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Safety Champions

December 2024

Devante Dowell

Devante Dowell

UVA Facilities Management recognizes Devante Dowell, a Fleet Analyst Specialist with FM's Programs and Informatics, as the December 2024 Safety Champion for his quick and proactive response to a potential safety hazard. Two FM box trucks were parked in FM lot spots that not only impeded the visibility of incoming traffic, but also any pedestrians about to walk over the crosswalk. When this was brought to his attention, Devante acted quickly and moved the trucks to a safer location. His actions are a prime example of the motivated safety-mindset UVA FM-OHS encourages. We celebrate empowering our FM colleagues to take initiative in both small and big actions to make the workplace safer for not only themselves, but for all of FM-and in this case, the general public as well. Thank you Devante!

November 2024

Mark McGhee

Mark McGhee

The UVA Facilities Management Occupational Health & Safety team is pleased to announce that Mark McGhee, Mason Plasterer Supervisor Senior with UVA FM Construction & Renovation Services, is FM's Safety Champion for November 2024. Mark continues to demonstrate his commitment to safety and problem-solving in the workplace, contributing positively to the wellbeing of his team and colleagues.

Mark is an active supporter of workplace safety, supporting and promoting UVA FM's safety programs to his team of masons and plasterers, including the Respiratory Protection Program and the Hearing Conservation Program. He is proactive in checking the Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) of products used on his job sites to be sure that no hazardous or banned chemicals are used, protecting his team from potential exposure to harmful substances.

Mark also takes personal protective equipment (PPE) seriously. The FM C&RS plaster crew recently faced an issue with their hard hats: The crew was using stilts to be able to reach the ceiling and their hard hats were rubbing against the wet plaster as it was being applied. Hard hats were required on this job site, but this inconvenience was both frustrating to the employees and slowing the job down. Mark was able to source shorter stilts, which allowed the crew to continue to work safely in their hard hats.

Mark's collaborative and supportive attitude during incident reviews has also been commendable. He has always worked closely with the Occupational Health and Safety team to address any safety concerns that arise as a result of a safety concern or incident review.

Congratulations to Mark for promoting a safe and healthy work environment. As a supervisor, his proactive approach to safety sets the tone and expectation for his team in maintaining a safe workplace.

October 2024

Fred Gibson

Fred Gibson

Fred Gibson, Senior Electrician for UVA Facilities Management Automation Services, is recognized as UVA FM's October 2024 Safety Champion. Fred demonstrated his dedication to safety during a recent project at Olsson Hall: While working in the building's basement mechanical space, Fred identified a hazard that could have caused an injury from live energy. His expertise and knowledge allowed him to take quick action. By noticing and identifying the hazard, communicating clearly with those around him, neutralizing the hazard, and submitting a near miss report, Fred prevented a potential accident that could have resulted in significant injury if it was left unaddressed.

A “near miss” is defined by OSHA as “a potential hazard or incident in which no property was damaged and no personal injury was sustained, but where, given a slight shift in time or position, damage or injury easily could have occurred. Near misses also may be referred to as close calls, near accidents, or injury-free events.” Near miss reporting notifies the FM Occupational Health and Safety team and is considered a “leading indicator.” These can help identify future corrective actions and prevent accidents. Employees who notice any type of hazard are encouraged to communicate near misses or safety observations so that they can be identified and corrected.

In addition to his response to this near miss, Fred also takes steps to mitigate passive hazards on the worksite, like padding corners of exposed ductwork to prevent cuts and scrapes.

By normalizing the expectation that “safety is everybody's job” and by communicating near misses, Fred is contributing to the FM culture of safety that prioritizes proactive measures and continuous improvement. Thanks, Fred!

September 2024

Mathew Coe

Matthew Coe

UVA Facilities Management recognizes Matthew Coe, an electronic technician with FM's Automation Services team, as the September 2024 Safety Champion for his safety awareness and proactive approach in resolving a safety omission for his team: Matthew noticed that his team's low-speed, on-Grounds electric van lacked a reflective orange slow-moving vehicle triangle. Understanding the importance of alerting other drivers to the van's low speed, Matthew suggested the installation of this safety feature by UVA FM Fleet to reduce the risk of accidents and improve safety on the road.

Matthew's actions exemplify the motivated safety-mindset UVA FM-OHS encourages. We celebrate empowering our FM colleagues to make their workplace safer. Individual actions can have a great positive impact on our collective safety. Keep up the great work!

