March 29, 2024

Seeking members for the UMW Safety Committee

The following message is from the Office of Emergency Management & Safety:

The University of Mary Washington Safety Committee brings together many community voices to elicit their insights and to foster transparency regarding campus safety. More about the committee, including its mission and responsibilities, can be found here.

The UMW Safety Committee is seeking faculty and staff from all three campuses as members to help develop and promote a healthy work environment. 

The committee’s responsibilities include:

  • Assisting in safety inspections of buildings, grounds, and work sites on a periodic basis.
  • Reviewing regularly all safety-related incidents, injuries, accidents, and illnesses on campus. This includes investigation, recommendation of corrective action, follow-up, and compliance.

Members are expected to serve a one-year term, devoting about five hours a month to the committee, including a meeting of approximately one hour via Zoom. 

To review the committee procedures and fill out an application, please go here.

Any questions should be addressed to the Director of Emergency Management & Safety, Mike Muckinhaupt, at mmuckinh@umw.edu. 

Campus notification regarding second UMW staff member to test positive for COVID-19

The following message is from the Office of Public Safety. 

We are writing to inform you that the University learned this morning of a second member of our Lee Hall staff with a confirmed case of  COVID-19. The source of the infection is unknown.

Appropriate public health protocols have been followed. The University has been in contact with the Virginia Department of Health, which has the responsibility of tracing potential exposures based on the timeline of this incident. VDH will be notifying and offering guidance to those who had been in direct contact with this individual.

We are proceeding with the plan of keeping Lee Hall closed, in an abundance of caution, for thorough cleaning by a licensed firm skilled in CDC guidelines.

We continue to emphasize the great importance of staying away from campus and teleworking if at all possible. The CDC- and state-issued health guidelines regarding COVID-19 are designed to ensure not only your own well-being, but the well-being of others as well:

·         Engage in physical distancing. Do not go to work or school. Keep at least 6 feet from other individuals.

·         Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

·         Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol.

·         Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose, and mouth with your hands.

·         Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

·         Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

·         Watch for cough, troubled breathing, or other signs of respiratory infection.

·         Monitor temperature for a fever above 100.4 degrees F.

·         If you develop a cough, fever, and/or difficulty breathing, call a healthcare provider or dial 911. You may also call the Virginia Health Department at 877-ASK-VDH3.

·         If you test positive for COVID-19, please inform your supervisor and/or Human Resources. All such communications are strictly confidential.

These are unsettling times, and our thoughts are with each member of the community. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Emergency Management Director Mike Muckinhaupt at mmuckinh@umw.edu or 540-654-2108.

Collection of Protective Gear

Due to shortages from the COVID-19 outbreak, the Office of Emergency Management and Safety is collecting Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from buildings throughout campus. This is to assist in an accurate inventory of these items, as well as to store these items in a central location. We will be collecting the following items:

  • Gloves
  • N95 Masks or Surgical Masks
  • Procedure Gowns
  • Tyvek Suits
  • Face Shields
  • Any other PPE pertinent to Field Operations pertaining to COVID-19

Please contact Mike Muckinhaupt, Director of Emergency Management & Safety by e-mail at mmuckinh@umw.edu to schedule a pickup of these.

Academic and Administrative Fire Drills Begin Monday

The Fire Safety office plans to conduct fire drills in administrative and academic buildings beginning the week of October 5th.

The schedule is listed below, showing buildings, and which week they are tentatively scheduled. The exact date and time will not be posted.

Please review the UMW Administrative and Academic Building Fire Drill Guidelines so everyone is aware of their roles and responsibilities.

The drills are in accordance with fire safety guidelines.

For questions, please contact Campus Fire Safety Officer Mike Muckinhaupt at mmuckinh@umw.edu or 654-2108.

Week of Oct 1 – Oct 5: Brent, Fairfax, Tyler, Hamlet, Alumni Center, Tennis Center, and Ridderhoff/Martin

Week of Oct 8 – Oct 12: Stafford N/S, Belmont, Jepson Science, Anderson/Goolrick/Fitness Center, HCC/Simpson

Week of Oct 15 – Oct 19: Pollard/Melchers/Dupont, Woodard, Lee, Trinkle, JMLO

Please note that not all buildings are scheduled during the Fall Semester. Buildings not listed will have their fire drills conducted during the Spring Semester.

