OES is excited to announce that Andrea Conner has accepted the position of Hazardous Materials Specialist – Asbestos Program Manager. Andrea has worked with OES for several years in the Industrial Hygiene Program. Prior to that she was a Teaching Assistant with the Department of Chemistry. She received her PhD in Chemistry from Clemson University last year.
As with all our programs, OES is continuing to strive to improve our services within the asbestos program and is looking forward to offering more support to the University with projects that involve asbestos abatement.
Andrea started this new position on December 16, 2025. She will now report to June Brock-Carroll, OES Environmental Compliance Manager. Please help us congratulate Andrea in her new position and feel free to reach out to either Andrea or June with any questions, concerns or needs.
For 10 years, Anne Kogut has been more than just a valuable member of our team, she’s been a cornerstone of our department.
Her dedication and guidance have left a mark on our culture and each of our careers. The knowledge, support and leadership she’s shown will continue to guide us long after she’s gone.
Help us congratulate Anne on her well-deserved retirement.
Throughout October, Clemson Occupational and Environmental Safety celebrated National Ergonomics Month with a campus-wide outreach initiative aimed at promoting ergonomic safety across diverse professional fields. OES hosted several Ergo Info Booths on campus, highlighting topics such as Ergonomics in the Performing Arts, Nursing Ergonomics and Safe Patient Handling, and Ergonomic Lab Safety. OES staff also met with students during ethics and compliance week, where they discussed the importance of ergonomics and its relevance to various fields of study.
For more information on Ergonomic safety or assessment requests, please contact Blake Robinson at trobin5@clemson.edu.
This notice provides information about asbestos-containing materials at Clemson University.
Clemson University is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all. Some buildings at Clemson contain materials that were historically made with asbestos, a general name for a group of naturally occurring minerals composed of small fibers, because of their durability and heat resistance. These materials are safe as long as they remain intact and undisturbed.
Examples of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) include spray-on fireproofing, floor tiles, ceiling tiles, insulation on pipes and ducts, acoustical and decorative coatings, and roofing materials. These types of building materials are presumed to contain asbestos unless testing has proven otherwise.
In accordance with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations, Clemson University’s Asbestos Management Program sets procedures and protocols to identify existing asbestos and ensure it is maintained in place and in good condition. The mere presence of asbestos in a building does not mean that the health of the building occupants is endangered.
Asbestos is only a hazard when small particles become airborne and are inhaled or ingested. ACMs pose no risk to health unless the materials are disturbed and the asbestos fibers are released into the air. Intact, sealed and undisturbed materials are not a hazard. Unauthorized removal or disturbance of asbestos is not only dangerous, but also illegal.
It is important that proper work practices be followed to minimize the potential for disturbing ACM. Unless authorized and properly trained, all University personnel should:
Observe all posted asbestos related signage and labels.
Avoid touching any known asbestos materials in walls, ceilings, pipes, or boilers.
Presume all building materials contain asbestos until determined otherwise.
Do not drill holes, install screws, pins, nails or hang objects into ceilings or walls unless the ceilings or walls have been tested and confirmed to be non-asbestos containing.
Do not disturb ACM when replacing light bulbs.
Do not remove any items nailed or screwed to the walls (this includes pictures, cabinets, electrical, etc.)
Do not go above ceilings, behind walls or into building spaces such as attics and crawlspaces unless these areas have been inspected.
Do not pull cable or wiring through above-ceiling spaces.
Do not remove, cut, drill, sand, grind or otherwise disturb any material in the buildings, including carpet and floor tile.
Do not brush, sweep or vacuum ceiling, wall or floor tile debris.
Be careful not to damage walls, ceilings or floors when moving furniture or equipment.
Immediately report any observed damage or deterioration of suspect building materials to University Facilities Dispatch at 864-656-5450, submit a service request or contact OEShelp@clemson.edu.
It’s almost Compliance & Ethics Week (CEW) — happening October 20–24, 2025! Throughout the week, Clemson will host events and conversations that explore integrity, accountability, and ethical leadership in action.
Whether you’re a student, faculty, or staff member, there’s something for everyone — from inspiring speakers to career insights and discussions on the role of ethics in our daily work.
On July 31, 2025, OES hosted the 7th Annual Department Safety Coordinators (DSC) retreat. The event included updates on OES accomplishments and upcoming programs with presentations for our guest Speakers Kimberly Spears-McNatt, Vice President for Public Safety, Dr. Lesslie Pekarek MD, FAAFP, Vice President for Student Health and Wellness Services, and Dr. Matthew Breed, DVM Attending Veterinarian/Director of Animal Resources. Jay Harris, the DSC for CCIT, presented the health and safety achievements in his department and several OES team members provided updates. VWR/Avantor along with their suppliers sponsored the event.
The following Recognition and Awards were also presented
Outstanding Department Safety Coordinators
Jay Harris – CCIT- Jay has worked diligently to provide training and ongoing hazard assessments to maintain a safe workplace. He has been a DSC since the start of the program over 10 years ago.
Lane Chambers – Bioengineering- Lance consistently promotes safety and maintains SciShield records to average 98% compliance for training and registrations. He is a long-term DSC with extraordinary commitment to safety.
Sara Pederson – Pee Dee Rec Sara has done an excellent job in her role as DSC for the past 2.5 years providing training and identification of work hazards. She has a strong dedication to safety and is as excellent partner with OES.
Outstanding Department and OES Partner Awards
CCIT – CCIT has many unique hazards associated with the operation center including high voltage, remote workers for 24/7 coverage, and medical response. Employees have been trained in hands on fire extinguishers, First Aid/CPR, AEDs.
Chemistry – The Chemistry department had a major challenge with the shutdown of the entire building for renovations. Faculty and staff worked diligently with OES to secure chemical and research hazards before, during and after the renovations with no major incidents.
Facilities – Masonry Shop The Facilities Masonry Shop handles a wide variety of job tasks that require ongoing hazard assessments, PPE, training, and medical surveillance. They have an exception training record and support of OES programs and keep safety a priority in their jobs.
Outstanding OES Partner Clemson University Business Intelligence (BI) – Jim presented this award to BI for their outstanding partnership with migrating SciShield data to provide more statistical analysis of accident/incidents.
Summer has just begun and we are in a heat wave. With temperatures approaching 100oF this week, now is the time to review safe practices to BEAT THE HEAT.
OES has a fact sheet on Heat Stress to read, download , and/or post to stay cool and safe this week and the rest of the summer.
Congratulations to Dr. Andrea Conner on completing her PhD in Chemistry. OES is so proud of her managing school along with a full time position. We look forward to seeing what the future holds for her.
Congratulations to the ClemsonLIFE Hospitality Certificate Program students Kalim, Camille, Zavien, Grey and Patrick for completion of the OSHA 10 hour class presented by Occupational and Environmental Safety.
The students attended 10 classes on such topics as Hazard Communication, Personal Protective Equipment, Ergonomics, Bloodborne Pathogen, Shop Safety, Electrical Safety, Emergency response, and Chemical spill response. The students were issued OSHA 10-hour cards and certificates to mark this accomplishment.
This is the second class to complete the OSHA 10 hr. since the program was established by OES and ClemsonLIFE in 2024.
