The UW Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) Occupational Health Program mission is to ensure the health and safety of University personnel and students. We provide information and support to persons working in the research environment, including animal care and use. The goals of the program are to prevent injury or disease from hazards in the workplace.
The UW Employee Health Center provides clinical services, including medical evaluations and counseling, administering immunizations, providing follow-up care after an injury or exposure, and establishes and maintains employee medical records.
Animal research involves a diverse range of hazards, some that pertain to animals, and others are related to the work being performed.
Please visit the Animal Worker Occupational Health & Safety page for requirements and resources for personnel working with or around animals. Topics include:
- Allergies
- Animal use medical screening
- Compassion fatigue
- Ergonomic hazards
- Fieldwork
- Handling of hazardous materials and agents administered to animals
- Hearing protection
- Physical hazards
- Zoonotic diseases
The Exposure Response Poster describes the actions you need to take in the event of a possible exposure to a hazardous material or biological agent.
If you experience an exposure:
- Immediately perform first aid.
- Call for medical help.
- Report the incident to a supervisor first and then to EH&S through the UW Online Accident Reporting System (OARS).
Work with certain biological agents may require medical counseling, medical surveillance, and/or immunization. Talk with your principal investigator or supervisor if you are working with any of the agents listed below.
- Biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) agents
- Hepatitis B virus, human blood, or other potentially infectious materials
- Influenza virus
- Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV)
- Rabies virus
- SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)
- Treponema pallidum
- Vaccinia virus
- Zika virus
If you have a personal medical or occupational concern at any time, contact the Employee Health Center for a confidential medical consultation.
If you are working with any hazardous agent, you need to know how to work safely at all times and the work practices needed to minimize your potential exposure to hazardous agents. The EH&S Reproductive Hazard Guidelines provide information about potential reproductive and developmental hazards in the workplace, which may include physical hazards or chemical, biological, or radiological substances.
The goal is to protect the reproductive health of University personnel and students from occupational exposures which are known or suspected of being capable of posing a hazard to human reproduction. EH&S is available to assist in evaluating risks and to advise on appropriate control measures to help reduce the potential hazards.
The Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Medical Safety Screening assures the safety of UW personnel who may be exposed to the MR magnet. Submission of a screening form is required prior to entry into an MR environment.
Please visit the MRI Medical Screening page for more information.
In general, serum from researchers is not collected and banked. In certain cases, serum collection and/or monitoring programs may be offered or required. The University conducts serum banking only when: (1) it is required by federal regulations or suggested by evidence-based occupational health practices standards; and (2) there is a plan to analyze the data as part of a risk assessment strategy.
Refer to the Serum Banking Policy for more information.
Responsibilities
- Provide documented agent-specific and site-specific hazard awareness information to personnel including:
- Reproductive and teratogenic risks;
- Risks associated with biological, chemical, or radiological hazards;
- Signs and symptoms of exposure; and
- Safe work requirements.
- Ensure personnel are aware of post-exposure and emergency procedures.
- Offer appropriate immunizations and/or medical surveillance as specified by EH&S.
- Inform personnel to contact the Employee Health Center for any questions or concerns related to personal or occupational health, for changes in personal health status, and if they develop signs/symptoms consistent with exposure to hazardous agents used in the workplace.
- Maintain records for each employee documenting the requirements to work in the laboratory or facility.
- Be aware of restrictions for minors in labs. Talk to your department administrator for specific policies.
Refer to Section 5 of the UW Biosafety Manual for more information.
- Be aware of how your health status may be impacted by work with hazardous agents.
- If personal health concerns or questions arise, contact the Employee Health Center for a confidential medical consultation.
- Comply with occupational health requirements and guidelines specified by your PI or supervisor and EH&S.
- Be aware of the hazards in your workplace and adhere to safe work practices. Bring concerns to the attention of your PI or supervisor.
- Follow the Exposure Response Poster for any exposure to a hazardous material or biological agent.
Refer to Section 5 of the UW Biosafety Manual for more information.
Services
Environmental Health & Safety provides the following services:
- Perform occupational health reviews of research protocols involving biohazards and animal care and use and provide workplace safety and medical management recommendations
- Provide occupational health consultation to employees or students as requested
- Investigate incidents involving biohazards, sharps, and/or animals and identify prevention strategies
- Coordinate post-exposure care for biological and animal care and use research
- Develop medical management guidance and facilitate clinical services and care
Incident reporting
The Exposure Response Poster describes the actions you need to take in the event of a possible exposure to a hazardous material or biological agent.
UW personnel are required to submit an incident report to Environmental Health & Safety for any work-related event that results in an injury, illness, exposure to hazardous materials, property damage, or fire, regardless of the work location. UW personnel are highly encouraged to submit work-related near-miss events. Visit the Incident Reporting page for more information.
More information
Visit the Determine Training Needs page to identify required and recommended trainings based on specific job hazards.
University units or departments are responsible for ensuring their personnel complete training.