UCSD Blink: EH&S Safety Award For Excellence (SAFE) Hall of Fame

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EH&S Safety Award For Excellence (SAFE) Hall of Fame

The Safety Award For Excellence (SAFE) celebrates UCSD individuals and work groups who excel in creating and maintaining a safe and healthful workplace consistent with Environment, Health & Safety policies. Visit the Safety Award For Excellence (SAFE) Hall of Fame below to find out who's making UCSD a SAFE place to work. You can also nominate someone!

And the winners are ...

	Janette Holtz, Pasquinelli Lab, Division of Biological Sciences Outstanding Individual Ms. Holtz' coworkers believe her personal attention, advocacy, and leadership are key to her success managing the growing lab's safety program over the last 4 years. Perfect safety audit scores, effective hazardous materials management, safety orientation for new lab workers and non-research employees who enter the lab, ongoing safety training for continuing workers, and actively working to keep Bonner Hall common rooms safe, functional, and clean is the work of a winner!
	Brian Busch and Chris Kennedy, Mandell Weiss Theatre Paint Shop Outstanding Work Group Loud noise and airborne particulates from machinery used in the Paint Shop to produce props and scenery posed a risk to workers' hearing and respiratory systems. Mr. Busch and Mr. Kennedy introduced engineering and administrative controls and personal protective equipment to protect worker health. Their efforts to reduce risk have made the Paint Shop a safer place to work.
	Aquatics Lifeguards: Brandon Austin, Charles Abadie, and Tyler Sutterley, Recreations Department Outstanding Work Group Recreation Department lifeguards, Brandon Austin, Charles Abadie, and Tyler Sutterley were commended by paramedics for quick response and professional delivery of emergency skills during a pool emergency on February 8, 2008. Paramedics called to the scene specifically praised Austin, Abadie, and Sutterly for proficiency of skill and swift activation. Approximately 120,000 individuals use the 3 campus pools each year – approximately 2,300 per week. The pools are open 114 hours per week. Over the past 9 years, EMS has been activated on an average of 1.2 times per year. The Recreation Department’s commitment to preventative safety procedures and the extensive training lifeguard staff receive on an ongoing basis is a primary reason this number is low. Aquatics lifeguards are definitely taking an active role in making UCSD a SAFE place.
	Ruth Patterson, Housing & Dining Services Outstanding Individual Ms. Patterson places a winning emphasis on maintaining a consistently high quality workplace safety program. She's been instrumental in educating her colleagues about emergency procedures and improving the emergency supply containers in her area of H&DS.
Back to top	Sheila Kennedy, Chemistry and Biochemistry Department Outstanding Individual As Safety Coordinator for the UCSD Undergraduate Laboratory and an analytical chemistry laboratory, Sheila Kennedy has steadfastly championed a culture of safety for students and employees. Outside the lab, Ms. Kennedy participates in the Campus Emergency Response Team program, benefiting the entire UCSD campus community.
	Srikrishna Khandrika, General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) Outstanding Individual Mr. Khandrika consistently maintains an outstanding safety program for the General Clinical Research Center. Specific initiatives include improving the lab environment by disposing of old equipment and coordinating a fresh paint job and new lighting, reducing the chemical inventory, and organizing safety training records. National Institutes of Health inspectors gave the GCRC an "outstanding rating," thanks to the efforts of Mr. Khandrika.
	Libraries Safety & Security Team (LSST) Outstanding Work Group Founded in the mid-1990s, LSST members are safety and emergency preparedness planners for the campus libraries. Among many challenges, planning safety and evacuation procedures for multiple buildings that receive over two million visitors annually and protection of valuable (and many irreplaceable) library collections stand out. Among their many accomplishments, the LSST is making sure library staff are trained to assist persons with disabilities during an emergency.
Back to top	William Loomis and Wolfgang Junger, Hoyt Lab, Department of Surgery (William Loomis, center, with young researchers in the Hoyt Lab. Dr. Junger was unable to attend.) Outstanding Work Team Consistently communicating a philosophy of laboratory safety is a challenge as Mr. Loomis and Dr. Junger train an ever changing staff of young researchers in the Hoyt Lab. They meet and exceed expectations with an "Injury Prevention Plan" that provides training on injury prevention and what to do in the event of a lab accident or injury. Mr. Loomis and Dr. Junger enthusiastically cultivate a safe research environment that benefits everyone at UCSD now, and will influence the future labs of our graduates.
