UMSC September Minutes
UNION-MANAGEMENT SAFETY COMMITTEE
September 2026 Meeting Minutes
The monthly meeting of the Union-Management Safety Committee was conducted on September 8th, 2026 by the Environmental Health and Safety department with the following individuals in attendance:
Kyle Bushee VA Legal Affairs, Risk, and Compliance
Cory Ghiringhelli VA Environmental Health and Safety
Darrell Junkins A Landscape Services
Keith Pung A Environmental Health and Safety
Jacob Woods A Environmental Health and Safety
In-Person Attendance: (A)
Virtual Attendance: (VA)
OLD BUSINESS
Jake Woods provided an update regarding the ongoing resolution of a safety concern that was introduced to EHS by Maintenance Services personnel. Tradespersons previously contacted EHS with an inquiry about air handling unit filter-bank access platforms located in Miller Auditorium mechanical spaces and the fixed ladder within the Miller Fountain equipment vault. Jake subsequently met Devin Johnson for an onsite meeting where it was determined safety improvements to the ladder and platform systems were warranted. Jake shared photos and confirmed that a new corrosive-resistant ladder was installed in the Miller Fountain vault and that the improvement efforts with the Miller Auditorium filter-bank platform were completed.
Jake Woods provided an update to the safety concern involving damaged walking surface materials located near the loading dock of the Student Recreation Center. It was mentioned that the situation contributed to a trip and fall incident that was incurred by a Custodial Services employee. Cory Ghiringhelli contacted WMU Parking Services who informed him of planned repairs. Jake confirmed that the SRC Parking Lot #29 repatching efforts were completed.
Jake Woods previously provided an update to the safety concern involving the lack of tornado shelter and evacuation maps for the Landscape Services and ROTC areas in the Campus Services Building. The maps are typically located on walls, approximately 5’ high, near building entries. Jake previously investigated and gathered necessary information regarding current locations of fire extinguishers and alarm pull stations. Devin Johnson subsequently used the data, along with hand-noted floor prints to create temporary evacuation maps; Jake helped to get them displayed at the necessary CSB locations. The Projects, Design, and Construction division pursued funding resources via the deferred maintenance program for campus-wide updated emergency plans with project manager Wristen Paschich. Jake shared that the PDC team are working on the project internally and recently collected-located template files to make the updates with Floyd Hall draft(s) having been completed.
Jake Woods previously provided an update to the safety issue involving snow and ice buildup in the Hilltop Parking Structure that contributed to a student injury. The structure’s open design and airflows allow snow to enter and accumulate on interior walking surfaces. Affected areas are cleared of snow and treated by Landscape Services but re-accumulation occurs quickly. The first plan of action would be to bring to the attention of FM Engineering before any changes or modifications are made to the structure. Jake stated that he worked with the FM Service Center to create a warranty work order to track future incidents and project efforts. He also communicated the concerns to FM Engineering who subsequently reached out to the Chrisman Company and Fishbeck. The construction management and engineering firms provided recommendations that included: installation of a woven fabric on the building exterior as a façade element, hang fabric or other solid material to the existing fencing system, and construction of a knee-wall at the west edge of the stair’s main landing. Jake also shared that the “open parking garage” classification brings with it a lot of building code advantages, specifically avoiding the need for a fire sprinkler system throughout the building and avoiding the need of a mechanical ventilation system. While the structure was not designed right to the limit, maintaining openness is important to consider in terms of how much of the perimeter can be blocked (or partially blocked).
PROJECT LIST/TABLE
No new projects introduced.
NEW BUSINESS
No new business introduced.
SAFETY HAPPENINGS
Jake Woods mentioned that fire drills are scheduled for all residence halls the evening of 9/16 and Sindecuse Health Center the morning of 9/24.
Darrell Junkins inquired about possible reimbursement avenues if the Landscape Services department procured handheld radios in order to better facilitate their in-the-field communications. Kyle Bushee indicated that there may be funding available for loss control safety related equipment via the MUSIC insurance program and that he would be releasing updated reimbursement submission protocol in the near future.
Jake Woods shared that the National Safety Council and the United States Department of Homeland Security recognize September as National Preparedness Month. A national observance with this year’s focus on several distinct ideas that capture how Americans take pride in their ability to protect themselves and their families and work together to recover from disasters. Preparedness is everyone’s responsibility, and disasters and emergencies can happen at any time, anywhere, and sometimes without warning. Further information can be found at: https://www.ready.gov/stand-ready.
The next UMSC meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 13th, 2026 in the shared conference room located on the ground floor of the E.W. Building at 10:00 a.m.; an invitation to attend via video conferencing platform (WebEx) will also be sent out with these minutes. Please send a substitute representative if you are unable to attend.
Published: 9/22/26