Facilities Services

Facilities Services Weekly

March 30, 2026

A low-angle shot of a bed of yellow, orange, and red tulips in full bloom. Behind the flowers, green bushes partially obscure a stone wall with the word 'TENNESSEE' carved into it, under an overcast sky.

Announcements

Admin & Finance

Building Services

FS Operations

Maintenance

Comm & Info

Utilities

Construction

Safety Stand Down

Announcements

Spring Big Orange Flush – 4/6

As you’re likely aware, Neyland Stadium has a busier spring than normal between the Orange and White Game, Luke Combs concert, and Banana Ball (Savannah Bananas). In order to prepare, we’re having an early Big Orange Flush on April 6th. Those who are available should meet at Gate 21 at 9am. Bus routes will be shared closer to time. Please mark your calendars now and sign up at the link below. We need to get a head count ASAP so we know if/when we have enough volunteers. We thank you in advance for helping to make sure the stadium is ready prior to these events.  

https://forms.gle/7SNfvXZUFRKoFzUcA

Mark Your Calendars – Picnic on the Plaza

All Knoxville area staff members are treated to a delicious meal as a token of appreciation from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Monday, April 13th at the Humanities Plaza. During this time, leadership is encouraged to network with employees and acknowledge outstanding achievements and milestones reached by various departments. Eat, visit, and feel appreciated! 

Safety Fest Registration is Now OPEN! 

The registration for this year’s Safety Fest Tennessee is now open. Safety Fest is Monday, April 27, to Thursday, April 30, at the Y-12 Visitor Services New Hope Center. Registration can be completed here. 

 This year’s demonstrations include the Lifestar helicopter landing and Q&A; the TVA Slip Simulator (be careful!); KUB Live Line Demonstration; and the TN Army National Guard Medevac Blackhawk landing and Q&A. 

 The Safety Expo features vendors and contractors, with sessions held each day. There are 14 free CPR certification sessions at Safety Fest, so if you missed our departmental offering last fall, you can get your certification at the event. Interested in NEC Codes? There are sessions on various electrical code topics as well. If you’re interested in obtaining your OSHA 10 certification, you can also do that for free at Safety Fest. 

DASH Reminders

GL Account Codes

Still struggling with your chart of accounts (COA)?Here’s a quick reference list of the GL/Acct codes used most often.
Your GL code will change depending on what you are purchasing.

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Updates from Admin & Finance

Work Order Tips

Work Teams – Since campus customers are required to enter their account number when submitting requests through the portal, our FS work teams must identify & correct all non-chargeable workorders you receive. 

There are two ways to handle this…

  1. If the asset is a non-chargeable location:
    • Simply remove all fields of the account information entered by the customer. (Located at the bottom of your workorder in the “Additional Information” section – Entity, Fund, Dept, Etc) 
  2. If the asset is in a chargeable location but the work itself is non-chargeable:
    • The FS team should change the toggle to YES and then enter their own FS account information. 

*This needs to be done when you receive the workorder – before entering labor/materials

All material used for workorders needs to be added as “Miscellaneous” cost and documentation attached to indicate what that cost is. Please either attach a copy of the PO or some type of documentation to indicate the list of material used. 

When creating workorders, make sure you are choosing the correct asset (building & room location). The asset determines who will be charged for the work. EX: If you are doing work at UT Police Dept, and you chose the asset “11th Street Garage”, that workorder will charge Parking Services, NOT UTPD. Always select the specific room the work is being done – not the top-level building name. 

Receivers

Please respond to receiving request from the A/P team asap. DASH will NOT allow an invoice to be processed unless the PO has been received. If you believe the invoice doesn’t belong to you, still RESPOND, so we can find the appropriate person or contact the vendor.  

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Building Services

Student Union

  • The area around the baler was cleaned up and grease was removed. 
  • Cardboard continues to be collected and baled. 
  • Stairwells were swept and mopped in both phases. 
  • We had a few events on the plaza where extra trash cans were added and trash was maintained throughout the events. 
  • Animal bedding was sent to compost after the petting zoo. 
  • The glass on the monumental in phase 2 was cleaned. 
  • The metal strip on the bottom of the overlook glass was dusted. 
  • Auditorium was blown out and cleaned after several events. 
  • The arms on the seats in the auditorium were cleaned and gum removal was completed. 
  • The windows in 377 and 367 were cleaned to remove handprints.  
  • The dressing rooms were used for a performance and was cleaned. 
  • Carpet spotting was done in the ballrooms and 260. 
  • The portable stage had some stains removed from the carpet. 
  • IQ was used to scrub the floors in the dining areas of G1 and in the hallways of the other floors. 
  • The auto scrubber was used to scrub the floor in the phase dining area. 
  • Chip has been used to vacuum the carpet on the second and third floor hallways. 
  • We answered several calls for assistance from dispatch. 

