How Environmental Health And Safety Works To Keep Campus Safe, Compliant

UAB Environmental Health and Safety has one core mission: to keep employees safe by providing the services and knowledge needed to protect themselves, the UAB community and the environment, while complying with work and safety regulations. Environmental rules and regulations for patient care. Education, research, etc. without interference

“Our team of EHS professionals is committed to providing our faculty, staff, students and visitors a safe place to work, live, learn, explore and grow,” said Lee Stone, executive director of EHS, who will join UAB in March 2023. . Join “We have an exceptional team with the knowledge, skills and experience necessary to navigate the ever-changing regulatory environment and identify and mitigate potential threats that could impact the health and safety of the UAB community and the environment in which we are living".

Ensuring safe research practices

EHS works with scientists and researchers on campus to ensure the safe and efficient conduct of UAB research programs. The department provides training in laboratory and chemical safety, including safe materials handling and exposure control techniques, requiring laboratory registration, conducting laboratory audits, following protocols agreed upon with UAB Research, and mentoring all laboratory personnel.

Meet the new Environment, Health and Safety Manager

Lee Stone, who joined UAB in March 2023, has more than 35 years of experience in laboratory safety and research. He comes to UAB from Indiana University, where he held a number of security leadership positions, most recently as the university's director of security research.

“I look forward to combining my experience in laboratory safety and research with the expertise of team members already in the field to promote a culture of safety on campus,” Stone said.

“Lee will play a leading role in building a strong culture of safety across our UAB campuses, laboratories and health care facilities,” said Greg Parsons, associate vice president and chief facilities officer.

Jolene King, assistant vice president of facilities management, environmental health and safety, said she is grateful for Stone's leadership in bringing together the respective safety teams.

“We have several departments on campus dedicated to security, and Lee has helped us create effective lines of communication between them,” King said. “By working together, these teams will ensure the utmost safety for our faculty, staff, students and visitors.”

The nationwide search was led by Tony Caminetti, director of facilities operations, and a six-person search committee comprised of university and EHS staff in collaboration with recruiting firm LeadExec.

The department also managed UAB's radiation protection protocol, which included monitoring systems for researchers and individual patients, as well as the calibration of radiation monitoring devices such as Geiger counters. The EHS Biosafety Program aims to ensure the safe use of biological agents on campus. It provides training to staff on handling, transport, storage and disposal, as well as compliance and regular risk assessments and audits.

“We work with our research community to create a culture of safety and ensure that our research is conducted safely in accordance with legal requirements and institutional policies,” Stone said. “We believe that research safety is an important part of scientific discovery. »

Ensures safety on campus and while caring for patients

Through its environmental management function, EHS manages fire and life safety at UAB through training, hazard investigation, and monitoring evacuation routes. They also manage campus waste management, air emissions, and water and wastewater systems. The department also controls the industrial hygiene of the company. This includes monitoring air quality in campus buildings, testing for mold and asbestos, and testing chemical levels through air monitoring. And in campus research and teaching laboratories, EHS ensures all fume hoods and biosafety cabinets are certified and coordinates required hazardous waste disposal.

As the UAB campus grows, EHS plays an important role in keeping construction sites and surrounding areas safe for workers and civilians. Want to know more? Here are six things you can expect when UAB breaks ground on the building.

“Across all of our hospitals and patient care facilities, our EHS specialists work with our clinical partners to ensure UAB remains one of the safest and most respected health care systems in America,” Stone said.

One of EHS's most important missions is to collaborate with The Joint Commission to enable healthcare organizations around the world to establish a foundation for quality care and patient safety.

Intercampus cooperation

EHS collaborates with campus departments on a variety of safety initiatives, including serving on various committees designed to ensure the safety of the UAB community.

“Our department is committed to creating a culture of safety at UAB where members of our UAB family feel comfortable raising concerns about potential risks or hazards,” Stone said. “This culture allows us to proactively work together to mitigate these risks or threats. We want to make UAB a culture where we are all part of one big family that cares about everyone's health and safety.

Want to expand your knowledge about environmental health and safety? A complete list of training available through the UAB Training System can be found at uab.edu/ehs/training.

Here are some available lineups that could benefit the Blazers:

• Personal security in buildings. Are you a building manager and/or department manager or one of their representatives? This course is designed to help you identify and comply with life safety code requirements in the operation of buildings and services.
• Safe driving. Are you driving a UAB vehicle as part of your normal duties? This preparation is required before driving for the first time. Looking for golf cart driving lessons? EHS also requires billing for vehicle use.
• Biosafety stations and fume hoods. Learn about the types of ventilation devices, their uses, limitations and protections, and how to protect the health and safety of users.
• Chemical safety. This course is required every two years for employees who work with hazardous chemicals as part of their employment at UAB. It discusses potentially hazardous chemicals in various areas of research and patient care and shows how to reduce exposure.

EHS and employee health - what's the difference?

While the two units often work together as part of their institutional missions—for example, during flu vaccination season, tuberculosis testing, and respiratory testing—EHS and employee health are separate entities. Employee health promotes wellness, helps prevent illness, and provides occupational health services to campus and health care staff with a focus on whole-body health. EHS provides learning activities that enhance the professional and academic lives of employees and support the well-being of the community through its leadership and expertise in public health. Visit uab.edu/employee-health to learn more.

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