Safety Spot Award Winners

Top row, left to right, Rod Bennett, Mike Crofoot, Chu, Alan Poon, Roxanne Clark, and Andrew Tyrrell. Bottom row, left to right, Gerald Martin, Harry Bash, and Warren Elliott. All staff are with the Facilities Division except Clark (Computing Sciences), and Poon (Nuclear Sciences). A description of each winner's safety contribution is below.

Roxanne Clark, Computing Sciences - While walking from Bldg. 26 to Bldg. 50, Roxanne noticed that the fence used to control a herd of goats (eating brush to reduce fire danger) was electrified, but not well marked. She mentioned this to a colleague, who called EH&S. The Lab’s electrical safety expert went out to inspect the site and reported that in addition to inadequate warning signs, the electrical equipment was not UL-listed and that the amperage was 100 times stronger than should be used.

Michael Crofoot, Facilities – Mike Crofoot is the lead Facilities Carpenter. Mike has worked with EH&S Ergonomists to enhance the design of numerous computer work settings for lab employees to solve ergonomics problems. Together they co-developed a table design for mouse-intensive tasks that has been used with great success by CAD designers, webmasters, and programmers at the Lab. Mike takes every opportunity to collaborate with EH&S to integrate greater flexibility in the workstations and cabinetry the carpenters create for their customers. He also troubleshoots potential problems by introducing the EH&S Ergonomics Team to his clients in the early stages of development to ensure that furniture provides exceptional fit and function.

Wayne Greenway, Engineering – Wayne observed contractor engineers opening electrical panels in Building 58. As the building manager, he was concerned that he did not know who these people were, nor had he been informed of their activities. Wayne challenged the contractors and immediately notified the EHS Electrical Safety Engineer. As a result, the contractor employees’ work methods were revised to significantly increase their own safety as well as that of affected LBNL employees.

Alan Poon, Nuclear Science – Alan has successfully combined imagination, enthusiasm and humor in his communications about environment, health and safety issues at biweekly Nuclear Science Division staff meetings. By emphasizing how these issues affect LBNL workers at work and at home, his messages clearly contribute to the division’s excellent safety record.

James Smithwick, Information Technologies – Jim was providing IT support to an employee who had moved into a new location. He noticed immediately that the workstation was not configured for the employee (desk top too high, monitor incorrect viewing angle, and damage to the worktop). He notified the division safety coordinator to have the workstation evaluated for the new employee.

Andrew Tyrrell, Facilities – Andy noticed that a contractor had performed electrical work near exposed energized conductors in violation of Lab and OSHA regulations. Andy reported the problem to Facilities’ supervision and the contractor was ordered to stop work site-wide. Andy’s decision to take action will promote safety by preventing similar future incidents.

Facilities Division Carpenters –
Julian Aki
Harry Bash
Rod Bennett
Tom Bennett
Steve Campos
Don Decuir 
Richard Doty
Warren Elliot
Joseph Herrera
Lonnie Lafon
Gerald Martin
Blair Mordecai
Jimmie Nez
John Souza

The Facilities Carpenters have worked with the EH&S Ergonomists to assemble and install prototypes of new computer work settings for lab employees to solve ergonomics problems. These have been used with great success by several CAD designers, webmasters and programmers at the Lab.