Biosafety Month 2025: Learn how a biosafety cabinet protects you
October is Biosafety Month, a time to focus on biosafety practices in your lab. For 2025, Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) encourages labs to learn more about how biosafety cabinets…
New drowning prevention guidance
The Environmental Health & Safety Boating Safety Program created two new resources to help UW personnel identify and reduce the risk of drowning while working on, over, or alongside water. These…
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…
Biohazard Transport Policy
Transporting Biohazardous Agents and Laboratory SpecimensThis 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…
Biotoxin Safety
Learn how to work safely with biotoxins and if the biotoxin you use is subject to additional regulatory oversight.
Autoclave Safety
Learn how to safely operate an autoclave and treat biohazardous waste for disposal according to applicable regulations.
Updated ABSL-1 waste disposal procedures
Processes for treatment and disposal of animal biosafety level 1 (ABSL-1) animal carcasses have been updated with input from the UW Infectious Waste Committee and the UW Institutional Biosafety…
New spend category and purchasing requirements for research with synthetic nucleic acids and synthesis equipment
A new spend category has been created for the purchase of synthetic nucleic acids and synthesis equipment to help ensure compliance with the Framework for Nucleic Acid Synthesis Screening. This…
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…
Approval required for use of recombinant or synthetic DNA or RNA in animals
Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) reminds researchers that all research with biohazardous agents at the University of Washington requires review and approval by the Institutional…
Updated Bloodborne Pathogens Training Course
Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) launched the revamped course Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) for Researchers Online! The updated version offers enhanced language, visuals, and…
Updated Biological Use Authorization (BUA) applications now available for biological research approval
The EH&S Biological Use Authorization (BUA) application has undergone major revisions with the goal to clarify and improve the questions necessary for the biosafety risk assessment for…
BUA Change Application
This application is for changes to existing research projects that involve biohazards and therefore require Biological Use Authorization (BUA) from the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC). …
New and updated shop and maker space safety resources
Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) published updates to our Shop and Maker Space Safety resources for units and departments that operate shops and maker spaces at the University of…