August 2024

Russell Nisly and Thomas Parmenter

Russell Nisly and Thomas Parmenter

UVA Facilities Management recognizes FM Recycling Workers Russell Nisly and Thomas Parmenter for their outstanding operation of the UVA FM Recycling packer truck: They were nominated by their supervisor William Barnes, FM Recycling Supervisor, and selected by the Occupational Health and Safety team as the August 2024 UVA Facilities Management Safety Champions. The packer truck, a model often generally called a “trash truck”, is a large truck used to collect and compact solid waste from across UVA Grounds and transport it to the waste treatment and sorting facility. Safe operation of this vehicle requires users and passengers to be alert and aware of their surroundings, have a knowledge of the vehicle and its maintenance history, and have an awareness of shifting traffic patterns and pedestrian presence.

Together, Thomas and Russell have been operating the packer truck on Grounds for more than a year — traveling over 7,500 miles without safety incident. UVA FM Fleet reports that their average safe driving score is 97.5 out of 100 points. This score uses the vehicle's onboard diagnostic system to assess safe driving metrics like acceleration, deceleration, harsh cornering, seatbelt usage, and speed violations. Together, the UVA FM Recycling department is celebrating achieving the highest driving scores across FM for July 2024.

Thank you to Thomas, Russell, their leadership, and the FM Recycling team for celebrating attentive, safe driving to protect themselves, their colleagues, and area residents.

July 2024

Steve Thompson

Steve Thompson in PPE testing a piece of equipment

UVA Facilities Management would like to recognize Steve Thompson, Senior HVAC Mechanic at UVA's Chiller Plants, as the July 2024 Safety Champion. Steve joined Facilities Management in 2015, and his supervisor Justin Callihan shared his appreciation for Steven's focus on Safety:

“Steve has always been engaged in supporting the safety of not just himself, but his immediate teammates, the Energy & Utilities (E&U) organization, and the broader FM organization. As the chair of the E&U safety committee, Steve is working to lead the organization and drive positive changes throughout. Recently Facilities Management has been reviewing the NFPA requirements for arc flash safety and associated personal protective equipment (PPE), and Steve is supporting that effort at the organizational level while leading it for himself and the Chiller Plant team. Additionally, Steve has coordinated several vendor visits to provide an opportunity for individuals to understand the various options that exist and demonstrate how much more comfortable PPE is today versus just a few years ago. Finding comfortable safety equipment is one very important aspect of helping individuals use it and use it properly.”

In the photo, Steve can be seen leading by example while testing a piece of equipment. Having donned all the required PPE, Steve is verifying the piece of equipment is deenergized and safe for work.

June 2024

Matthew Browning

Matthew Browning

UVA Facilities Management recognizes Matthew Browning, carpenter with FM Construction & Renovation Services, as the June 2023 Safety Champion. Matthew joined the C&RS Safety Committee in 2022 and has been a strong ally for improving the safety culture within his team and department, as well as within FM as a whole.

In addition to his collaboration and active participation within the committee, Matthew has also taken the initiative to build upon the story of Bernie the Bee by creating a comic strip, complete with a new, but crafty villain: Dr. Decepto. Watch out, this villain's mission is to create a sense of complacency, belittling safe work practices! Matthew was also a helpful contributor during Safety Week 2024, staffing the the C&RS PPE tables and assisting in the preparation and clean up for the event. Matthew's commitment, dedication, and creative approach to safety is a great asset to UVA FM. Great job and thank you, Matthew!

May 2024

Doug Rush

Doug Rush

Doug Rush, Zone 3 Manager for UVA Facilities Management Health System Physical Plant, has been nominated and selected by the FM Occupational Health & Safety team as the FM Safety Champion for May 2024 due to his proactive approach in addressing fall hazards on the roofs of the Clinical Department Wing and Suhling Research Lab of the UVA Hospital West Complex.

FM-OHS reached out to Doug regarding these areas in response to a safety concern about fall hazards they had received. After working with FM-OHS to identify the best fall protection solution for the situation — in this case, a ballasted guardrail — Doug worked with contractors to coordinate pricing and installation, as well as to provide OHS with crane lift plans for review before installation commenced. The entire process took several months to complete, and it was Doug's persistent efforts that got the project across the finish line and created safer working conditions for every UVA employee that must access these roofs.

In addition to addressing these hazards, Doug has collaborated with FM-OHS and other FM departments in post-incident reviews and has helped to identify positive and meaningful action items. Doug's safety leadership within HSPP highlights the value he places on his employees, creating an environment where everyone can go home safely every shift.

