Skip to main content

Safety Information

Before access can be granted, everyone must undergo general lab safety training and complete the necessary Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) trainings specific for this lab. Certain machines in the space will also require specific machine training in order to use. Certain EH&S trainings expire annually and will need to be retaken. If a user has not used the space for an extended period of time (generally 6 months), they may need to retake the general safety training and specific machine trainings.

It is critical that all safety rules and regulations are followed within the Fabrication Research Lab. This page will provide important links and downloads to the Lab Safety Manual, MyChem, Online Accident Reporting System, and more.

Gaining Access to the Fabrication Research Lab

Please see the flowchart linked below for the general procedures needed to gain access to the Fabrication Research Lab. Contact the lab manager with any questions:

General Lab Safety Rules & Documents

Required EH&S Lab & Shop Safety Trainings:

If you would like to check which EH&S trainings you have completed and which are up to date or expired, please see the EH&S Training Records page: Training Records | EHS (washington.edu).

Be aware that if a training expires, your access to the Fablabs will be revoked until it has been updated.

Lab & Shop Safety Manuals

Please find attached our Shop Safety Manuals for each respective space:

Please find attached the Lab Safety Manuals for each respective PI:

To find equipment standard operating procedures, please see the “Equipment” page.

To find out about how lab safety inspections are done, or if you would like to run one yourself as a part of our semi-annual inspection, please find the lab safety inspection check list below:

Lab Safety Checklist

Lab Safety Maps

The maps below detail safety features in each lab. Anything in red is a safety feature and will have a call-out identifying it:

MyChem

Once you have undergone General Lab Safety training, you will be added to our MyChem account. For our entire chemical inventory and access to pertinent Safety Data Sheets (SDS), please see your lab’s designated shop & lab safety binder or log in to MyChem, linked here:

Enter MyChem Chemical Inventory

Reporting an Accident or Near Miss

All accidents, near-misses, spills, and emergencies MUST be reported to the lab manager and on the Online Accident Reporting System (OARS) within 24 hours of the incident. Please list your PI and follow the prompts through the reporting process. The link to OARS can be found below:

Report Incident on Online Accident Reporting System

Training Records

All training records are stored either digitally or in CSE2 G15B, the Fabrication Research Lab manager’s office. Please contact Alexander Lefort in regards to viewing these documents: Aalefort@cs.washington.edu.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Hazard Assessments

Laboratory Assessments

Shop Assessments

Working Alone in the Lab

Working alone in the lab is only allowed for starting or finishing 3D prints, use of the laser cutters, or non-powered work.

Outside of regular lab hours, a buddy – defined as someone who also has access to the space and is trained on the procedures you are conducting – is required for soldering and powered work at the electronic analysis stations and work with the knitting machine or sewing and embroidery machines unless specific permission has been granted. This list is not exhaustive; If your procedure is not explicitly called out as fine for working alone, please contact the lab manager to discuss further.

Work with power tools and the CNC router and mill is completely unavailable unless the lab manager is present.

A useful hot sheet is linked below with more information from the University about working alone:

Lock-Out Tag-Out Instructions (for Lab Manager Use Only)