UT Public Safety

08/18/2026

In order to promote positive safety culture in UT labs, the Lab Safety Committee is continuing the Lab Safety Culture Awards Subcommittee. The theme for the second category of awards of 2026 was “Understanding Headspace and its Impact on Safety.” Quarter 2 awards were distributed in August 2026:

1st place: Emmanuel Adewuyi - Graduate Research Assistant, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
2nd place: Garrett Miller – Graduate Research Assistant, Nuclear Engineering
3rd place: Chathuddasie Amarasinghe, PhD – PhD, Physics
Congratulations, winners!

View submissions here: tiny.utk.edu/Q2LSCA

08/18/2026

Ryan Steffy with the Office of Emergency Management spent time with BSA Troop 47 to teach about emergency preparedness.

Ryan took time to go over important emergency preparedness topics with Scouts as they work toward completing their Emergency Preparedness merit badge, an important step for those on the journey to earning the rank of Eagle Scout. 🦅

Great job, Troop 47! 👏 and thank you all for inviting us to help prepare the next generation to be ready, responsible, and willing to serve their communities.

08/11/2026

EHS was proud to support the University of Tennessee Tickle College of Engineering's 5th Annual Laboratory Safety In-Service Day! We enjoyed connecting with faculty, staff, and students and supporting TCE’s continued commitment to building a strong laboratory safety culture.
Thanks to everyone who stopped by the EHS table!

08/10/2026

Welcome our newest member of Public Safety!

Zachary Bisch – Emergency Management Specialist: Zachary supports the Office of Emergency Management through emergency preparedness, response, communications, and outreach across the University community. He brings more than ten years of public safety experience to the team, including water rescue on the Tennessee River and six years in emergency communications with the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

Zachary earned an Associate Degree in Computer Science and Programming from Pellissippi State Community College and holds an Emergency Number Professional (ENP) certification through the National Emergency Number Association (NENA). He also brings experience working with 911 policy organizations, including APCO and NENA.

In his role, Zachary applies his experience in public safety, communications, and technology to help support emergency preparedness and response across the University community.

Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, traveling with his family, participating in board game clubs, and practicing piano... enough to get past “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”

He works alongside Emergency Management Director Brian Gard and Emergency Management Supervisor Ryan Steffy.

08/07/2026

Great training with our campus and city/county partners!

08/07/2026

⚠️TRAINING NOTICE-(Today): ⚠️

Notice: Active Threat Training at the Agriculture and Natural Resources Building (ANR) – Friday, August 7, 2026.

On Friday, August 7, 2026, representatives from UT Public Safety, including the University of Tennessee Police Department and Emergency Management, Knoxville Police Department - TN, Knoxville Fire Department - TN, and UT Medical will be conducting an active threat training exercise.

📍 Location: Agriculture and Natural Resources Building
🕗 Time: 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
🚫 Please Note: The Agriculture and Natural Resources Building will be closed during this training. This exercise is part of our continued efforts to enhance campus safety and emergency preparedness. Regular drills like this ensure that our community remains ready to respond effectively to potential threats and emergencies.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the University of Tennessee Police Department at (865) 974-3114.

Thank you for your cooperation and commitment to campus safety.

07/31/2026

We're Hiring! Environmental Health & Safety at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville is looking for a Technical Writer to join our team!

This role will help transform complex EHS information into clear, consistent, and accessible resources that support safety across our campus community.

Ready to make an impact through clear, effective communication?

Learn more and apply: https://tiny.utk.edu/TechnicalWriter

07/27/2026

Congratulations to UTPD on their sixth CALEA reaccreditation with Gold Standard Advanced Accreditation!

07/24/2026

Congrats to Chief Patterson on this accompolishment!

University of Tennessee Police Chief Sean Patterson has been sworn in as president of the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of […]

07/06/2026

Congratulations to Ricky Rutherford on achieving two significant professional milestones!

Ricky has successfully passed the Board of Certified Safety Professionals, Associate Safety Professional (ASP®) examination, earning the Associate Safety Professional (ASP®) credential. This achievement demonstrates a strong foundation in environmental, health, and safety principles and marks an important step toward becoming a Certified Safety Professional (CSP®).

In addition, Ricky has earned the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) credential, recognizing his expertise in developing, implementing, and evaluating health education programs that promote healthier communities and empower individuals to make informed decisions about their well-being.

These accomplishments reflect Ricky's dedication to professional growth and his commitment to advancing workplace safety and public health.
Please join us in congratulating Ricky on these outstanding achievements!