Safety Champions 2019
December 2019
John Marshall
John Marshall of UVA Facilities Management’s Facilities Planning and Construction department has been selected as the December 2019 Safety Champion. John’s attention to detail has ensured safety requirements on the Ivy Mountain Musculoskeletal Center project are adhered to by contractors and UVA personnel working on the multi-year project. John is active in reaching out to Facilities Management’s Occupational Health and Safety office for guidance on a variety of subjects related to the project. John is an active participant in site safety walkthroughs with FM-OHS personnel and has ensured that all parties are working together to ensure risks are identified and managed by responsible contractor partners. John has been a participant in many health and safety trainings during his tenure and is always keen to keep OHS ”in the loop” on any unique activities taking place on the Ivy Mountain Musculoskeletal project. John is a great advocate for health and safety for both FM employees as well as those that work on Grounds on FM projects.
November 2019
Vic Martin
Vic Martin is UVA Facilities Management's November 2019 Safety Champion. He was nominated and selected as Safety Champion due to the steps he's taken to support his employees and create a safer working environment. Most recently, after a near miss, Vic worked with FM-OHS to create a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the proper handling and disposal of wooden pallets (View Full SOP). Vic's initiative in taking extra steps to create an SOP and educate his employees is a great example of a supervisor demonstrating leadership, supporting safety initiatives, and encouraging employees to work safe. Thanks, Vic, for creating a culture of safety in your workplace!
October 2019
Armiss Ferguson
Armiss Ferguson has been nominated and selected as the October 2019 Safety Champion for reporting a hazard he encountered during his rounds with HSPP Electrician Bernard Curry. They noticed one of the steps leading to the Aurbach generator were loose. (Bernard Curry was the March 2017 Safety Champion for requesting that these steps be installed, as the bank leading to the generator was a significant slip and fall hazard.) In the last 2 years, one of the steps had become loose, creating a new hazard. Armiss reported the new hazard via the Safety Obs app on his FM mobile phone, as well as turned the paver up so that it was immediately noticeable to anyone using the steps. This seemingly small act prevented an injury to an FM employee or the contractor that is responsible for servicing the unit. We are recognizing Armiss because small acts add up to an awesome Safety Culture!
September 2019
Alex Harlow
Facilities Management would like to recognize Alex Harlow as the September 2019 Safety Champion. Alex took the lead on a project in a parking garage, where traffic could create some safety concerns. He was very conscientious throughout the process, including holding a preconstruction meeting with the parking attendees to discuss his concerns and to let them know that he would be working in the garage and what his plans were to stay safe. He also identified his safety needs with those he was working with and made sure everyone had the proper PPE. On the scheduled day of the work, employees showed up in high visibility pants, a vest, and gloves. The crew also used high traffic cones to help drivers know to be on alert while turning the corners of the garage. Thank you, Alex, for stepping up and taking safety seriously and making sure others on the team are doing the same!
August 2019
Mike Rose
UVA Facilities Management would like to recognize Mike Rose as their August 2019 Safety Champion. Mike has been lauded by his employees for being “front and center” and “leading by example” in his department's safety efforts. Preparedness is specifically an area in which Mike prides leading his team. This includes everything from restocking first aid kits to training for a mass casualty situation. Mike also oversees a number of shift workers as well, and his efforts to ensure that their training is kept up-to-date, despite their irregular schedules is appreciated by all. Mike is an example of building safety culture from the top down. Thank you & keep up the good work!
July 2019
Casey Graham
Casey Graham was nominated as July 2019 Facilities Management Safety Champion because he and a coworker were tasked with replacing pipe fittings off at a chiller at one of the FM chiller plants as welding in new lifting lugs. When the duo arrived, they were informed the chiller had been out of service for quite some time. However, instead of just going straight to work on it, Casey wanted to be sure that there were no combustible gasses present inside or near the tank before they created any sparks. He located a probe to get an air reading inside the tank. To everyone's surprise, the combustible levels were above what would be considered safe. Casey and his colleague exercised their stop work authority and waited for about a week until the air reading was acceptable. Once the hot work portion was complete, Casey also insisted that an appropriate 30 minute fire-watch take place. Casey was nominated by his colleague that completed this job with him, who stated “This is exactly the safety mindset that exemplifies the culture we strive for. Taking your time, stepping back, double checking, triple checking, to avoid catastrophic events from occurring.” Thank you to Casey and the safety-minded Energy and Utilities crews for making UVA FM a safer workplace!
