UC Riverside has been awarded the Presidential Award for Campus Excellence in Health and Safety for the sixth year in a row. 

The award is presented annually to one campus by the UC Office of the President to spotlight the work of Environmental Health and Safety departments in improving safety and reducing risk at UC campuses. Winners were announced at the biennial UC Risk Summit in May.

A key measure in determining the award is the reduction in the number of work-related injuries and medical care received. UCR continues to lead with the lowest injury rates in the system.

UCR’s total case incident rate, representing the number of work-related injuries and illness per 100 full-time employees over a one-year period, was 1.2 while the average for UC campuses was 1.6.

A low rate is considered a benchmark for safety excellence, said Ken Smith, executive director, UC Environmental Health and Safety.

“UCR’s EH&S team has demonstrated consistent leadership in this area, and their recognition is a testament to their proactive efforts to reduce workplace incidents and foster a safe campus environment,” he said.

Sheila Hedayati, director of UCR’s Environmental, Health & Safety department, said the campus has taken a holistic and integrated approach with its EH&S, risk management, and workers compensation insurance management programs.

“By aligning our efforts across these functional areas, we’ve built and continue to improve a proactive system that focuses on early intervention, prevention, and coordinated response,” she said. “This collaboration has translated into real, measurable benefits for the university.”

The department’s efforts include a 91% safety orientation completion rate, over 1,500 employee medial clearances and respiratory fit tests in the past six years, over 3,000 lab workers fitted with lab coats and safety eyewear, and over 1,000 safety inspections performed annually.