April 2024

John Nichols and Sébastien Rodriguez

John Nichols & Sébastien Rodriguez

UVA Facilities Management is recognizing John Nichols and Sébastien Rodriguez as our April 2024 Safety Champions. John and Sébastien both work in the FM Health System Physical Plant Zone 2, responsible for the maintenance of and care for the research and education buildings located on the southwest side of the main grounds of UVA Health.

John and Sébastien were each nominated by a colleague for improvements they made to their work areas that helped to keep employees safe while performing routine tasks:

  • John built a step/platform to make it easier for the HVAC crew to access their unit, reducing the need to step over and around fixed obstacles.
  • Sébastien painted a step leading into a tool cage, marking a trip hazard in a frequently accessed area.

Even improvements like these that seem simple can increase workplace safety by greatly reducing the risk of tripping, falling, and/or potential injury. These additions made by John and Sebastien serve as visual cues to take caution and pay attention, increasing overall awareness while at work.

Falls are a leading cause of workplace injury. By embracing a culture of safety and empowering their team to take action when a hazard is noted, the HSPP Zone 2 team can be more productive and minimize accidents and disruptions like near misses, which allows them to be more effective in accomplishing the organization's goals. Thank you, John & Sébastien for taking action and looking out for your colleagues!

March 2024

Brian Cole

Brian Cole

UVA Facilities Management would like to recognize HSPP Zone 1 South HVAC Installation & Repair Technician Senior Brian Cole as the March 2024 Safety Champion. Brian was nominated by Mark Evans, the HSPP Safety Committee chair Marc Evans and selected by the FM Occupational Health & Safety team. Brian is a longtime member of the HSPP Safety Committee and someone Mark has come to rely on for support: “I can always count on him to fill in any gaps that need attention or take the lead on projects.”

Most recently, Brian took the initiative to check hard hats and suspensions for the HSPP teams, helping identify outdated and/or unsuitable personal protective equipment (PPE). Maintaining and wearing a hard hat or safety helmet on the jobsite significantly reduces the risk of head injuries from falling objects, impacts from equipment, or from slips, trips, and falls. Generally, hard hat shells should be replaced every two to five years and a new suspension system should be installed every 12 months. Contact the FM Sign Shop if you need to update your hard hat. Contact FM-OHS for tips on how to inspect your hard hat.

Brian's colleagues appreciate his attention to detail and determination when looking for safe solutions. Thank you, Brian, for being an asset to UVA Facilities Management and an advocate for safety!

February 2024

Chris Hoy

Chris Hoy

Chris Hoy, supervisory team leader with UVA Facilities Management Capital Construction & Renovations team, has been selected as the UVA FM February 2024 Safety Champion for his leadership in workplace safety and his passionate support for the normalization of mental health awareness and treatments.

Being safe is a priority on Chris' jobsites: Safety is a standing topic for all team meetings. In addition, he also takes part in the monthly Safety Roundtable hosted by FM Occupational Health & Safety for contractors working on UVA sites, as well as other FM safety events. Chris is an active collaborator with the OHS team in post-incident learning and often has meaningful contributions to suggested corrective actions.

In addition to physically safe worksites, Chris promotes emotional safe spaces at work: Teams on his jobsites are heard, acknowledged, and supported with resources they need to work effectively and safely. Chris successfully models effective promotion of a safe and healthy work environment by encouraging open communication and honest conversations, sharing his own experiences and challenges related to mental health.

Over the past two years, Chris has collaborated with FM Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, FM-OHS, and UVA FEAP to facilitate educational sessions across UVA and Virginia, including “Mental Health Awareness, Resources, and Strategies within the Facilities Management Context”, presented at the 2023 Southeastern Region APPA Conference. The goal of this collaborative outreach is to raise awareness for the high rate of suicide in the trades industry, promote resources for mental health, and encourage those that need help to speak up to create a workplace where everyone can thrive.

January 2024

A.J. Hattaway

A.J. Hattaway

UVA Facilities Management would like to recognize Construction & Renovation Services' A.J. Hattaway as the January 2024 Safety Champion. A.J. is an electrician senior in the department and serves at the chair of the C&RS Safety Committee. He was nominated by the Facilities Management Occupational Health and Safety team, who commend his leadership and efforts to always keep the committee moving forward. He is an active participant in health and safety endeavors, including leading his team's toolbox talks using relatable, real-world examples and hands-on instructions. A.J. is safety-focused on the jobsite and is always looks out for his coworkers, especially new hires and apprentices that may be less familiar with UVA-specific worksites. A.J. sets the example for his colleagues and is a health and safety leader on his team. Thanks, A.J.!

