The University is committed to ensuring a healthy and safe environment for working, learning, research, teaching and service. There are many ways for University personnel to report and discuss workplace safety concerns and recommended improvements. Here are some options:
- Supervisor: UW supervisors and unit leaders have a responsibility to address safety concerns and improvements in their work settings. Personnel are encouraged to discuss workplace safety issues with their supervisor first.
- Department leadership: Personnel can contact a department administrator or department leadership representative.
- Safety officer in your unit or department: Several University units such as UW Facilities, UW Medical Center, Harborview Medical Center, UW Tacoma and UW Bothell have dedicated safety managers to support their workplace health and safety needs. These individuals are a valuable resource for workers because they have direct knowledge of their unit operations, facilities, safety equipment and resources to support workers.
- Health and safety committees: The UW has 10 health and safety committees representing all UW units and personnel. UW employees can send safety topics and questions to their safety committee representative(s) at any time. Visit the Health and Safety Committees page to locate the chair(s) of your health safety committee and unit representatives.
- The UW Environmental Health & Safety Department (EH&S): UW personnel are encouraged to contact EH&S for support with workplace health and safety concerns or questions; we will direct concerns to the appropriate subject matter expert(s) in EH&S. You can also report general safety concerns and observations to EH&S through our Report page, which includes an option for anonymous reporting.
The University has additional reporting procedures for the following topics below:
- UW Police: Crime and emergencies
- SafeCampus: Violence prevention; safety and well-being concerns for yourself or others
- Title IX Reporting: Reporting sex- and gender-based violence, harassment, or discrimination
- Reporting Bias Incidents: Non-emergency reporting of bias incidents