Fire Alarm Testing to Take Place during the Summer

Emergency Management and Safety would like to announce the schedule for Fire Alarm Testing and Inspection that will be conducted through the Summer. Below is the list of dates and locations testing will take place:

May 29-June 1 – Eagle Village
June 4 – Ball, Custis, Madison
June 5-7 – UMW Apartments
June 8 – Tyler, Fairfax, South, Hamlet, Heating Plant, Framar, Ridderhof Martin Gallery
June 11-13 – Randolph-Mason/Link
June 14-15 – University Center
June 18 – Hurley Convergence Center
June 19 – Simpson Library, Virginia, Monroe
June 20 – Bushnell, Jefferson
June 21 – Russell, Marshall
June 22 – Westmoreland, George Washington
June 25 – Parking Deck, Alvey, Arrington
June 26 – Anderson, Goolrick
June 27 – Belmont, JMLO
June 28 – Brompton, Combs, 1201 Williams, 1004 College
June 29 – Stafford N/S, Dahlgren
July 2 – Alumni Center, Tennis Center
July 3 – DuPont, Pollard, Melchers
July 5 – Trinkle, Lee
July 6 – Brent, Jepson Science
July 9 – Marye, Woodard, Mercer
July 10-13 – Makeup Week

Please note that this schedule may change with little notice. Any questions can be directed to the Fire Safety Officer, Mike Muckinhaupt, at x2108.

Upcoming Fire Drills Scheduled

The Fire Safety office plans to conduct fire drills in administrative and academic buildings beginning the week of February 26th.

The schedule is listed below, showing buildings, and which week they are tentatively scheduled. The exact date and time will not be posted.

Please review the UMW Administrative and Academic Building Fire Drill Guidelines so everyone is aware of their roles and responsibilities.

The drills are in accordance with fire safety guidelines.

For questions, please contact Campus Fire Safety Officer Mike Muckinhaupt at mmuckinh@umw.edu or 654-2108.

Week 1: Feb. 26 to March 2 – Brent, GW Hall, Alumni Center, Tennis Center
Week 2: March 5 to March 9 – No Drills Scheduled
Week 3: March 12 to March 16 – Belmont, Woodard, Anderson, Goolrick, Fitness Center, Heating Plant
Week 4: March 19 to March 23 – Stafford N/S, DuPont, Ridderhoff/Martin, Trinkle, Tyler
Week 5: March 26 to March 30 – Dahlgren, Lee, Jepson Science, JMLO, Combs
Week 6: April 2 to April 6 – Fairfax, Hamlet, Monroe, Mercer, HCC
Week 7: April 9 to April 13 – 1201 William St, Pollard, Melcher, Simpson, Marye

Fire Alarm Testing to Take Place during Winter Break

Emergency Management and Safety would like to announce the schedule for Fire Alarm Testing and Inspection that will be conducted through the Winter Break. Below is the list of dates and locations testing will take place:

Dec. 18-19 – Eagle Village
Dec. 20-21 – UMW Apartments
Dec. 26 – Randolph, Mason, and Link
Dec. 27 – DuPont, Pollard, Melchers, and Ridderhof-Martin
Dec. 28 – Combs, George Washington, Lee, and Alumni Center
Dec. 29 – University Center, Westmoreland, Heating Plant, and HCC
Jan. 2 – Ball, Custis, Madison, Jepson
Jan. 3 – Tennis Center, 1201 Williams St., 1004 College Ave., JMLO and Marye
Jan. 4 – Anderson, Goolrick, Fitness Center, and Parking Deck
Jan. 5 – Virginia, Jefferson, South, and Framar
Jan. 8 – Willard, Tyler, Hamlet, Fairfax, and Brent
Jan. 9 – CGPS 1 & 2, and Brompton
Jan. 10 – Alvey, Arrington, Trinkle, and Belmont
Jan. 11 – Dahlgren, Simpson, and Bushnell
Jan. 12 – Mercer, Woodard, and Monroe
Jan. 15 – Marshall and Russell
Jan. 16 – Makeup Day

Please note that this schedule may change with little notice. Any questions can be directed to the Fire Safety Officer, Mike Muckinhaupt, at x2108.