December 2023

Nicholas Gentry

Nicholas Gentry

Recycling Supervisor Nicholas Gentry has been selected as the December 2023 UVA Facilities Management Safety Champion. Nick has been a fixture on the UVA FM Landscape & Recycling Safety Committee for more than 5 years, first as a member, then as an alternate, and now serving as the co-chair. This group meets monthly to review seasonal hazards associated with employees' work tasks, discuss needed training, and annually create a safety poster.

Nick has been instrumental in suggesting safety improvements across Grounds, including adjusting the location of a compactor switch to a safer location, painting loading dock edges to make the drop off more visible, and performing needed maintenance on existing compactors to prevent incidents. In addition, Nick makes it a point as supervisor to listen to his teammates and encourage them to speak up for safety. He is especially keen to hear the observations of recently hired employees, knowing that their fresh outlook is a golden opportunity for progress and change. Thanks to Nick for being a true leader in safety at work!

November 2023

Dan Shantler

Dan Shantler

UVA Facilities Management would like to recognize Dan Shantler, UVA FM Systems Control Center Manager. Dan collaborated with the FM Occupational Health & Safety Team in 2023 to provide Active Attacker and UVA Alert trainings to each department at UVA FM. He has given several presentations at FM Safety Committee meetings and toolbox talks. He also created resource documents for Active Attacker Response for Employees, Active Attacker Response for Supervisors, as well as UVA Alerts. (Requires UVA FM login.)

With his help and knowledge sharing, FM employees are able to be aware and access these materials as needed to educate each other and their staff. Dan has conducted training with the following groups:

  • Landscape and Recycling Safety Committee
  • HSPP Safety Committee
  • Energy and Utilities Safety Committee
  • Custodial & Housekeeping leadership
  • Zone Maintenance Safety Committee & Toolbox Talks
  • Construction & Renovation Services Toolbox Talks

...and more! Reach out to Dan if you're interested in scheduling a training for your team.

October 2023

Matt Acree

Matt Acree

Matt Acree, Assistant Director of Fire & Life Safety is the October 2023 UVA Facilities Management Safety Champion. He was selected by the Occupational Health & Safety team for his efforts to bring fire extinguisher training to FM employees. Matt worked with FM OHS and UVA Environmental Health and Safety to schedule monthly voluntary, hour-long fire extinguisher training for the everyday user to be held through December 2023. Knowing how to properly use a fire extinguisher can save lives and having the knowledge and confidence to use an extinguisher can help prevent the fire from spreading and causing harm to individuals and property.

FM employees generally are not required to fight fires but are trained in how to respond to fire emergencies by sounding the alarm and evacuating safely. This training was created to raise awareness on how to manage small fires at home and outside of work environments. It includes information on how to extinguish small fires and when to alert the fire department. Successful completion of the course becomes a part of the employee's safety training record, which can be requested from your supervisor at any time.

September 2023

Benji Boatwright

Benji Boatwright

UVA Facilities Management would like to recognize Central Grounds Zone Senior Electrician Benji Boatwright as September Safety Champion. He was chosen by the FM Occupational Health and Safety Team for always keeping safety first both on and off Grounds. In addition to his overall efforts to promote a good safety culture at work, he is an active member of the Zone Maintenance Safety Committee, as well as a member of the Electrical Safety Focus Team, which advises on the UVA FM Electrical Safety Program. In addition, Benji assists with teaching FM's Electrical Safety Training as a subject matter expert.

This year, Benji collaborated with the OHS team to complete the annual inspections for his group's personal fall arrest equipment. Additionally, Benji serves as one the electrical instructors for the FM Apprenticeship Program and is always encouraging apprentices to work safely and be aware of their surroundings. Benji's contributions to FM safety are numerous and OHS is very appreciative of his support. Thank you, Benji!

August 2023

Zachary Carter

Zach Carter

Zachary Carter, a senior electrician working in Health System Physical Plant Zone 2 at UVA Facilities Management, was nominated and chosen by the FM Occupational Health & Safety team as the August 2023 Safety Champion. Zach was chosen due to his outstanding effort in promoting both safe practices and developing a strong safety culture in his team.

Zach has served as the HSPP Safety Committee chair in the past and remains an active safety committee member. He leads his zone's Toolbox Talk every month using the HSPP Safety Committee's Safety Insights presentation that contains incident data, safety tips, seasonal reminders, and more. He has scheduled these toolbox talks the day after the HSPP Safety Committee meets so that the information will still be fresh in his mind.

