Do an annual chemical inventory review
Have you reviewed your full chemical inventory in MyChem this year?
Even if you have been adding to and deleting items from your inventory, you will still need to attest to a full review of the…
Biological Research Safety
The Biosafety program serves to maintain safe conditions in research by containing biohazardous agents. Biosafety helps to prevent harm to humans, animals and the environment.
This page…
Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)
The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) reviews, approves and oversees research involving the use of recombinant or synthetic DNA/RNA and other biohazards. The monthly meeting agenda is posted…
Biosafety Level 2 with Biosafety Level 3 Practices (BSL-2 with BSL-3 practices) Inspection Checklist
Biosafety Level 2 with Biosafety Level 3 Practices (BSL-2 with BSL-3 practices) Inspection Checklist
New guidelines to help protect you from biological reproductive hazards
Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) provides guidelines for UW personnel who are pregnant (or planning to become pregnant) and who may be exposed to certain biological agents that can increase…
Response and reporting requirements for incidents involving biohazardous materials
In the event of a spill or exposure to biohazardous materials, established response procedures and reporting requirements apply to all students and personnel of the UW. Researchers should review…
The March 2023 UW Biosafety Manual is now online
An updated March 2023 version of the UW Biosafety Manual is now available online. The changes made to the manual were limited to administrative updates, including updating web hyperlinks and minor…
Why you are required to submit a Chemical Waste Collection Request
EH&S needs the information you provide in the Chemical Waste Collection Request for safety, legal, and logistical reasons.
Safety: Knowing the potential hazards associated with each…
Biological Safety Cabinets
Updated June 28, 2024
Biological safety cabinets (BSCs) are used to protect personnel, products and the environment from exposure to biohazards and cross contamination during routine…
Grounding and Bonding Focus Sheet
Use and dispensing of flammable liquids presents fire and explosion hazards to facilities and occupants. Proper grounding and bonding limits the potential of static electrical spark…
Sharps and Lab Glass Waste
Laboratory personnel and principal investigators (PIs) are responsible to properly identify, packaging, decontaminate, and dispose of sharps and laboratory glass and plastic waste. For site-specific…
Anesthetic Gases
Anesthetic gases and vapors that leak into the surrounding room are considered waste anesthetic gases (WAGs). If equipment is not set up or functioning properly or if the WAG is not properly…
Welcome to Environmental Health & Safety
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…
Mission and Vision
UW Environmental Health & Safety's mission is to partner with the UW community to provide a healthy and safe campus and protect our environment.
Record chemical inventories for research vessels in MyChem
Personnel working on UW research vessels can now add their chemical inventories into MyChem, the University’s chemical tracking system. UW personnel who use chemicals or chemical-containing products…
MyChem users required to upload SDSs
MyChem requires users to upload a safety data sheet (SDS) when adding a new chemical to an inventory if that chemical does not currently exist in the MyChem database. If you have chemicals in…
National Biosafety Month 2022: Substitute with safer alternatives
During National Biosafety Month in October, EH&S is encouraging labs working with biohazards to identify hazards that could be substituted with a safer alternative to reduce the potential for…
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…