Emergency Procedures
Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) offers resources to help the campus community prepare for and respond to various types of emergencies that may arise.
Local Fire Department Contact Information
The Local Fire Department Contact Information list covers local fire departments, as well as the fire authority responsible for enforcing codes for many UW facilities. In some areas, the…
Laboratory Housekeeping Focus Sheet
Poor housekeeping is a contributing factor associated with accidents and fires in labs. Follow the best practices in the Laboratory Housekeeping Focus Sheet for safety.
Carbon Monoxide Focus Sheet
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a clear, colorless and tasteless gas. It can be toxic or even lethal at high concentrations. Follow these the tips in the Carbon Monoxide Focus Sheet when selecting and…
Corridor Safety Focus Sheet
The Corridor Safety Focus Sheet covers requirements for pathways in University buildings used for egress.
Preventing Nuisance Alarms General Focus Sheet
The Preventing Nuisance Alarms General Focus Sheet helps building coordinators deal with prevention of nuisance alarms in office, residential and teaching environments.
Preventing Nuisance Alarms During Construction Focus Sheet
Nuisance alarms are disruptive to the teaching and research mission of the University and contribute to a dangerous complacency in occupants, who may be slower to evacuate in an actual…
Fire Safety and Prevention
The primary means of fire prevention is to control ignition sources such as open flames, heaters, cooking equipment, research activities involving flammable materials and other sources. Environmental…
Extension Cords, Surge Suppressors and Power Strips
Extension cords, surge suppressors, and power strips are commonly used at the University. While extension cords are approved only for temporary use with portable appliances, power strips and…
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) Focus Sheet
The Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) Focus Sheet provides guidance on using a GFCI device to prevent electrical shock.
Electrical Safety
The UW Electrical Safety Program establishes the key requirements to ensure the safety of University personnel and prevent personal injury that could result from conducting work on electrical systems…
Ozone -Depleting Substances Design Guide
This information has moved to the UW Facilities Design Standard webpage.
Stormwater Management Design Guide
This information has moved to the UW Facilities Design Standard webpage.
Facilities Projects Support
The Facilities Projects Support Program provides review, consultation and testing for construction projects impacting facilities occupied by UW personnel or students.
EH&S participates by…
Fire in a Food Establishment Focus Sheet
The Fire in a Food Establishment Focus Sheet can help University retail food establishments protect workers, customers, and the facility from heat, smoke, fumes, chemical, and/or water…
Updated biosafety requirements for SARS-CoV-2 research
The recent biological safety level recommendations from the CDC and NIH to reduce the SARS-CoV-2 risk group biosafety levels (BSLs) prompted the University of Washington Institutional Biosafety…
Fire Safety and Evacuation Plan
University organizational units are required to develop a written Fire Safety and Evacuation Plan (FSEP) for each campus building they occupy. EH&S provides fire safety resources to our campus…
Biohazard Transport Policy
Transporting Biohazardous Agents and Laboratory Specimens
This policy outlines the proper procedures for transporting biohazardous agents and laboratory specimens within buildings and between…
Two new federal policies impacting research with synthetic nucleic acids and biological agents and toxins expected in May 2025
In May 2025, two new federal policy frameworks impacting research are scheduled to be implemented. More information will be provided prior to implementation. We understand that these new…