Campaign connects Administration & Finance’s Environmental Health and Safety team with research community in a positive way.
It’s not easy to stand out as a safety professional. Most of the time, the better they do their job, the more invisible they become. But every so often they do their jobs so well, it becomes impossible to ignore their efforts.
Recently, the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Research Safety Team got some well-deserved recognition, winning the ABSA International Biosafety Month Outreach Award. The award is part of ABSA’s Biosafety & Biosecurity Month, to promote training, stewardship, and responsible research practices across the global biosafety community.
As the leading association for biosafety and biosecurity professionals, ABSA’s annual Biosafety Month Outreach Award recognizes one organization that “demonstrates exceptional creativity and impact in promoting biosafety outreach during Biosafety & Biosecurity Month.”
Shannon Sussman, chemical hygiene officer in EHS, coordinated the winning effort that included tabling events, games, trivia, EHS swag, and cookie-grams with Halloween-themed biosafety tips. In addition, there was also a biosecurity webinar with the FBI, which helped researchers better understand how to recognize and prevent security risks in the lab.
While the campaign used fun to engage the audience, the takeaway messages of the campaign were decidedly serious.
Sussman says, “Many of the laboratories on our campus are engaged in biomedical research, which involves working with a variety of biological materials, some which are hazardous. With this important work comes responsibility.
"Promoting biosafety helps reinforce the practices and precautions that protect researchers, students, staff, and the broader UMB community. It also helps raise awareness about the resources and support EHS provides, including training, consultations, and various safety programs, to ensure everyone has what they need to work safely and confidently.”
While Sussman says it’s natural that the relationship between EHS and its customers can occasionally be challenging, the campaign was received positively.
“Sometimes EHS is only seen when something goes wrong or when we have to enforce a rule, and that can make us feel a little distant from the people we support. With this campaign, we wanted to show that we’re approachable and here to help. It was a chance to talk with researchers in a low-pressure, friendly way and share safety tips that actually make their day-to-day work easier."
The award reinforces the exceptional work that the UMB EHS team is doing.
Just days before, Melissa Morland, executive director of Operations & Maintenance, was named the winner of the Arnold Wedum Distinguished Achievement Award for outstanding contributions to biological safety accomplished through teaching, research, service, or leadership.
Sussman says it’s all part of culture of excellence that exists in the team.
“The campaign was truly a team effort from our EHS Research Safety group. Everyone played a role in planning, tabling, coordinating outreach, and engaging with labs across campus. That includes Natalie Schalick, Jake Broderick, Marian Thomas, John O’Neill, Holda Ramos, and Matt Fischer. It was a collaborative project from start to finish, and the campaign really reflects the strengths each person brought to it."
Sussman says the award isn’t a finishing point, but part of an ongoing journey.
“And we’re not stopping here. Keep an eye out for more EHS events and outreach activities on campus! We love connecting with our community, and we’re excited to keep building on this momentum.”
If you’ve got an A&F event, occurrence, or story you would like to share with the UMB community, please reach out to the A&F communications department by emailing Dan Reed.