Staff Spotlight: Tom Syfert

Name: Thomas A. “Tom” Syfert CHMM, CET Title: Director Environmental Health and Safety How long have you been at USC? One year What did you do before coming to USC? I worked for Westinghouse SRS in Aiken, Metokote Corporation (international protective coating company), and two years as the director of the S.C. Environmental Training Center in Sumter. What are your chief responsibilities in environmental health and safety (EH&S)? Minimizing USC’s overall risk through effective support, training, and inspections. Our department handles environmental health and safety, radiation safety, biosafety, fire safety, and risk management. What's the one thing you wish more faculty and staff understood about health and safety risks on campus? Our goal is to educate faculty and staff about their personal responsibility in following EH&S regulations to avoid potential liability. Is there anything in the risk management realm at USC that keeps you awake at night? I am concerned that in an emergency (e.g., a chemical spill) people will try to perform tasks that they are not trained to complete or they will try to clean up the spill without the right protective equipment and hurt themselves. We are here to help everyone and provide a safe workplace. We have a very competent staff that can help train personnel and respond to concerns. Please call us if you have any questions at 7-5269. What do you do for fun? I enjoy camping with my family, biking, and soccer. 8/04