In addition, Zach maintains his zone's information and safety communication boards, as well as the PPE inventory and supplies. He takes the time to educate himself on safety equipment, practices, and products so that he can be a resource for his teammates.

Zach is a Safety Champion for leading his crew by example and taking the time to check in on them and making sure they know he is available if they have suggestions or concerns. FM-OHS appreciates his hard work and dedication to keeping everyone safe at work.

July 2023

Tracy Saul

Tracy Saul at a desk with several computer monitors

UVA Facilities Management Heat Plant Supervisor Tracy Saul is being recognized as the July 2023 Safety Champion. Tracy was nominated by his leadership and selected by the FM Occupational Health & Safety team for taking the initiative to make work a safe place for everyone. Tracy has been working at UVA FM since 2017 and joined the Heat Plant team in 2022. His Heat Plant leadership cited his “unending quest for answers and willingness to devote his time and energy to improving the process” as a key reason for his nomination, as well as his ability to “inspire others to look past the status quo.” Thank you, Tracy, for protecting those around you and being an example for us all!

June 2023

Ron Crawford, Wade Sharpe, Ryan McCarthy

Ron Crawford, Ryan McCarthy

For June 2023, The Facilities Management Occupational Health & Safety team would like to recognize Ron Crawford, Wade Sharpe, and Ryan McCarthy as UVA FM Safety Champions for going above and beyond in support of their FM teammates. Ron and Wade work on the Central Grounds Zone Maintenance team as a plumber and a senior HVAC assistant, respectively. Ryan is a plumbing apprentice that usually works with the Newcomb Zone Maintenance team but was working with the Central Grounds crew for this event.

Ron, Wade, and Ryan, along with the UVA FM Facilities Management Energy & Utilities team were recently called to assess an emergency plumbing issue in the Central Grounds Zone Maintenance area. Everyone involved worked together to determine the source of the issue and found it to be within the Energy & Utilities crew's area of responsibility. Rather than abandon the task once the source was identified, Ron, Ryan, and Wade stayed to assist the E&U team in rectifying the situation, working to be sure drivers, pedestrians, and employees all had clear and safe ways to move around the jobsite. This allowed the E&U team to focus on identifying and addressing the root cause of the issue, restoring service to UVA residents in a timely manner and saving University resources in the long run. These FM employees were nominated by a member of the E&U team that they worked with for their professional, courteous, and diligent attention to the matter. Thank you for being team players and helping your colleagues maintain a safe worksite at a moment's notice.

May 2023

Bob Manz

Bob Manz portrait

Bob Manz has been nominated by his leadership and selected by UVA Facilities Management Occupational Health and Safety as the May 2023 Safety Champion. Bob works as a plumber lead with UVA FM Construction and Renovation Services. He has served many years on the C&RS Safety Committee and has been lauded by his leadership for his safety-mindedness. Bob shares his institutional knowledge of UVA facilities with other plumbers in his group to keep UVA operating at its very best. In a recent recognition, Bob received praise for finding the source of a gas-like smell and abating it, and for showing his teammates the proper way to disable a drain trap in case there are unknown hazards present. Bob's day-to-day actions and application of his safety knowledge help keep UVA running safely for everyone! Thank you, Bob, for being a great example of keeping everyone safe every day.

April 2023

Spiro Jokic

Spiro Jokic portrait

The UVA Facilities Management Occupational Health and Safety team would like to recognize FM Electrical Supervisor Spiro Jokic for his work inventorying and replacing outdated timer-based light switches in UVA Health buildings. The OHS team was alerted to the presence of these switches by a non-FM UVA employee who encountered the outdated wiring when accessing the switch. As part of the Health System Physical Plant Zone 2 Maintenance Team, Spiro spearheaded the replacement of these switches with a new programmable style control that uses up-to-date wiring techniques and interior controls. FM-OHS is grateful for his attention to detail and follow-through in making sure this task was completed in a timely manner.

March 2023

Jamie Shifflett

Photographic banners hung inside the Aquatic Fitness Center

Jamie Shifflett consistently plans for safety on his jobs and collaborates with FM-OHS team to keep his employees working safely. This includes planning safe work strategies for work at heights. In some cases, this means arranging for necessary fall protection and MEWP (Mobile Elevated Work Platform) training. Most recently, this collaboration and planning happened while performing work at the Aquatic Fitness Center, where the team installed banners. His attention to arranging for proper training, appropriate equipment for the task and documented inspections meant that his team went home safely at the end of the day. Thank you Jamie Shifflett for being a leader in creating and maintaining a safe work environment and positive safety culture for your team and UVA FM.

February 2023

Steve Thompson

Steve Thompson

The UVA Facilities Management Occupational Health & Safety team has selected Steve Thompson, Senior HVAC Mechanic in UVA FM's & Utilities Chiller Plants. Steve has been a UVA Facilities Management employee since 2015 but has more recently begun to take part in the E&U Safety Committee, where he's serving as chair. At the helm of the Safety Committee, Steve has stepped up and willingly taken on a leadership role in keeping his colleagues safe: He's organized a monthly toolbox meeting with his entire team to review the hazards present on the jobsite as well as to review proper procedures for getting the job done safely. He's also shown his team how to navigate the FM-OHS website to find the resources they need for JHAs, safety programs, PPE requests, how to join a training, and more. As chairperson of his team's Safety Committee, he oversaw the creation of the Safety Committee's February 2023 Safety Poster, which focused on the dangers of extended exposure to loud noise. The FM-OHS team commends Steve's leadership of his peers, as he educates and informs them of safety requirements on the job.

See who is your Safety Committee.

Reach out to FM-OHS@virginia.edu if you're interested in becoming a Safety Committee Member.

January 2023

Dave Brown

Dave Brown

UVA Facilities Management Senior Plumber Dave Brown has been selected as the January 2023 UVA FM Safety Champion. Dave works in the North Grounds Maintenance team and has been proactive with safety observations and corrections, personal protective equipment (PPE) use, and identification of hazards. He collaborated with the FM Occupational Health and Safety team to recognize and mitigate fall hazards and confined spaces within his zone. Another project involved using a new chemical in outdoor water fountains: Dave consulted with OHS to be sure that his team was prepared with the proper PPE, correct safety data sheet, and a plan for use going forward. Dave is an asset to his team and values the health and safety of his colleagues. Noticing and reporting potential hazards is essential to workplace safety.

Contact the FM-OHS team to report safety concerns in your area: FM-OHS@virginia.edu

December 2022

Tanyia Moore

Tanyia Moore

The Facilities Management Occupational Health and Safety Team would like to recognize Tanyia Moore as the December 2022 Safety Champion for her efforts to establish a thorough training program for her team. Tanyia is the Assistant Manager for Housing Custodial in UVA FM's Housing group. She supervises about 40 staff with a variety of backgrounds and experiences — half of her staff are non-native English speakers, with 10 different languages spoken among the group.

Tanyia has requested that the FM-OHS team work with her group to develop training on chemical use and safety awareness, including specific content that will be interactive and relevant to their unique tasks, as well as facilitate interpretation through our language and interpretation contacts.

Tanyia's request for her team and the resulting collaboration will be used as a template by FM-OHS as a model for implementing similar trainings for other departments that have a unique work environment and a diverse workforce. By providing training in the language employees are most comfortable in, their comprehension and at-work confidence will increase, which also increased feelings of inclusiveness and job satisfaction.

UVA FM Occupational Programs is working to make our training programs accessible to all FM employees. If you have a training coming up and need a language interpreter or other accommodation, including arrangements like pre-printed materials or being seated closer to the front, please email FM-OHS@virginia.edu.

November 2022

Jon Bruneau

Jon Bruneau

UVA Facilities Management would like to recognize Jon Bruneau as the November 2022 Safety Champion. Jon was nominated by his leadership for reporting an occurrence of high gas pressure at UVA's Observatory Mountain Engineering Research Facility as he was conducting a building audit. Jon went above and beyond to investigate why such a high and possible dangerous pressure level was being used. He notified the utility service, the maintenance zone, and other stakeholders to alert them of this unsafe condition and he continued to follow the situation through the weekend. He made sure the proper pressure regulator was installed and that the gas service was in compliance. Jon is an example for us all — when you see something amiss, speak up, ask questions, and get it resolved! Thank you, Jon!

October 2022

Jimmy Sayre

Jimmy Sayre

Jimmy Sayre, Housekeeping Supervisor with UVA Facilities Management Operations has been nominated and selected as the FM Safety Champion for October 2022. Jimmy was selected for many reasons, included his caring leadership manner and his attentiveness in following up on safety concerns and near misses reported by his staff members. He supervises the McCormick Custodial team, which cares for both academic buildings and student housing in a very active part of the University. This team is diverse, and Jimmy supports and celebrates their diversity: He works to make sure that accessible training is available for his employees that may not be comfortable learning in English; and he recognizes those on his team and those that work with his team for their good decisions related to workplace safety. A specific near miss Jimmy reported and helped to correct was a trip hazard present at the Wilsdorf Hall entrance near Wilsdorf Café patio between Jesser Hall and the Chemistry Building. This hazard has been reviewed with maintenance teams, the UVA Office of the Architect, FM Landscape, and FM Masons to find the safest solution. Offering robust support to custodial teams is one of the many keys to workplace safety, as these team members are located in all areas and are frequently accessing interior and exterior spaces. Jimmy has been a significant help with correcting hazards identified in his team's service areas and is an example for team leaders across Grounds.

