UC Riverside was honored for excellence in health and safety for a fourth consecutive year by the UC Office the President. 

UCR Environmental Health & Safety is the first to receive the prestigious UCOP Presidential Award for Campus Excellence in Health in Safety four years in a row. The award recognizes campus health and safety programs with the lowest rate of injuries and illness that contribute to lost days from work.  

The division also won a Spotlight Award, in the collaboration category, which recognizes exceptional projects that involve multiple departments and stakeholders and contribute to a common goal of reducing campus risk and protecting university resources. 

Both awards were presented at the 2023 UCOP Risk Summit in May, held in Anaheim.

The Spotlight Award was for an August 2022 project in which several departments worked together to clear debris, trash, dry brush, and other material that had accumulated at Gage Basin, which has had homeless encampments. At least two wildfires that damaged campus property have been associated with the area while the campus has also experienced a spike in theft and vandalism. 

Environmental Health & Safety worked with several departments in the effort including landscaping, grounds, and custodial teams from Facilities Services; campus fire inspectors; and patrol, crime prevention, and community resource officers from UCR police. The groups also discussed and agreed on long-term strategies to keep the area safe.