Working with plants in a greenhouse, growth chamber, or lab space? Appropriate signage may be required. EH&S has released newly updated signage to improve hazard communication in greenhouse spaces. Why is signage for plant spaces …
JAKE STOTTLER
New disinfection and equipment safety courses
Looking to level up your lab safety? The Office of Biological Safety (OBS) has added two options to our campus training catalog. Biosafety 108: Disinfection, Inactivation & Disposal includes two learning modules. Module 1: Disinfection …
Poliovirus containment: your responsibilities
As part of our commitment to minimize the risk of poliovirus release from our research and diagnostic laboratories, UW-Madison must report the acquisition or discovery of any poliovirus potentially infectious materials to the U.S. National …
Biological Safety Cabinet tips and tricks
Many biological research labs at UW–Madison have Biological Safety Cabinets (BSCs) to protect users, research materials and the environment. Keeping your cabinets safe requires careful attention during use and proper preparation for certification. Please see …
Breaking up with your old lab: How to part on good terms
If you are moving or shutting down a laboratory, it can be daunting to determine how to dispose of items that are no longer needed. This can include large volumes of biological samples, combined chemical/biological …
Youth safety: Supporting minors in research labs
Each year, more than 100,000 minors engage with the university through conferences, camps, clinics, seminars, competitions, field trips, internships and other activities. These experiences represent the Wisconsin Idea in action. While these experiences advance the …
Shared space, shared safety: Principal Investigator responsibilities in research cores
Shared research cores are centralized laboratories on campus that provide access to specialized equipment and expert technical support that go beyond what is typically available in an individual investigator’s laboratory. To help ensure the safety …
Cover your bases — and yourself: A guide to PPE
Lab coats, gloves and eye protection are standard personal protective equipment (PPE) in laboratories. PPE should be worn while working in a lab and by others present in the space. It is important that PPE …
Biosafety updates: What’s new for you
Since the last Biosafety Month campaign, the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) has revised several documents, and we have information on a future policy update: UW Policy 6102 update – This policy outlines the review timeline …
Close calls
During the first week of this year’s Biosafety Month, we shared an article about close calls and invited members of our research community to share their safety moments. As 2025’s Biosafety Month comes to a …