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…
EH&S move to Gateway building
Most Environmental Health & Safety teams relocated to the new Gateway building above the Sound Transit Link light rail station on Brooklyn Avenue NE between NE 45th and 43rd …
Fieldwork Safety Plan Template 1
The Fieldwork Safety Plan Template 1 may be used by the principal investigator (PI), responsible party (RP), field instructor, or safety officer to develop a Safety Plan. The completed…
UW Float Plan
University units/departments may use the UW Float Plan as a template to develop their float plan.
Visit the Boating Safety page for more information.
Fieldwork Safety Plan Template 2
The Fieldwork Safety Plan Template 2 may be used by the principal investigator (PI), responsible party (RP), field instructor, or safety officer to develop a Safety Plan.
The…
Site-Specific Bloodborne Pathogen (BBP) Exposure Control Plan template
PIs/supervisors must develop a site-specific BBP Exposure Control Plan as a supplement to the UW’s core BBP Exposure Control Plan in Appendix A of the UW Biosafety Manual. The site-…
October is Biosafety Month: Schedule a spa day for your lab
October is National Biosafety Month, a time to strengthen and reevaluate biosafety practices in the lab.
Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) encourages you to set aside some time for…
Work safely with human materials
Human source materials, including human cell lines, blood, tissues and other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) are commonly used biohazards in UW research labs. Potentially infectious human…
Revised NIH Guidelines address research involving gene drive modified organisms
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) published revisions to the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules (NIH Guidelines). The published changes…
2019 Lab Safety Awards and Innovation Event winners
On December 9, 2019, EH&S hosted the Laboratory Safety Awards & Innovation Event to share new practices developed to enhance the culture of safety in UW research and teaching labs. Executive…
Resources for laboratory equipment maintenance
If your research involves the use of centrifuges, ovens/furnaces, vacuum pumps, or other laboratory equipment, the Laboratory Equipment Maintenance webpage provides resources that can help you…
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…
Make your electronic Chemical Hygiene Plan
Keeping your safety documents up to date and easily accessible are key for staying safe. Faculty, staff, and students working in research and teaching laboratories need to have access at all times to…
Select the correct PPE to protect against eye hazards
Several recent incidents have occurred at the University in which a chemical or infectious material splashed or splattered into the eye because the individual was not wearing the correct…
Safely store compressed gases and cryogens
Compressed gases and cryogenic liquids are stored in gas cylinders under high pressure, which can have several safety considerations to prevent injury and property damage. University units and…
2023 Laboratory Safety Awards and Innovations Event
The 2023 Laboratory Safety Awards & Innovations Event honored 22 labs, departments, and individuals to recognize their significant contributions to fostering a strong culture of safety in…
2023 Lab Safety Awards and Innovations
The 2023 Laboratory Safety Awards & Innovations Event will be held on December 8, 2023, to celebrate our award recipients, lab safety innovators, and the excellent work being done in…
Bloodborne pathogens worker safety requirements
Human blood and other potentially infectious materials may contain viruses referred to as bloodborne pathogens (BBP) that can make people ill if they become infected. Implementing workplace safety…
Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC) and Pathogens with Enhanced Pandemic Potential (PEPP)
UPDATE: The White House issued an executive order on May 5, 2025, directing federal agencies to end funding for "dangerous gain-of-function research” and develop a new oversight policy within 120…