	Marine Physical Laboratory Work Group, Point Loma With EH&S Director Steve Benedict at left, the MPL crew includes William Gaines, George Trekas, Frank Biegler, Norm Waters, Jerry Crum, Jerry Gardner, Christopher Boyd, Timothy Stoesz, Brian Wheeler, Tom Driscoll, Thomas Golfinos, Joe Hawkins, and Clifford Barbeau Outstanding Work Group The MPL team has the safety program EH&S strives to achieve with all our research and operations partners. The strength of their efforts was demonstrated during a recent San Diego County inspection in which no violations or negative comments were noted — particularly impressive considering reconditioning of ballast tanks for the SIO vessel FLIP was taking place. This difficult process carried significant EPA, OSHA, and Best Management Practice requirements. Their success demonstrates the overall philosophy of MPL to achieve a clean, safe, and sustainable work environment.
	Anatomical Preparation & Medical Teaching Laboratories Work Group: Chris Hopkins, Lisa Krenzer, Shannon Davenport, Eric Wood, Richard Wilson, Lola Hernandez, and Mark Gary (Team members Lisa Krenzer, Chris Hopkins, and Shannon Davenport are shown with EH&S Director Steve Benedict) Outstanding Work Group The School of Medicine's Anatomical Prep group has developed and refined an admirable safety program. In-house processes are continuously assessed and adjusted to achieve teaching and regulatory compliance goals. This creative team continues to find innovative solutions for integrating environment, health, and safety principles into a sensitive and essential medical teaching facility.
Back to top	Gary Jones, Facilities Maintenance East, Physical Plant Services Outstanding Individual Mr. Jones runs a crew of facility maintenance specialists with an excellent safety compliance record and a history of no serious work-related injuries. Proactive partnering with EH&S has been instrumental in preventing safety problems. Safety training and equipment are top priorities. His "work safe and smart" philosophy and positive attitude works wonders.
	Grounds & Landscape Safety Committee, Facilities Management: Robert Hernandez, Richard Barajas, Christine Rasmussen, Steve Kastama, and Fernando Becker (not shown – Fernando Becker was serving in Kuwait when this photo was taken) Outstanding Work Group Ergonomically-designed tools and pruning guidelines that reduce repetitive motion injuries are prize-winning ideas implemented by the Grounds & Landscape Safety Committee. Their monthly safety meetings cover topics from chain saw safety to ear and eye protection to back injury prevention. Groundskeepers can use a new e-mail address established by the Committee to submit safety concerns or suggestions. Their efforts promote safe work practices, and it shows in reduced workers' compensation claims.
	Arch Steele, Radiology Department, UCSD Medical Center Outstanding Individual In addition to managing safety needs for a busy health care radiology group, Mr. Steele took on the added responsibility of tracking the department's exceptionally large number of dosimetry badges. Efficiently collecting old badges and distributing new ones, Mr. Steele consistently maintains a 98–100% return rate, ensuring expedient processing and monitoring of his coworkers' occupational exposures.
Back to top	Bioengineering Safety Team: Doug Gurevitch, Beth Maples, and Loretta Smith Outstanding Work Group Recognizing the advantages of coordinating safety communications and efforts department-wide, Mr. Gurevitch, Ms. Maples, and Ms. Smith established a network of Bioengineering safety coordinators and building floor wardens, inviting participation in safety issues by all levels of the department. Their mutual support safety program is a great model for other UCSD groups.
	Chris Kauffman, Fenical Lab, Scripps Institution of Oceanography Outstanding Individual Mr. Kauffman coordinates a safety program for over 20 researchers and six distinct labs distributed over two buildings on multiple floors. Continuously assessing and adjusting lab processes, he redistributed large quantities of flammable solvents to achieve a safer workplace and meet regulatory requirements, and daily manages large amounts of hazardous waste generated by the labs. Mr. Kauffman successfully integrates environment, health, and safety principles into research work and inspires others to do the same.
