Accident Prevention Plan

Read the 2024 UW Accident Prevention Plan and log of changes.

A video introduction to health and safety at the University of Washington

Introduction to the UW Accident Prevention Plan

The University’s Accident Prevention Plan covers the anticipated workplace hazards that generally apply to employees across the University. It outlines policies and procedures implemented to reduce or eliminate these hazards.

The goal of the UW Accident Prevention Plan is to provide core health and safety guidance that applies to all employees at the University, along with a department’s Supplemental Accident Prevention Plan, which is customized to address specific health and safety topics related to the worksites and job hazards within an individual department. To be effective, all UW employees should review the UW Accident Prevention Plan and be familiar with their department-specific Supplemental Accident Prevention Plan.

Employees covered by the UW Accident Prevention Plan include staff, faculty and students or volunteers in paid permanent, part-time or seasonal positions. It applies to all campuses, schools, departments, and organizations within the University. UW medical facility personnel follow additional UW Medicine policies and procedures beyond this Plan.

Supplemental Accident Prevention Plan

University departments and units are required to document additional health and safety topics, including worksite-specific hazards beyond those covered in the UW Accident Prevention Plan, and should use the Supplemental Accident Prevention Plan Template as a guide.

Each department’s Supplemental Accident Prevention Plan should include site-specific health and safety information, records, and resources, such as those listed below.

Fire Safety and Evacuation Plan
Laboratory Safety Manual
Biosafety Manual
Training records
Radiation Safety Manual
Administrative Policy Statements
Standard operating procedures specific to a department.

See the University of Washington Accident Prevention Plan and the Supplemental Accident Prevention Plan Template for more information.

New employee safety orientation

An important section of the Accident Prevention Plan is the information regarding a new employee’s safety orientation. As stated in the Plan, every employee at the University must undergo a safety orientation that covers important health and safety information.

Supervisors can download the New Employee Safety Orientation Template, which covers the required health and safety topics to be discussed during an orientation. Supervisors can add additional information to this template if needed.

First aid

The Accident Prevention Plan covers the requirements for ensuring first aid treatment for employees. Every department should have a plan in place to ensure that their employees have access to quick and effective first aid. More information on first aid policies can be found in the First Aid Guidelines.

Job hazard analysis

In order to understand what hazards exist within a department or area that are not covered by the Accident Prevention Plan, departments should conduct a job hazard analysis. The Job Hazard Analysis page has resources to help you identify the hazards associated with work processes. Contact EH&S if you need assistance identifying hazards beyond those covered in the Plan.