Safety Committee

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, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden

Vice-Chairs
Cary Burgess, Zoo Atlanta (Zoo Example Practices)
Lynn Cox, Detroit Zoo (Animal Escapes)
Dan Marsh, Cincinnati Zoo (Animal Escapes)
George Peterson, Monterey Bay Aquarium (Aquarium Examples Practices)
Jeff Halter, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (Safety Summit)
Rick Holzworth, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens (ICS & Disaster Preparedness)

Board Liaison
Chris Kuhar, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

AZA Staff Liaisons 
Jack Keeney
Ashley Zielinski

Members
Mark Craven, Tennessee Aquarium
Nathan Fague, Mystic Aquarium
Adam Fink, Oakland Zoo
Maria Gallegos, Houston Zoo
Ajay Gulati, Smithsonian National Zoological Park
Cecilia Halliwell, Audubon Zoo
Julie Hartell-DeNardo, Saint Louis Zoo
Danny Holtsclaw, Bronx Zoo, WCS
Andrew James, San Diego Zoo
Anne Knapp, Zoo New England
Joe Lambert, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Robert Lewis, Disney's Animal Kingdom
Terry Lincoln, Dakota Zoo
Kelly Murphy, North Carolina Zoo
Shanna Simpson, Topeka Zoo
Jason Witmer, Palm Beach Zoo
Joanna Zazzali, North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher

Advisers
Ashley Arimborgo, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Beth Cinadr, Akron Zoo
Casey Coy, Palm Beach Zoo
Melissa Lewkowich, Chicago Zoological Society - Brookfield Zoo
Tom Meehan, DVM, Chicago Zoological Society - Brookfield Zoo
Lea Simons, Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
Patricia Waickman, Akron Zoo
Bailey Watson, The Florida Aquarium