Zone 7

  • Cleaned and mopped hallways at Temple and swept and mopped stairs. 
  • Swept and mopped stairs at Clarence Brown Theatre. 
  • Cleaned an extra dumper to be used at Haslam Music Center. 
  • Cleaned up after repairs to a leaking hot water pipe on the ground floor of Music. 
  • Prepared for the opening of The Royale at Jenny Boyd Theatre and provided custodial services for the performances, including on the weekend. 
  • Brought an extra shelf to the office at Haslam Music Center and rearranged the office to make room for employees and to organize. 
  • Cleaned carpet stains in Humanities and Social Sciences 112 and 205A. 
  • Dusted window sills and swept stairs at Art and Architecture. 
  • Blew leaves away from entrances at Clarence Brown Theatre and Jenny Boyd Theatre. 
  • Cleaned the service elevator at Haslam Music Center with stainless steel wipes. 
  • Additional employees completed OSHA training. 
  • Helped set up for Double Reed Day at Haslam Music Center on Saturday and cleaned up afterward. 
  • Swept and mopped Haslam Music Center auditorium. 
  • Swept, dust mopped, and mopped stairs and hallways at McClung Tower. 
  • Helped in other buildings and with other events in other zones. 

Additional Campus Spaces

  • Nursing had interviews with potential new dean candidates on Thursday 
  • Ayres Hall had Honors Summit on South Lawn 
  • Communications/Student Services had important visitors in the building looking at new renovations to 250-253, The Daily Beacon, and several other areas 
  • 1st floor Ayres Fashion Show 
  • Had 3 labs in Dabney-Buehler flood – removed water until Belfor arrived 
  • Cleaning up sheetrock dust after painters did large amount of sheetrock mudding and painting 
  • Scrubbed floors in 315 Hesler 
  • Scrubbed floors 1,2, and 3 Comm/SS 
  • Scrubbed elevators and put down new mats at Andy Holt Tower 
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Operations

Moving & Event Services

Monday, March 23 

  • Delivered, set up, and picked up tables and chairs at Student Union Plaza for Event: Partner Day 2026. 
  • Picked up event supplies from AMB storage room and Student Services Building 218 and took to ANR 101 A/B, and set up tables and chairs for Event SASEF. 
  • Picked up 10 display boards from Student Union room 262 following an event. 
  • Set up tables and chairs in Plant Biotech rooms 156/157 for Event: SASEF. 
  • Picked up tables and chairs from Strong Hall Atrium following Event: Explore CAS. 
  • Picked up pipe & drape, podium, coat racks, and moved furniture back into place at Tickle Engineering for Event: Advisory Board. 
  • Set up and picked up 24×20 stage and provided sound for Event: Kappa Alpha Order Tailgate at Fiji Island. 
  • Provided sound/electrical assistance for Event: BYX Worship Night. 

Tuesday, March 24 

  • Delivered, set up, and picked up tables and chairs for Event: Petting Zoo at SU Plaza. 
  • Picked up event supplies from ANR 101 A/B and returned them to AMB storage room from the Event: SASEF. 
  • Delivered and set up tables and chairs, and provided electrical support for Event: SGA Election Candidate Fair at HSS North Lawn. 
  • Moved 6 lab workstations from the middle of Zeanah G104 into the G117 high bay. 
  • Moved bookcases between rooms on the 5th floor of Strong Hall. 
  • Picked up surplus furniture from surplus and delivered it to ANR. 
  • Delivered packing materials to 11th street parking garage Police Station for upcoming move. 

Wednesday, March 25 

  • Delivered, set up, and picked up tables and chairs and provided electrical support for Event: Summer Experiences Fair at Student Union Plaza. 
  • Set up tables and chairs in Communications room 402 for Event: Sallie Mae Presentation with Financial Aid and Scholarships. 
  • Delivered and set up tables and chairs and provided electrical support for Event: Bloom Into Books at Black Cultural Center Plaza. 
  • Picked up tables and chairs from HSS North Lawn following the Event: SGA Election Candidate Fair. 
  • Provided sound and electrical support for Event: Volunteer of Distinction at Neyland Stadium. 
  • Moved furniture from BESS Office Building room 310 to rooms 308 and 210, room 213 to 308 and moved the old furniture to the hallway for surplus to pick up. 
  • Repaired loose banners at Zeanah Engineering Building. 
  • Picked up chairs from Student Disabilities Services room 008 and delivered them to classrooms around campus. 

