Division of Finance and Administration
Ready to R.A.I.N. - Week of February 16
Meredith Lancaster, Environmental and Health Safety coordinator, looks over the shoulder of Robert DeLong, director of Environmental and Occupational Safety, as he explains the "Report an Unsafe Condition" webpage feature . "There is always something needing to be done and the variety of task and responsibility is exciting," DeLong said.
The clock in Palms Dining Center hits noon. And soon, hungry students begin filing in. Laughing and giggling and talking with friends about classes. Outside in the quad, students lie on the ground surrounded by text books. Over in another area, some more students are playing frisbee. Against a tree leans a book bag with wires sticking out from it.
"This [scene] would spark my attention; even though, the student may have a remote control car in his book bag," said Bob DeLong, director of Environmental and Occupational Safety. "I'm aware of the possibility, it could be a bomb."
By taking a standardized Weapons of Mass Destruction Awareness Level training course, taught by the Office of Homeland Security, DeLong and Meredith Lancaster, Environmental Health and Safety coordinator, are able to recognize potential dangers hiding in any environment.
"I enjoyed the class," DeLong said. "So, when asked to host the training, we did not hesitate."
DeLong and Lancaster hosted the WMD Awareness Level training course last week with local firefighters and faculty from nearby universities in attendance. The training course teaches first-responders, such as police officers and emergency technicians, how to recognize and avoid potential threats in any environment. Two Homeland Security personnel lesson on the topics of: prevention and deterrence, chemical agents, biological agents, radiological agents, and explosive devices.
Also, first-responders learn R.A.I.N., the steps to tackling any hazard. R is for "recognize." A is for "avoid." I is for "isolate." Lastly, N is for "notify."
"If you can see a bomb, it can see you," DeLong said. "Get everyone away and secure the area, it may be a false alarm, but it is better to be on the safe side." Lancaster stresses that although the scenario of a bomb on campus is unlikely, it is best to be prepared.
"We have a very safe university," said DeLong. "We may be the safety department, but we all do our part for the safety of this campus."
Public Safety and Environmental and Occupational Safety departments work hand-in-hand, collaborating on many of the campus' security issues, such as emergency telephones and the parking lot camera systems.
"Part of our job is to let people know they are responsible to help us keep the campus safe," said Lancaster. "It is not just us, it's everybody."
Feature article and picture provided by Heather Harris, Communications Arts intern, Spring 2006.