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Reinhardt named director of health and safety

Aside from the absence of lakes and the abundance of trees here, Peter Reinhardt finds himself on familiar ground as he takes over as the new director of the University's Health and Safety Office.

Reinhardt worked at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for the past 20 years, including the past nine as its assistant safety director charged with the responsibility of chemical and environmental safety.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for me," he said.

And a big responsibility.

He started on the job Sept. 25, and his head is already spinning with ideas, he said.

His 35-member staff may be small in size, but the department itself is unbelievably broad in scope, Reinhardt said.

It deals with issues ranging from how to use radioactive materials at UNC Hospitals to the ergonomics of using a computer keyboard to just about everything in between.

Part of the job involves a shuffling of resources to make sure that the department is concentrating attention in the needed areas to make the campus safer.

For instance, a new concern is how to respond to a terrorist attack.

The probability of such an attack happening is exceedingly small; however, the consequences would be terrifyingly great, Reinhardt said.

On the other hand, the chance that someone in a laboratory could knock over a bottle of chemicals is exceedingly high. In fact, it happens several times a week. The consequences of those spills are usually minor, but toxic chemicals can pose real hazards under certain circumstances.

Reinhardt said he would be working closely with Public Safety Chief Derek Poarch, who deals with such issues as building security, traffic patrol and criminal investigations.

Reinhardt said the two offices could work together in many areas, including pedestrian safety and planning for events such as football games at Kenan Stadium and basketball games at the Smith Center.

Reinhardt acknowledged his predecessor, Don Wilholt, for building a program that was both ambitious and advanced. "I've been in this business for 21 years, and I can tell this is a great program here."

But Reinhardt said he wants to make it even better by accomplishing these three goals.

First, he wants to raise the visibility of the office so that more people on campus will turn to it for help.

Second, he wants to improve customer service.

"I want to wow our customers," Reinhardt said. "If somebody asks a question or needs our help, we want to do our best to wow them."

Finally, Reinhardt wants to enlist the entire University community as partners in safety. "We need to work together," Reinhardt said. "It's not just us, it's everyone."

Reinhardt said anyone who has questions or suggestions should contact him at 3-5913 or peterein@email.unc.edu

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