September 2022

Mark Polk

Mark Polk

Mark Polk, a welder in the UVA Facilities Management Energy & Utilities group, was nominated by his FM colleagues and selected by the FM-OHS team as the September 2022 Facilities Management Safety Champion for his close attention to potential hazards and active participation in workplace safety. As part of his job duties, Mark has been assigned preventive maintenance on fire hydrants around Grounds. This task involves assessing and removing old paint from the hydrants and then repainting them to include a cap color that indicates how much flow can be taken from the hydrant. Due to Mark's recent Lead in Construction Training, he knew to request sampling of the existing paint before he began the removal process. Of the three paint samples taken from different hydrants in different areas, it was determined that any hydrants installed prior to the 1990s were painted with lead-based paint. The E&U team assisting in the hydrant PM process is now equipped to mitigate this hazard before moving forward with the project. This, in addition to Mark's service on the E&U Safety Committee, is a great example of taking “safety is everyone's job” seriously. Shout out to Mark for his attention to safety details and to the E&U Team for celebrating his safety improvements!

August 2022

Mark Evans and Forrest Johnson

Mark Evans and Forrest Johnson

UVA Facilities Management recognizes HVAC Installation and Repair Technician Senior Mark Evans and Senior Fire Systems Supervisor Forrest Johnson as August 2022 Safety Champions. Although Mark and Forrest work in different areas of FM, they collaborate to inspect fire dampers in the UVA main hospital building to be sure the mechanisms remain operable. During one of these recent inspections, they had to move a few ceiling tiles to access an area above the drop ceiling, where they encountered something completely unexpected: A cinderblock was positioned on top of a conduit, roughly 8 to 10 feet above the drop ceiling. Further investigation found that the block had been left behind after recent renovations to the area. If this block was never noticed and later fell, it would have crashed through the drop ceiling and may have seriously injured someone below. This unexpected find underscores the necessity of regular inspections as well as the importance of being aware of your surroundings — If Mark and Forrest focused only on fire dampers, they may have completely missed this hazard! Thanks, Forrest and Mark, for your attention to maintaining safe facilities!

July 2022

Geri Findley

Geri Findley

UVA Facilities Management would like to celebrate Geri Findley as the July 2022 Facilities Management Safety Champion for her willingness to act to correct a potentially unsafe situation. Geri is a housekeeping supervisor in the Newcomb Custodial Zone where she and her staff work to keep the buildings in their care clean and accessible for the UVA community. A true steward of her work zone, Geri took notice of a contractor worksite that may have been using unsafe practices. Despite this being outside of her typical responsibilities, Geri knew she had to keep everyone safe at work. She notified the UVA Facilities Management Occupational Health and Safety team who were able to visit the area of concern and collaborate with the workers on site to make sure that a safe work plan was followed. This type of proactive attention to the safety of ourselves, our coworkers, and other work partners is greatly appreciated. Thank you, Geri, for looking out for everyone at UVA!

June 2022

Jason Floyd, David Gowen, Adam Proffitt, Steve Shifflett

David Gowen, Adam Proffitt, Steve Shifflett, and Jason Floyd standing side-by-side

UVA Facilities Management would like to recognize a team of employees from UVA Chiller Plants as Safety Champions for June 2022: David Gowen, HVAC Mechanic; Adam Proffitt, HVAC Mechanic Senior; Blake Shifflett, HVAC Apprentice; and Jason Floyd, HVAC Mechanic. The original nomination was submitted by Jason Floyd for his teammates. The FM Occupational Health and Safety Team have made the decision to include Jason as a champion for contributing to the culture of safety and recognizing his colleagues for a job well done safely. This team was nominated for their safe work during a procedure to lower the ends off Chiller 1 located at UVA's Aquatics and Fitness Center. Jason says:

“I witnessed a perfect execution of ladder safety. The work performed required the safe use of several different types and heights of ladders. Not once did this group of men fail to use the team method of holding the ladder whenever a co-worker was aloft as well as ensuring that ladder footing was proper and secure.”

