutions? These are two types of acidic washes used for very specific purposes and have very important workplace health and safety…
Working Alone Safely Focus Sheet
Working alone applies to work or study occurring when no other person is in direct line of sight or within hearing range of the person working. A person may work alone in a lab, office, shop…
Vacuum Pump Safety Focus Sheet
Vacuum pumps are used to remove air and other vapors from a vessel or manifold. The most common usages in laboratories are on rotary evaporators, drying manifolds, centrifugal concentrators,…
2-Mercaptoethanol SOP
Standard operating procedure template for laboratories using 2-Mercaptoethanol
Soldering SOP
Standard operating procedure (SOP) template for labs using electric soldering irons to address the hazards of leaded and non-leaded soldering of electrical components.
Choose the right vacuum pump
Vacuum pumps are used to remove air and other vapors from a vessel or manifold. Weak points in containers or systems under vacuum can create implosion or explosion hazards, and cause injury by…
Facilities Safety Equipment Checklist Explanations
Below are questions asked during safety equipment inspections and explanations for each question.
Fume Hood Condition Explanations
The following are questions and answers in response to receiving a notice on a fume hood.
Frequently asked questions
Why did I receive a Fume Hood Condition Notice?
During routine testing of your…
Laboratory Survey Checklist Explanations
Below are questions asked during lab safety inspections and explanations for each question.
Please refer to the Laboratory Safety page for more information.
Administrative Plans & Materials…
Hazardous Material Disposal and Recycling
University personnel have the following options for getting rid of hazardous materials and potentially contaminated supplies and equipment.
Note: Not all options are available for all items.
Notice of Cleaning and Decontamination Form
The Notice of Cleaning and/or Decontamination Form (Word) must be completed by a UW employee knowledgeable of the hazardous materials used in, on and/or around a space, equipment, appliance or…
2025 Log of Changes - UW Field Operations Safety Manual
This is the log of changes for the 2025 UW Field Operations Safety Manual.
Lessons learned from a chemical fire
In December 2024, a group of undergraduate research students conducted an experiment in a shared research/shop space following a standard operating procedure (SOP) they had recently updated.…
Safety Data Sheets (SDSs)
Updated January 22, 2025
Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) are documents that describe the physical and health hazards of chemicals or chemical-containing products and must be readily accessible to employees…
Compressed Gases and Cryogens
Compressed and liquefied gases are routinely used in laboratories, shops and various other operations at the University. Compressed gas is a generic term used for describing compressed gases,…
Exposure Response Poster
Use the Exposure Response Poster as a guide for responding to a biological, chemical or radiological exposure.
Post in your lab alongside the Spill Response Poster.
General Autoclave Safety
Use the General Autoclave Safety document to familiarize yourself with the hazards involved with operating an autoclave. Learn how to protect yourself before operating an autoclave. These…