Latest News

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.

Revisions to Washington state fall protection regulations became effective October 1, 2020. EH&S published an updated UW Fall Protection Program Manual and updates to five additional fall protection resources that reflect the regulation changes.

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.

Victory Innovations, manufacturer of electrostatic sprayers used for disinfecting surfaces, has recalled lithium-ion batteries due to fire and explosion hazards after receiving reports of the lithium-ion battery pack in the electrostatic sprayers overheating, catching on fire or exploding.

University of Washington (UW) units with electrostatic sprayers should immediately:

University units that ship dangerous goods by air should review the regulation changes enacted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) on January 1, 2021. Dangerous good impacted by the regulation changes include hazardous chemicals, infectious substances, dry ice and devices containing lithium batteries.

The University’s 2020 OSHA 300A Summaries are posted on the Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) website. University units are required to post the summary that best matches their location from February 1, 2021 through April 30, 2021 in a location where employees can easily access them.

Injuries involving sharps are among the most commonly reported injuries at the University. EH&S collaborated with campus partners to develop an online resource to assist researchers and support staff to reduce the risk of accidents and injuries before, during and after procedures involving needles and other sharps.

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.

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.