The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency has released a Wildfire Smoke Alert for the Puget Sound Region. During smoke events, the main pollutants of concern are the fine particles suspended in the air that can affect the respiratory and cardiovascular systems and increase health risks, especially for sensitive groups.
All incoming graduate students working in laboratories or other research spaces with hazards at any UW campus location are highly encouraged to attend the Graduate Student Safety Seminar.
The seminar will orient new researchers to the University’s safety requirements, procedures and expectations, and inform them of safety resources and services available through EH&S. It is an opportunity to introduce new graduate students to the established strong culture of safety that will support them in creating a successful graduate career.
On August 31, 2020, EH&S sent an email to biological researchers warning them to be aware of suspicious mail. Our local FBI shared with us reports of threatening mail being sent to COVID-19 researchers on the east coast of the U.S. Several local and national media outlets have since published news stories based on the email. The original email is included below.
Updated September 17, 2020 at 2:01 p.m.
Staying home and avoiding contact with other people when you have symptoms of COVID-19 illness, test positive for COVID-19, or have close contact with a person who has COVID-19 is critical to preventing the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.
Quarantine and self-isolation both involve staying home and avoiding contact with other people.
3M announced an immediate Stop Use and Product Recall Notice for its 3M™ DBI-SALA® Self-Rescue Descent fall protection systems manufactured before July 2020.
Petzl®, a manufacturer of fall protection ropes, issued a request for inspection of Petzl® low-stretch kermantle ropes due to the discovery of critical defects.
University units using Petz® kernmantle ropes with fall protection equipment should immediately inspect the following ropes with serial numbers between 18 C 0000000 000 and 20 H 0000000 000:
Excessive exposure to heat can cause a range of heat-related illnesses, from less serious heat rash and heat cramps to more serious heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat stroke requires immediate medical attention because it can be deadly, so take precautions while working in the summer heat.
The Environmental Health & Safety Department (EH&S) is hosting webinars in collaboration with campus partners to assist University units with developing and implementing COVID-19 prevention plans in support of a safe return to in-person work.
The hazards: Nitric acid is a highly corrosive mineral acid and strong oxidizer used primarily for nitration of organic molecules and washing glassware or metal equipment. Nitric acid reacts violently with alcohols, alkalis, reducing agents, combustible materials, organic materials, metals, acids, cyanides, terpenes, charcoal, and acetone. It produces exothermic reactions, as well as toxic, corrosive, and flammable vapors.
The UW Environmental Health & Safety Department (EH&S) received a Silver Award from King County Industrial Waste Program to recognize Seattle campus wastewater treatment practices that protect regional water quality.