Thursday, March 26 

  • Picked up 20-40 boxes from Student Union 174 and loading dock closet and moved them to University Printing & Mail. 
  • Delivered tables to Mossman 3rd floor hallway for Event: VWR Vendor Show. 
  • Set up tables and chairs at ANR 101A for Event: Retirement Reception. 
  • Picked up tables and chairs from Black Cultural Center Plaza from Event: Bloom Into Books. 
  • Deliver, set up, and picked up tables and chairs, and provided electrical support for Event: Artist’s Alley at SU Plaza. 
  • Moved furniture at Baker School to basement storage, and moved signage from Baker School to Massey Hall. 

Friday, March 27 

  • Delivered and set up tables and chairs for Event: Engineering New Vol Roll Call at Zeanah ground floor atrium. 
  • Delivered tables to Dogwood Plaza Lawn for Event: UTK Honors Summit. 
  • Delivered and set up tables for Event: CAS Chancellor’s Honors Event at Ayres Hall 1st, 2nd, & 3rd floors. 
  • Delivered tables and chairs for Event: Rocky Top Climbing Competition at HPER 202. 
  • Delivered and set up stage for Event: UTK Honors Summit at Ayres Hall Lawn. 
  • Delivered tables and chairs for Event: CECS Tech Playground-New Vol Roll Call at Claxton Courtyard. 
  • Delivered chairs for Event: Lambda Theta Phi New Member Presentation at Haslam Business Building Plaza. 
  • Delivered and set up tables and chairs for Event: New Vol Roll Call at Student Union Plaza. 
  • Delivered tables for Event: Summit Experience Day at SU Plaza. 
  • Picked up tables from Mossman 3rd floor hallway from Event: VWR Vendor Show. 

Sustainability

General Updates:  

  • Brad, Ella, & Wyatt met w/ Veritiv about compostable item replacements and solutions for athletic events to replace the heavy waste items. 
  • Wyatt presented on UT Zero Waste efforts as part of a webinar organized by the Green Sports Alliance on the19th.  
  • Cash helped facilitate a tree distribution site with UT Gardens for TN Tree Day .  

Compost: 

  • Delivered 10 yards of compost to UT Gardens for a Master Gardeners planting.  
  • Delivered 25 yards of pasture Compost to UT Gardens for their Birch Grove planting project.  
  • Delivered garden compost to SPEAK  
  • 2 class tours  
  • Compost scales from TDEC grant arrived at the site, waiting on inspection to use.  
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Maintenance & Repair

Housing

  • Preparing for warmer weather this week 

Athletics

  • No report received

Dining

  • Replaced lights in walk-in coolers and freezers at the Student Union Phase II 
  • Repaired a walk-in cooler and reach-in freezer at Vol Hall 
  • Repaired a steamer, hot box, and rack washer at Stokely  
  • Replaced/rebuilt can openers and repaired a BCX oven at Rocky Top Dining 
  • Repaired sink drains and faucets across the zone  

Zone 4

  • Art + Architecture: Unstopped sink drain in 417 and worked a door handle at Music  
  • Worked on a toilet in the 6th floor men’s restroom at Andy Holt Tower 
  • Communications – fixed AC issues in 450 and reset a breaker on the patio 
  • Student Services – Responded to a broken window in 345A and replaced floor tile between 479-480 
  • McClung Tower – worked on a water leak in 1201A and wet tile in 301A  
  • Completed general maintenance throughout the zone 

Zone 5

  • Finishing up work in Hodges on lighting, common areas, and restroom repairs 
  • Will be moving to Haslam and SMC next for team operations 

Zone 6

  • Taking care of filters, belts, pumps and much more at Mossman, Strong, and the Student Union
  • Repairs are undreway at the Union, Claxton, Strong, Conference Center, and 617 W. Main
  • Expediting customer response

Zone 7

  • Perkins Hall: cleaned window Ac units on the 1st floor  
  • Min Kao: assisting ac controls with room 622 being too hot. 
  • Tickle: replaced can lights in the 3rd floor women’s restroom 
  • Walters Academic: replaced all AHU belts on the roof 
  • Ayres Hall: In the process of ballast bypassing the lights in all 3 elevators. 
  • Hesler: replaced batteries in restroom fixtures throughout the building, replaced water fountain filters throughout the building 
  • Burchfiel: replacing fluorescent light fixtures over to LED flat panels 
  • Austin Peay: replaced water fountain filters throughout the building 