Ladder safety is an often undervalued part of safety. However, falls are the number one cause of construction worker fatalities, accounting for one-third of all on-the-job deaths in the industry. Falls are preventable. Kudos to Jason and his team for selecting the right ladders for the job, knowing ladder inspection techniques, setting up ladders correctly, working as a team, and using caution and common sense to get the job done safely!

UVA FM Ladder Safety Resources:

May 2022

Cameron Ratliff

Cameron Ratliff

UVA FM would like to recognize Cameron Ratliff, E&U's Associate Director for Utility Systems Distribution, as the May 2022 Safety Champion. Cameron was chosen by the Occupational Health and Safety team because he has been a proactive leader in identifying training needs for his team and developing content for several FM-wide training topics including Rigging & Hoisting, NCCCO (crane operation), and confined space. He maintains open lines of communication with the OHS team to be sure the health and safety needs of his team are met. Thank you, Cameron, for being a model in safety planning and support!

April 2022

Jonathan Racey

Jonathan Racey

Jonathan Racey, a UVA Facilities Management landscape & grounds worker, was nominated by an FM colleague and selected by the Occupational Health and Safety Team as the April 2022 Safety Champion for his efforts to have UVA FM's dump trucks outfitted with backup cameras. The purpose of these backup cameras is to decrease the driver blind spots that occur around large vehicles and to help drivers to make safer decisions. These backup cameras additionally serve many uses year-round to the Landscape team operating dump trucks: During snow removal, FM dump truck beds are outfitted salt and sand spreaders, which drivers cannot see using rearview mirrors. Backup cameras allow the driver to monitor the spread of salt and sand, as well as more clearly see any hazards or pedestrians that may be behind the truck. Also, every autumn, the FM Landscape team is responsible for leaf collection and removal across Grounds. With a backup camera on the leaf collection truck, drivers can see the employee operating the leaf vacuum, improving jobsite awareness and communication. Jonathan noticed this need for FM dump truck operators and spoke up with a solution, possibly preventing an incident. Safety is every employee's job, and with the support of leadership, FM continues to work towards its goal of being the safest workplace in higher education.

March 2022

Hasan Al Mulhem

Hasan Al Mulhem

Facilities Management would like to recognize Hasan Al Mulhem as the March 2022 Safety Champion for his attentiveness and actions after the last January snowstorm. Hasan, a senior trades assistant in FM Housing Maintenance, was on the way back to the maintenance shop at Lambeth housing when he noticed an underground electrical service enclosure had been damaged near the road. The damage had created a hole in the top of the normally weather-sealed enclosure, creating a trip/fall hazard, as well as allowing rain and melting snow to encroach on fragile equipment and connections within the enclosure. Assessing the hazard present, Hasan immediately placed a caution cone near the opening and reported it to his manager for further correction. Hasan's attention to detail and quick thinking prevented a possible accident and absolutely prevented further water intrusion into an electrical enclosure. FM would like to extend our thanks to Hasan for taking action and knowing safety means looking out for and correcting potential hazards in our surroundings.

February 2022

Snow removal teams

Two Facilities Management employees securing a snow plow to the front bumper of a pickup truck

UVA Facilities Management employees came together after snowstorms on January 3, January 6, and January 16 to get UVA back up and running. This included some employees staying locally instead of returning home, and other employees continuing to do their job at home. Their work during this time helped keep UVA safe and accessible.

FM employees use their expertise and knowledge of Grounds to identify priority areas for snow or debris removal and create plans for repair or maintenance. In addition to maintaining operations at UVA, many staff members were also dealing with power outages at their homes.

FM employees who were a part of the snow response have received heartfelt thank yous from Rollie Zumbrunn, director of FM operations (UVA Today article), Don Sundren, UVA FM AVP/CFO, as well as UVA President Jim Ryan (Twitter).

See photos and the “By the Numbers”: Snow support article on Exposure

January 2022

Vince Marshall

Vince Marshall

Vince Marshall was nominated by his leadership and selected by the Facilities Management Occupational Health and Safety team as the January 2022 FM Safety Champion. In late 2021, Vince approached his supervisor with the idea of adding reflective safety tape to the sides of our dump trucks, trailers, salt spreaders, and even some of the larger pickup trucks to make them more visible at night, in winter weather conditions, and in all low-light conditions. With the support of his supervisors and the FM Fleet office, Vince took the initiative to source, purchase, and install reflective safety tape on large vehicles, trailers, and salt spreaders in FM Landscape, enhancing safety for equipment operators as well as those around them. Vince's resourcefulness and the support of his supervisors made this safety improvement possible.

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