COVID-19 Health and Safety

The University of Washington COVID-19 Prevention Plan helps ensure the health and safety of personnel by reducing the potential for COVID-19 transmission at the University of Washington. 

Refer to the COVID-19 Prevention Guidelines for In-Person Events for current policies and guidance.

COVID-19 Prevention for Building Maintenance (updated 10/8/20)

UW Facilities Building Readiness Guidelines page contains information for building coordinators.

The Building Readiness Checklist has been archived.

The article How Ventilation in UW Buildings Works on the UW Facilities website contains information about the measures taken to improve natural and mechanical ventilation in UW buildings.

In addition, building occupants can find answers to frequently asked questions about COVID-19 prevention involving building ventilation systems in the COVID-19 Ventilation FAQs (updated 7/9/21).

The UW hired a testing, adjusting, and balancing (TAB) contractor and industrial hygiene (IH) consultant to provide mechanical ventilation assessments and data validation for 93 classrooms in UW-owned buildings at the main Seattle Campus. The Classroom Ventilation Performance Summary Report (10/21/21) summarizes the results.

The University of Washington Guidance for Plexiglass Barriers  provides a review of the benefits, limitations and performance standards for plexiglass barriers, and guidance for prioritizing the installation. University units considering the use of barriers may consider this alternative strategy as a component of their overall COVID-19 prevention efforts.

Visit the Office of Research website for information on updating your Return to In-Person Research Plans.

Ensure that any specific COVID-19 prevention practices relevant to your field research activities are accounted for in your general Fieldwork Safety Plan. In addition, researchers should reference and follow the these precautions around travel, as applicable:

• UW FAQs on Travel and Study Abroad
• CDC Guidance on International Travel During COVID-19
• CDC Guidance on Domestic Travel During COVID-19
• University National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) COVID-19 – Considerations for Scientists and Operators

EH&S is available for consultation and to assist with risk assessments if screening testing is needed for specific fieldwork operations, such as those that involve shared overnight accommodations.

COVID-19 Research Biosafety Guidance assists investigators planning research involving SARS-CoV-2 to understand the health and safety considerations and compliance expectations necessary to safely facilitate the research.

Refer to the Human Subjects Division COVID Related Requirements for Human Subjects Research webpage for guidance on COVID-19 precautions in human subjects research.

Those who are just resuming in-person lab research are encouraged to review the Guide to Business Continuity and Recovery Planning for Laboratories and Research Spaces, and perform a Lab Self-Inspection prior to restarting lab work. For questions related to lab work, please contact EH&S Research & Occupational Safety at labcheck@uw.edu or 206.685.3993.

Personnel must complete the online COVID-19 Safety Training course upon returning to or starting work at a University location.

COVID-19 Safety Training Report

University supervisors, managers and unit leaders can access a report of COVID-19 Safety Training records by organization code or manager using the COVID-19 Safety Training Report tool.

For more information about safety training, contact EH&S at ehsdept@uw.edu or 206.543.7262.

University units with vendors and contractors working on site at a University location should refer to the COVID-19 Information for Units with Contractors and Vendors Working on Site to ensure the health and safety of on-site personnel by reducing the potential for COVID-19 transmission.