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Positive Culture Framework Project Grant Awarded

  Laboratory Safety, News & Updates 

A member of UT’s Environmental Health and Safety has been awarded a grant from Campus Safety, Health, and Environmental Management Association (CSHEMA) for working on a Positive Culture Framework (PCF).

Linda Hamilton, interim Laboratory Safety Services program leader with EHS, received the $3,000 grant to support her ongoing work with safety culture initiatives.

“This grant will help support the collaboration with the Tickle College of Engineering to map out a Positive Culture Framework (PCF), which we are hoping will be adaptable to other stakeholder groups at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville,” said EHS Director Brian Ranger.

The mission of CSHEMA is to support and to educate campus-based EHS professionals to empower and to improve the EHS profession in camps environments.

Congratulations on your hard work and your focus on keeping our campus safe!

New Waste Room opening in Zeanah

  Hazardous Waste, News & Updates 

Due to a recent increase in research activity, the UTK Environmental Health and Safety Department is opening the central accumulation area (CAA) in the Zeanah Engineering Complex (ZEC) for faculty and staff to drop off waste generated in the building. Waste, including hazardous waste, can be brought to G113A between 3:00pm and 3:45pm on August 15 and September 12 by trained individuals. Waste must be appropriately labeled, dated, and be accepted by a UTK Environmental Health and Safety representative. Please do not leave waste unattended for any reason.

Request Pickups

If you require hazardous waste pickup from your location in ZEC, please scan the QR code on the attached schedule and complete the request form.

Get Trained

  • If you are employed by UT you may take the course through K@TE Search for “UTK Hazardous Waste & Chemical Spills 2024”.
  • If you are not employed by UT (such as an undergrad or sponsored visitor), you may take the course through Canvas Catalog. Note: you must have a UT NetID to take this course.

Geoff Woolard completes FEMA Basic Academy

  Fire Safety, News & Updates 

Geoff Woolard, Program Leader, Fire and Life Safety completed the FEMA Basic Academy recently.

Woolard (first row, 2nd from left)

The program consists of over 50 hours of self-study prerequisite courses followed by 120 classroom hours covering a wide range of topics including concepts of emergency management, weather/science related to disasters, public information, training exercise development, national incident management system, and leadership.

“The goal of the Basic Academy is to support the early careers of emergency managers through a training experience combining knowledge of all fundamental systems, concepts, and practices of cutting-edge emergency management.” (FEMA Emergency Management Institute, https://training.fema.gov/programs/empp/basic/)

In-person classes were hosted by the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) in Nashville over the course of several weeks.  The 2024 TEMA cohort included representatives from TEMA, county and city emergency management agencies in Tennessee, as well as a few out-of-state students representing the City of Atlanta and Indiana National Guard (as well as UT-Knoxville).

The application process began last fall and is competitive for the 24 openings in each cohort.  My application was supported by EHS Director (Retired) Sandra Prior and UTK OEM Director Brian Gard.

“Completion of these formal classes and over 26 years of experience in the fire and emergency services, including emergency management, will enhance my knowledge and skills to support the efforts of UTK OEM and continue to expand the capabilities of the EHS Fire & Life Safety Program as we work to keep students, faculty, staff, and visitors safe on campus.”

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