MSA issued a User Safety Notice to inform customers that MSA has received field reports of a limited number of Latchways Standard Self-Retracting Lifelines (SRL) in which some internal bolts came loose. MSA has not received any reports of injuries associated with this condition; however, it may lead to window of time in which a fall may not be arrested.
Eating and drinking, as unmasked activities, present a higher risk for exposure to COVID-19. EH&S has published new guidance to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in eating spaces and study areas managed by University units.
The December 2020 version of the UW Laboratory Safety Manual (LSM) is now available for download or printing. It's time for principal investigators to review, bookmark, or print a copy of the updated LSM and make it available for all staff and students in your lab.
Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) issued a hazard alert to inform businesses about the dangers and safety precautions associated with the use, transport, and storage of dry ice and liquid nitrogen. University units involved with COVID-19 vaccine distribution efforts and research groups should take all necessary precautions when working with dry ice and liquid nitrogen.
As autumn quarter comes to a close, the Environmental Health & Safety Department (EH&S) wishes you and your family a happy and healthy holiday season while taking the necessary precautions to minimize the spread of COVID-19.
Vacuum pumps are used to remove air and other vapors from a vessel or manifold. Weak points in containers or systems under vacuum can create implosion or explosion hazards, and cause injury by violently spraying glass and hazardous materials. An example of this is an incident that recently occurred at the University of Pennsylvania resulting in an explosion and fire.
Visit the EH&S’s Chemical SOPs page to find updated and new standard operating procedures (SOP) templates for 2-Mercaptoethanol, Cyanides, and Soldering.
New rules went into effect on October 31, 2020, for the management of dangerous waste pharmaceuticals, which set new requirements for Washington state health care facilities that generate pharmaceutical waste.
EH&S temporarily pauses hazardous chemical waste collection service for many sites during the last two weeks of each year to do annual maintenance and upkeep at our waste handling facility. Some chemical waste collections may be delayed during the temporary shutdown from December 15, 2020 to January 3, 2021. This pause will not affect routine collections at University medical centers.
