UW Expands Worker Safety Through Health Research and Training
Through scientific research and regional OSHA-authorized courses, the University of Washington is advancing occupational health and safety across the Pacific Northwest.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- Jun 23, 2025
The University of Washington is strengthening occupational health and safety across the Pacific Northwest through a combination of academic research and hands-on training programs.
The UW Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences (DEOHS) has spent more than six decades studying workplace hazards such as heat stress, chemical exposure, wildfire smoke, and ergonomic strain. The department works closely with safety professionals, employers, and communities to translate scientific findings into real-world safety improvements.
A key part of that effort is the Pacific Northwest OSHA Education Center, housed at the university and serving as the only OSHA-authorized training facility in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska. Since 1995, the center has offered a variety of courses covering topics including fall protection, machine guarding, confined space entry, regulatory compliance, and industrial hygiene. Classes are taught by certified instructors and are available both on-site and through open enrollment.
These programs aim to build a stronger safety culture and ensure workers and employers have access to up-to-date guidance on federal and state standards. In addition to supporting the regional workforce, UW Environmental Health & Safety provides internal training and resources to promote safety on campus.
For more information, visit:
https://www.washington.edu/news/2025/06/23/video-uw-helps-protect-washingtons-workers-through-occupational-health-safety-research-training/
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco is the Content Editor for OH&S.