Workplace Safety

The campuswide Workplace Safety Program serves as the university’s central program for creating a safe and healthful work environment. 

UC Berkeley Mold Awareness and Guidance

Overview

Mold is a type of fungus that can produce spores which are released into the air. Mold can be found everywhere and can be detected year-round, both indoors and outdoors. Persistent warm and humid conditions promote mold growth. Exposure to damp and moldy environments may cause a variety of health effects, or none at all. For people who are sensitive to mold, exposure can cause nasal stuffiness, throat irritation, coughing or wheezing, eye irritation, and in some cases, skin irritation.

No matter what type of mold is present it should be removed.

Please...

Mold Awareness and Guidance Program

Office of Environment, Health & Safety
2024

Mold can be found everywhere, and can be detected both indoors and outdoors, year-round. Persistent warm and humid conditions promote mold growth. Outdoor mold can be found in shady, damp areas or places where leaves or other vegetation is decomposing. Indoor mold can be found where humidity levels are high (like basements and showers) and where moist organic material accumulates (e.g. dirty carpets). Spoiled, rotten food is also a typical source of mold growth. It is common for mold to grow on materials like fiberboard, gypsum board, and paper.

Exposure to damp and moldy...

Plastic Secondary Container Shatters Due to Dry Ice Sublimation

May 28, 2019
Office of Environment, Health, and Safety
What happened?

A researcher packaged a microgram crystalline sample with dry ice to ensure sample integrity. The crystalline sample was first placed inside a glass vial, which was subsequently housed inside a plastic secondary container with a screw cap. The researcher placed dry ice around the glass vial inside the secondary container before loosely capping the top to vent.

When it came time to take out the glass vial, the researcher found that the secondary container was stuck, even though the cap was originally loosely screwed.

The researcher recruited the help of a staff...

Confined Space Evaluation/Entry Form

Office of Environment, Health & Safety

Confined Space Entry Permit

Office of Environment, Health & Safety

Electrical Safety

Office of Environment, Health & Safety
2021

Confined Space Entry Program Fact Sheet

Office of Environment, Health & Safety
2007

Fall Protection

In 2009, nationally there were fatal 520 falls, while in California there were 54 fatal falls of which 41 would have been prevented with adequate fall protection. Cal/OSHA has Fall Protection Safety regulations that ensure safe-work activities when the possibility of falling is present. The University of California, Berkeley (UCB) has developed this Fall Protection Safety Program to manage the safe selection, procurement, use of and safe work practices, inspection, and record-keeping of all fall protection equipment (FPE). Included are guidelines for identification and...

Fall Protection: Equipment and Inspection Fact Sheet

2007

UC Berkeley Fall Protection Safety Program

Office of Environment, Health & Safety

In 2009, nationally there were fatal 520 falls, while in California there were 54 fatal falls of which 41 would have been prevented with adequate fall protection. Cal/OSHA has Fall Protection Safety regulations that ensure safe-work activities when the possibility of falling is present. The University of California, Berkeley (UCB) has developed this Fall Protection Safety Program to manage the safe selection, procurement, use of and safe work practices, inspection and record keeping of all fall protection equipment (FPE). Included are guidelines for identification and correction of...