GCU News Bureau
Just call it a stress-relief ball on steroids.
At the second annual GCU Health & Safety Day, Grand Canyon University and Grand Canyon Education employees will get the opportunity to relieve some stress by taking a few swings with a sledgehammer on a junk car.
“We will be stressing the importance of personal protective equipment and making sure our employees have the right gear for the job,” said Brian Aispuro, Health and Safety Specialist in the Environmental Health and Safety Department.
It won’t be the only highlight of Health & Safety Day.
The event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday on the first floor of the Student Union, also will feature demonstrations from the Phoenix Fire Department, Phoenix Police Department's SWAT team and GCU Fire Prevention, along with talks, vendor booths and giveaways.
"Our vision is to create an environment where everyone goes home safely every day. In other words, 'Everyone, everywhere, home safe, every day.' This can only be accomplished when we all work together and look out for each other," said EHS Director Michael Engle.
"The purpose of Health & Safety Day is to bring employees together to increase awareness about workplace safety and to give us some inspiration in knowing that our community partners share the same vision. Using a ladder safely or fixing a trip hazard can make a big difference not only for GCU students, but also for our fellow employees," he said.
After mugging it up with Thunder at 10:30 a.m. and hitting the photo booth, employees will hear a welcome from Engle, who will introduce the event’s speakers.
Guest speaker Angela Harrolle worked as a special agent investigating visa and passport fraud for the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service before becoming a contract special investigator. Her husband, Bruce, was a police officer and paramedic for the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
Life took an unexpected turn in 2008, when Bruce was killed in the line of duty. Harrolle worked with the Arizona DPS on Harrolle’s Law, which provides surviving families with lifetime health insurance benefits following a line-of-duty death. She is the President and CEO of the nonprofit 100 Club of Arizona, which provides statewide assistance for public safety agencies, officers, firefighters, EMT/paramedics and their families.
Keynote speaker Rob Hoadley, a San Diego-based law enforcement market specialist for a major medical device manufacturer, started his career in 2016 after surviving multiple cardiac arrests.
The talks will be followed by pizza served at 11:45 a.m., a Louisville Ladder live demonstration by Allen Hermes at noon, and an Environmental Health and Safety discussion by EHS Manager Teresa Bohman at 1 p.m.
The Human Resources Department will be on hand to provide information about the Ergonomic Benefits Program, GCU partner vendors will be onsite to showcase safety equipment, and look for fire extinguisher demonstrations every 30 minutes.
Also, employees can win giveaways, from a Milwaukee Jobsite Lunch Cooler to a Safety Everywhere Duffel Bag, Milwaukee Jobsite M18 radio, insulated mugs, backpacks, koozies, first-aid kits and more. Visit the check-in booth on the northside entrance of the Student Union and the Emergency Preparedness Table at the Southern Plaza just outside of the Student Union to receive a maximum of two raffle tickets.
EHS has partnered with companies such as Milwaukee Tools, Red Wing Shoes, Grainger, Waxie, Sqwincher, Ergodyne, Louisville Ladder, Power Breezer, One Solution, 100 Club of Arizona, Zoll, AED Everywhere and Sunstate. On-campus partners for the event include GCU Fire Prevention, Facilities, Emergency Preparedness, Human Resources, and the Canyon Health and Wellness Clinic.
SCHEDULE
10 a.m. -- Event starts
10:30 a.m. -- Thunder photo opportunity
10:40 a.m. -- Welcome and introduction by Michael Engle
10:50 a.m. -- Angela Harrolle, guest speaker
11 a.m. -- Rob Hoadley, keynote speaker
11:45 a.m. -- Pizza served
Noon -- Louisville ladder safety demonstration by Allen Hermes
1 p.m. -- Environmental Health and Safety discussion by Teresa Bohman
2 p.m. -- Event ends
