Safety Committee

Charter  

• Serves as a primary resource for gathering and disseminating "example practices" in safety within zoos and aquariums, including through the AZA Professional Development Committee.
• Collaborates with AZA’s Government Affairs Committee to be a resource with regard to federal OSHA, DOT, and EPA regulations and related state/local regulations governing workplace safety, transportation of animals and people, and safe chemical management as it pertains to zoological parks and aquariums.
• Addresses emerging safety issues facing AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums and makes recommendations to the AZA Board and Accreditation Commission about same.
• Works with AZA staff and legal counsel to develop method for gathering  data from member zoos/aquariums with regard to potential hazards, risk management, safety incidents, and emergency preparedness to evaluate trends and recommend changes in best practices and professional development/training.
• Confidentially reviews major incident investigations by AZA Accreditation Commission as requested, and provides feedback to Accreditation on findings, proposed controls and any trends.

Chair 
Dave Ruhl, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Vice-Chairs
Maria Gallegos, Houston Zoo, Inc.
Nathan Fague, Mystic Aquarium

Members
Adam Fink, Oakland Zoo
Amber Acord, Akron Zoological Park
Betsy Hall, Museum of Life and Science
Cecile Halliwill, Audubon Zoo
Christine Nottage, SEA LIFE Charlotte-Concord
David Ruhl, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Jamie Huber, Louisville Zoo
Jason Witmer, Palm Beach Zoo
Jeffrey Landry, Utah's Hogle Zoo
Joanna Zazzali, North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
Katherine Leighty, Disney's Animal Kingdom
Kathryn Juliano, Smithsonian National Zoo
Kelly Cox, Zoo Nashville
Ken Frye, Scovill Zoo
Lorena Muro, California Science Center
Lynn Cox, Detroit Zoological Society
Maria Gallegos, Houston Zoo, Inc.
Mark Craven, Tennessee Aquarium
Nathan Fague, Mystic Aquarium
Patrick Schlemmer, San Francisco Zoological Gardens
Rick Holzworth, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
Shanna Simpson, Topeka Zoo
Steven Bauer, Denver Zoo
Sue Tygielski, Reid Park Zoo
T Dan Marsh, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Tim Sampson, John Ball Zoo
Zach Marchetti, Brevard Zoo

Advisors
Ashley Arimborgo, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Melissa Lewkowich, Chicago Zoological Society - Brookfield Zoo
Thomas Meehan, Chicago Zoological Society - Brookfield Zoo
Patricia Waickman, Akron Zoological Park

Board Liaison
Eric Rose, Herschend Family Entertainment

AZA Staff Liaisons
Jack Keeney
Ashley Zielinski