June 2019
Jamie Watkins
UVA Facilities Management would like to recognize Jamie Watkins as the June 2019 Safety Champion. Jamie is a mason within UVA FM's Construction & Renovation Services. His supervisor reports that Jamie's attentiveness has made a large impact on the awareness of his fellow workers. Jamie goes above and beyond to become properly trained, having traveled out of state twice for advanced training and is currently one of two trainers for FM's Scaffold User and Competent Person Courses. He is also trained to use the specialized equipment that scans interior floors and walls for dangerous conditions prior to demolition. Both of these training courses and jobs are done voluntarily. Jamie also serves as the safety committee representative for the masonry shops. His attention to the safety related details makes all of FM safer. Thank you, Jamie, for going above and beyond to keep your workplace safe!
May 2019
Thomas Evatt and Tyler Cameron
UVA Facilities Management is proud to recognize Thomas Evatt and Tyler Cameron as the May 2019 Safety Champions. In mid-April, they noticed a strange smell on a jobsite and reported it to their supervisor. Thinking it was gas, they then secured the area outside of the building. Tyler, Thomas, and supervisor Lee Bryant checked the building's boiler room for any possible leaks and found the gas regulator had malfunctioned. The concentration of gas present was determined to be at dangerous levels. They locked- and tagged-out the gas supply to both hot water boilers until the fault could be determined. The potential for gas to enter the building was averted. Due to Thomas' and Tyler's response to this they prevented injury to other workers, students, and building occupants, as well as prevented property damage. Their quick response and critical decision making averted what could have been a disaster. Thank you, Thomas and Tyler for going above and beyond to protect your colleagues and students from unseen dangers.
April 2019
Keith Payne
UVA Facilities Management is proud to recognize Keith Payne as the April 2019 Safety Champion. Keith is a Construction Administration Manager within FM's Facilities Planning and Construction department. Keith has been proactive in engaging FM Occupational Health and Safety and contractors on jobsites that he manages. Keith takes a risk-based approach and arranges for monthly site walks with contractor personnel and OHS. He ensures that safety concerns are addressed and mitigated immediately. Contractors, visitors, and UVA employees on Keith's jobsites are well aware of the safety expectations on those sites and, as a result, the working relationships between FM and outside parties has been greatly enhanced. Keith's suggestions and input has been very valuable to OHS and will help to ensure the continued mitigation of workplace hazards on his projects.
February 2019
Hoist & Rigging Training Team
UVA Facilities Management is celebrating the team that created and teaches FM's revamped Hoist and Rigging Safety Training Course with the all-new Safety is Ours to Shape recognition, created in honor of UVA president Jim Ryan's new Ours to Shape initiative. Cameron Ratliff, Randy Higgins, Dakota Peregoy, William Simmons, and Marcus Klaton regularly use hoist and rigging techniques as part of their daily job duties. Led by Cameron Ratliff with the support of their supervisory chain, this group created a one-day classroom and hands-on course which covers general requirements for proper rigging, how and why proper rigging practices improve safety, as well as rigging requirements for steel chains, wire rope, and synthetic fiber. Instruction includes crane set-up, load dynamics, lift planning, load charts, rigging, and signaling. A passing grade achieved by a participant indicates that the participant has the knowledge to safely use Hoists and rigging equipment at UVA Facilities Management. The initiative these employees shown, coupled with the support from their supervisors is helping FM develop and maintain a culture of safety.
January 2019
Mike Light
UVA FM-OHS is honored to recognize Mike Light as the January 2019 Occupational Health and Safety Champion. Mike works as a Senior Electrician in Zone 1 of HSPP, where he is responsible for training FM's electrician apprentices in addition to his regular day-to-day tasks. A few years ago, at his then-supervisor Alex DiGiacomo's request, Mike put together a board with switches and wiring to allow apprentices to attempt wiring in an environment with no hazards. Since then, Mike has expanded the board to include additional devices, including a photo cell, time clock, and a low-voltage relay. This “Knowledge Board” is capable of being wired in different configurations, teaching student apprentices the different circuitry needed for different applications. The Knowledge Board continues to grow, with additional items being added as the need for training arises. Mike's dedication to a safe learning environment for FM's more inexperienced apprentice employees is greatly appreciated by all groups at UVA FM.