ORAU names new environment, safety, health director

Oak Ridge Associated Universities has a new Environment, Safety and Health program director.

Tom Wantland has been promoted to the position, an ORAU press release said.

Wantland, who has been serving as ORAU’s manager of safety and environmental management, will now oversee the daily operations of the ESH program and assume the role of ORAU’s corporate safety director.

“Throughout Tom’s more than 20 years here at ORAU, he has been integral to ORAU’s ability to build a strong safety culture,” said Andy Page, ORAU chief executive officer and president. “His contributions have helped us achieve such elite honors as the Department of Energy’s Voluntary Protection Program Star Site designation for safety and the ISO 14001 certification for environmentally responsible operations. We are confident that he will continue in his new position to uphold the legacy of our unwavering commitment to safety, health and environmental responsibility.”

DOE named ORAU a VPP Star Site for seven years in a row for its management of the Oak Ridge Institute for Science Education. The recognition represents DOE’s highest achievement level for contractors who meet the requirements for outstanding safety and health programs.

Additionally, ORAU received an ISO 14001 certification for its compliance with and commitment to continuous improvement in its environmental management system. This includes pollution prevention, energy conservation and waste reduction.

Wantland’s new duties will include those oversight programs that comprise safety, industrial hygiene, environmental protection, radiation safety, fire protection, and a recycling program, the press release said.

Wantland received his bachelor’s degree in business administration and master’s degree in occupational health and safety from the University of Tennessee. In 2011, he received a certificate in the Executive Program in Safety Management from the American Society of Safety Engineers.

Additionally, Wantland has 32 years of experience in the field of professional safety management and is a certified hazardous materials manager.