“We always want to be in a situation where safety is automatic in our daily lives,” said Steve Dubiago as he talked about a recent safety expo IP&O’s Housing and Auxiliary Services group held along with IP&O’s Environmental Health and Safety employees (REHS).

The committee is run by Kerry Whitlock, Housing and Auxiliary Services Assistant Manager and Safety Committee Chair, and Christina Correa, Safety Committee co-chair and IP&O Planner Estimator. The expo was held at McCormick Hall on the Busch Campus.

Dubiago, Senior Director, Facilities Maintenance, Housing and Auxiliary Services, developed the safety committee to make the working environment safer for staff and to provide a place for staff to express ideas and concerns. “We had a Housing and Safety Committee years ago and three years ago we revisited forming another one,” Dubiago said.

The committee has 16 members consisting of maintenance and environmental services workers. Members include Facilities employees, Stuart Klein, Rosa Castro, Philip Waid, Paul Baradhi, Norman Pittman, Nicholas Kosinski, Indira Araiza, Hakeem Lee, Gilroy Parks, Elianeth Molina Soto, Deandra Jordan, Chrishana Daniels, Ayodele Crawford, and Adedayo Bolaji, and REHS employees, Ian Pracher and Christine D’Angelo.

“Vendors who provide cleaning products, personal protective equipment, and other supplies were on hand to display new products or answer questions,” said Christine D’Angelo, REHS Health and Safety Specialist I.  

“We want to pass safety information down to all staff.  We are safety leaders,” Dubiago stressed, “How we share information, train our staffs, and evaluate products is important for people to know.”

The committee has monthly meetings with topics ranging from winter safety, workplace stress, safe lifting, and fire safety. Pracher and D’Angelo attend the meetings to provide guidance and keep the committee up to date on safety related issues affecting Housing and Auxiliary Services staff. Topics discussed at the monthly meetings are compiled and placed by time clocks for all employees to see.

The committee has implemented a new slogan–RU Thinking Safety–and provided staff members with new equipment to assist in their daily tasks such as door chocks, easier to carry step ladders, improved personal protective equipment based on employee feedback, and cooling towels for the summer months.

At the Safety Expo D’Angelo and Pracher spoke to employees about safety, including lockout/tagout, personal protective equipment, heat stress, and they provided guidance in response to any questions or concerns raised by staff.

“I think the expo was very well received, and we look forward to the committee making this an annual event,” D’Angelo said.

“I am grateful to Ian and Christine for attending. REHS is very supportive,” Dubiago said.

This article can be found in the IP&O Insights Newsletter July Issue.