Safety Committee Charter  

• Serves as a primary resource for gathering and disseminating best 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 Best Practices)
Lynn Cox, Detroit Zoo (Animal Escapes)
Casey Coy, Palm Beach Zoo (Aquarium Best Practices)
Jeff Halter, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (Safety Summit)
Rick Holzworth, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens (ICS)
Patricia Waickman, Akron Zoo (Animal Escapes)

Board Liaison
Chris Kuhar, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

AZA Staff Liaisons 
Steve Olson
Jack Keeney

Members
Michael Ahlering, San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Jon Brangan, Brevard Zoo
Jeff Bucchi, Newport Aquarium
Lynn Cox, Detroit Zoological Society
Casey Coy, The Florida Aquarium
Nathan Fague, Mystic Aquarium
Maria Gallegos, Houston Zoo
Ajay Gulati, Smithsonian National Zoological Park
Elizabeth Harmon, Naples Zoo
Danny Holtsclaw, Bronx Zoo, WCS
Anne Knapp, Zoo New England
Terry Lincoln, Dakota Zoo
Dan Marsh, Cincinnati Zoo
Tom Meehan, CZS/Brookfield Zoo
Kelly Murphy, North Carolina Zoo
Ruel Murphy, Disney's Animal Kingdom
George Peterson, Monterey Bay Aquarium
Joanna Zazzali, North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher