EH&S launched a new Chemical Container Labels webpage where UW employees can learn about the requirements for labeling chemical containers of various types and download a number of customizable chemical label templates.
Honeywell issued an Immediate Mandatory Inspection Notice for users of Miller® MightEvac and MightyLite Self-Retracting Lifelines.
University faculty, staff, and students must complete an animal use health screening prior to work in any University animal care and use environment to evaluate and address potential health risks related to working with research animals.
You can help speed up the health screening process by following these tips when completing the online Animal Use Medical Screening (AUMS) form:
1. Verify your contact Information.
The UW Fall Protection Program Manual and five additional fall protection resources were updated to reflect revisions to Washington state fall protection regulations that went into effect on October 1, 2020. University units and departments with personnel who may be exposed to fall hazards are required to update their Fall Protection Work Plans to align with the updated regulations.
The University’s new Administrative Policy Statement 12.7 supporting laboratory safety is now published. The policy establishes University requirements for oversight of chemical and physical safety in research and academic environments, including the establishment of the Institutional Chemical and Physical Safety Committee (ICAPS), and an escalation process for addressing laboratory safety findings.
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.
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.
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.
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.
October is National Biosafety Month, a time to focus on your lab’s biosafety policies and procedures. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected biological research labs in many ways, from potential difficulties obtaining personal protective equipment (PPE) and disinfectants to limiting how many people can work at a given time in a space. For 2020's National Biosafety Month, EH&S would like labs to focus on creating or updating biosafety standard operating procedures (SOPs) and staying aware of how to work safely during COVID-19.
