UCOP’s EHS Director Young receives safety award
April 5, 2011 •
Erike Young, director of Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) in UCOP’s Department of Risk Services, has been named the Region 1 Safety Professional of the Year for 2010–11 by the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE).
The world’s oldest and largest professional safety organization, the ASSE has 33,000 members who manage safety, health and environmental issues nationwide. As a regional awardee this year, Young will compete next year for the national honor.
As EH&S director, Young is responsible for developing and implementing policies and procedures to maintain a safe and healthy environment for UC’s 10 campuses, five hospitals and one national laboratory. He became EH&S interim director in December 2009 and officially took his current position for UC last August, reporting to Chief Risk Officer Grace Crickette.
“Erike has a thorough understanding and appreciation for safety and risk management systems and the importance of integrating safety into operations at all levels,” said Crickette in Young’s letter of recommendation for the award. “He is taking this challenge head on, working with the system-wide Academic Senate, campus EH&S directors and other stakeholders to develop a framework for better integrating safety into operations.”
Young was instrumental in developing a five-year EH&S strategic plan, the first-ever for the UC system, to help the campuses work more collaboratively on system-wide safety initiatives. He has also created a Centers of Excellence program to help promote best practices throughout the UC system.
In addition to his UC duties, Young actively promotes professional development among risk management and safety professionals by helping them obtain professional certifications. He is currently teaching a webinar for more than 160 U.S. and international participants seeking their Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designation.
Active in ASSE since 2005, Young is past president of the ASSE Sacramento Chapter and was elected in 2009 to the National Safety Management Society Board of Directors. He is also a recognized leader in safety management and safety culture and speaks regularly at national and regional conferences on the topic.