	Grace Sousa, Bier Lab, Biological Sciences Outstanding Individual Addressing the safety needs of a busy lab is no easy endeavor. Grace Sousa took on the responsibility in spite of being new to the job. Ms. Sousa never hesitates to take advantage of EH&S services when she has lab safety questions or concerns. Her enthusiastic efforts have transformed the Bier Lab into a model of safety compliance and an example for others to follow.
Back to top	Scott Richards, Visual Arts Department Outstanding Individual Mr. Richards developed an in-house safety training program, cultivated a hazardous waste reduction program, and made the Visual Arts shops and studios code-compliant for use, storage, and disposal of hazardous wastes such as paints and solvents. It's an awesome accomplishment given the quantities used in a large visual arts department.
	Carol Sheehan, Tebo/ Haygood Lab, Scripps Institution of Oceanography Outstanding Individual Ms. Sheehan redesigned in-house processes to make them safer and regulation-compliant, including: changing the lab’s large acid bath procedures and disposal, correcting and maintaining the radioactive isotope inventory, and developing a biohazardous waste program that has become a model for other labs.
	Dr. Daniel Masys, School of Medicine Outstanding Individual With Dr. Masys' generous assistance, EH&S adapted his Web-based training software to bring convenient online Annual Hazardous Materials Refresher training to the campus. Dr. Masys' commitment to supporting, improving, and delivering safety training to UCSD employees far exceeded his own department's needs.
Back to top	Annie Townsend, Museum Collections, Scripps Institution of Oceanography Outstanding Individual When Ms. Townsend discovered a mold problem in the pelagic invertebrates collections, she embarked on a determined campaign to defeat it. Funding was secured, appropriate air conditioning equipment was installed, cleanup procedures were developed, and staff were trained to handle the sensitive decontamination work. Ms. Townsend's dedication to safety benefited her staff and fellow scientists, and secured the future of the largest research collection of its kind.
	Professor Murray Goodman, Chemistry & Biochemistry Department Outstanding Individual As chair of UCSD's Health & Safety Coordinating Council, Dr. Goodman has been instrumental in shaping practical and compliant environment, health, and safety policy for UCSD researchers. Professor Goodman’s own large research lab routinely faces a broad spectrum of challenges related to maintaining a safe and healthy work environment, so he puts a priority on integrating safety with the pursuit of research.
	Joseph Taulane, Goodman Lab, Chemistry & Biochemistry Department Outstanding Individual Mr. Taulane acts decisively to correct safety problems, whether in the Goodman Lab or for the common good of the campus. His efforts benefited every occupant when he helped manage post-construction ventilation problems in Pacific Hall. Mr. Taulane assumed responsibility for a neighboring lab when a colleague faced a serious setback. Not only did he help a colleague in need, he provided EH&S with vital continuity for the lab, ensuring uninterrupted use of permitted materials.
Back to top	Professor Jay S. Siegel, Chemistry & Biochemistry Department Outstanding Individual Lab safety innovator Professor Siegel keeps a ledger of accidents and incidents. The lessons learned benefit both his current and future lab workers. He takes a proactive approach to hazard communication. Reaction pathway diagrams for chemical reactions being conducted inside are posted in the corridors outside his lab doors, including associated hazards and the individuals responsible for each reaction. The information enables faster, safer response by emergency personnel, reducing risk to both people and property.
	Staff Education & Development (SED) and Information Systems team, Human Resources Outstanding Work Group SED and HR Information Systems, in collaboration with EH&S, successfully transitioned EH&S training into Enrollment Central, producing a great resource for everyone at UCSD. Safety program registration increased dramatically when EH&S training launched on Enrollment Central during summer 2002. Easy access to safety training will protect the UCSD community for years to come.
	Director Russel King, Mandeville Center Outstanding Individual Safety is a top priority at Mandeville Center. Director King has made an all-out effort to correct unsafe conditions, fortify Mandeville's safety program, and restructure the entire record-keeping system for safety training. Thanks to him, the Mandeville Center is a safer environment for both the public and employees.
Back to top	Janelle Stricker, Wendy Bardwell, and Sara Meyers, Chien Lab, Department of Medicine Outstanding Work Group Ms. Stricker, Ms. Bardwell, and Ms. Meyers worked as a team to implement new safety policies, ensure regulatory compliance in their area, and encourage their co-workers to take advantage of EH&S services and safety training. Their approach has resulted in very high lab safety audit scores and reflects a top-down support of health and safety issues.