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, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Vice-Chairs
Maria Gallegos, Houston Zoo, Inc.
Rick Holzworth, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
Robert Lewis, Disney's Animal Kingdom

Members
Steven Bauer, Denver Zoo
Kelly  Cox, Zoo Knoxville
Mark Craven, Tennessee Aquarium
Nathan Fague, Mystic Aquarium
Adam Fink, Oakland Zoo
Ken Frye, Scovill Zoo
Cecilie Halliwill, Audubon Zoo
Danny Holtsclaw, Bronx Zoo
Andrew James, San Diego Zoo
Joseph Lambert, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Stephanie Lee, Georgia Aquarium
Terry Lincoln, Dakota Zoo
T Dan Marsh, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
George Peterson, Monterey Bay Aquarium
Tim Sampson, John Ball Zoo
Patrick Schlemmer, San Francisco Zoological Gardens
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 Zoological Park
Ajay Gulati
Melissa Lewkowich, Chicago Zoological Society - Brookfield Zoo
Thomas Meehan, Chicago Zoological Society - Brookfield Zoo
Lea Simons, Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
Patricia Waickman, Akron Zoological Park
Bailey Watson, The Florida Aquarium

Board Liaison
Chris Kuhar, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

AZA Staff Liaisons 
Jack Keeney
Ashley Zielinski