Welcome to Environmental Health & Safety
Updated November 19, 2024
Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) is an administrative unit that assists University units in meeting their responsibility to protect the environment and to provide a safe and healthful place for employment and learning.
We employ about 100 people who are spread across the UW Seattle campus in multiple locations.
We have six sections organized around the services we provide.
Grounding and Bonding Focus Sheet
Use and dispensing of flammable liquids presents fire and explosion hazards to facilities and occupants. Proper grounding and bonding limits the potential of static electrical spark during dispensing.
Chemical Safety Levels and Hazard Codes
The chemical inventories in MyChem are automatically assigned to a Chemical Safety Level (CSL) based on the quantity and type of hazards present. CSLs include both physical and health hazards and assist EH&S with identifying locations that may pose a greater risk to workers.
Laboratory Safety Manual
Welcome to the UW Laboratory Safety Manual (LSM).
Please bookmark this page electronically or print a copy of the complete LSM and make it available to laboratory staff. Staff in UW laboratories using hazardous chemicals must have access to a copy of the manual and the supplemental laboratory-specific information.
Hand Sanitizer Fire Safety Focus Sheet
Hand washing and the use of hand sanitizer with an alcohol content of at least 60% is one of the key prevention measures to help reduce the potential for transmission of communicable diseases. Because alcohol-based hand sanitizers are highly flammable, the storage and dispensation within buildings are regulated by fire codes. Please follow these guidelines to ensure a safe and healthy environment.
EGC1 Hazmat Screening Focus Sheet
Applicants completing an eGC1 are asked questions about quantities of hazardous materials they intend to use in their research. EH&S reviews this information to determine whether the proposed lab space is suitable for this intended purpose.
Should you pull the fire alarm after a chemical spill?
December 18, 2019
Following the announcement of the Seattle Police Department’s preventable fire alarm initiative (that will result in fines for false alarms starting January 1, 2020), EH&S has fielded concerns about whether a fire alarm should be trigged when a fire is not present.
Fire Code Classifications for Hazardous Materials
Hazardous materials are classified according to the International Fire Code, which limits quantities of certain chemicals based on physical and health hazards, and sets requirements for storage and use.
Preventable fire alarm initiative
November 22, 2019
Updated 12/23/21
Seattle Fire Department’s (SFD) Fire Prevention Division launched a initiative in 2020 to avoid “false” or “preventable” alarms. For this reason, the City of Seattle is introducing citations of $373 or greater beginning January 1, 2020 for preventable alarms. As a result of this initiative, the availability of fire department resources to respond to true emergencies is expected to improve.
Preventable alarms include: