Practicing safety in University of Iowa laboratories has never been more pertinent than it is today, in the midst of a global pandemic.

As the university begins to transition back to campus for work, the Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) office is looking for examples of faculty and staff who are putting safety first in innovative ways.

EHS is offering an award to formally recognize those who are having a positive impact on safety in work spaces on campus. 

“June is National Safety Month, and we’re all working to find ways to resume important work without jeopardizing the health and safety of our faculty and staff,” said EHS Director Haley Sinn. “This award is one small way for us to stress the importance of taking concrete steps to make sure no one is negatively impacted either by COVID-19, but also falls, chemical exposure, and other potential risks.”

Sinn said the award also comes fresh on the heels of the formation of the university’s first-ever faculty-led Laboratory Safety Committee. Currently chaired by Betsy Stone, associate professor of chemistry, the committee promotes a safe working environment with respect to chemical and physical hazards in all research and teaching laboratories on campus, as well as shops that support research activities.

To nominate someone for a safety award, submit the Individual Nomination Form through Workflow, using a HawkID (people can be nominated throughout the year). Additional information on EHS’s Reward and Recognition Program can be found here.

Environmental Health and Safety is part of the Office of the Vice President for Research, which provides researchers and scholars with resources, guidance, and inspiration to secure funding, collaborate, innovate, and forge frontiers of discovery that benefit everyone. More at http://research.uiowa.edu, and on Twitter: @DaretoDiscover.