Zone 8

  • We have been doing PM work throughout the zone. 
  • We replaced a motor for the return side of AH-7 in the Brehm Animal Science building. 
  • We are busy making constant adjustments to the HVAC systems in our 2 pipe buildings as we move back and forth through the cycle of spring time temperature changes. 
  • We had to reset many of our lighting timers throughout the Food Science and Brehm Animal Science buildings that had slight variations in their timing during the past several months causing the lighting to be off. 
  • Our One-Call team remains busy with calls, especially from dorms and research buildings. 
  • We continue to juggle the use of portable cooling systems at the JRTU building while the HVAC systems upgrades are still being done for the next several months. 

Lock & Key Services

  • Recore/Rekeys at Laurel, Clement, Hess, Morgan Hall, former Wal-Mart at University Commons site, and Walters Academic 
  • Lock Replacements at Beacon Hall, Bailey, McClung Tower, and Perkins 
  • Lock repairs at Brown Hall, Art + Architecture, Dabney Buehler, Hodges, 2400 Sutherland, Stokely Management, and SERF  
  • Rekeyed cabinet locks at SERF 
  • Repaired a lock handle at Kappa Kappa Gamma 
  • Replaced a front door lock at Sigma Alpha 
  • Installed 8 new cores in doors at Stokely Management 
  • Repaired a panic bar at Student Health 
  • Issued padlocks at Clarence Brown Theatre and Facilities Services Complex
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Comm & Info

Training

  • Don’t forget to complete your OSHA training ASAP!

FS IT

  • Repair and update workstation at Andy Holt Tower, 
  • Work on Inventory Procedure Training 
  • Assist with Software Licensing 
  • Assist with Physical Security/Camera forms 
  • Assist with Conference Room Training 
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Utilities Services

A/C Services

  • Conference Center – installing new chiller 
  • Jessie Harris – installing new heat exchanger in Daikin chiller 
  • Allan Jones – repair pool circulating pump 
  • Hesler – installing new cooling towers 
  • Hodges – rebuild primary chilled water pump 
  • Hesler – installing new oil cooler on chiller no. 1 
  • Music Chiller Bldg. – removed Daikin chiller and installed new Trane chiller 
  • Haslam – repairing chiller no.2 
  • Baker – rebuild heating water pumps 

A/C M&R

  • Baker School – Demo old mini split unit 
  • Communications – drain building for water line repairs 
  • Hoskins Library – Found steam leak in tunnel 
  • McClung Museum – Repaired union on steam coil 
  • SERF – Repaired leak in water line 
  • Brehm – Repaired steam coil 
  • Magnolia – Installed VRF system 
  • Food Science – Repaired walk-in 
  • Clarence Brown – Replaced chilled water valves 
  • Allen Jones – Installed Mini split 
  • Zeanah – Repaired air compressor 
  • Mossman 521 – Repaired reheat coil 
  • 3rd Creek – Repaired water leaks 

Electrical – High Voltage Utilities

  • Marking & logging Tennessee 811’s on campus. 
  • Pump manhole 
  • Pulled wire, made terminations and connected transformer to Lindsey Nelson Stadium 
  • Performed outages on Circuits 2 and LA4 
  • Remove poles and repulled wire at the International House 
  • Baseball coverage 
  • Repair and re-lamp pole lights and bollard  
  • Re-fed pole lights at UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm 

Electrical – Low Voltage M&R

  • After Hours Campus Calls 
  • Concord Shops Project 
  • Fire Alarm Geir Hall 
  • Rainbird Project 
  • Lindsey-Nelson Stadium Coverage 
  • Fire Alarm S. Carrick Hall 

Fire Alarm Group

  • Troubleshot lighting at Mossman 
  • Program new site lighting at Jessie Harris 
  • Troubleshot site lighting at Tickle 
  • Troubleshot BAS controls 
  • Fire alarm troubleshooting on campus 
  • Sprinkler Testing 
  • HPER test with EHS 
  • Walters Academic duct detector trouble 
  • Laurel Hall – replace smoke detector 
  • Baker School –  work on door holders 
  • Zeanah – Check AV troubles 
  • 1828 PI Kappa Phi – Replace smoke detector 
  • IAMM – Replace batteries in fire alarm system 
  • Stokely Hall – Assist AC shop 
  • Carrick Hall South – clean dirty smoke detector 
  • Lindsey Nelson – assist Julian Tech with testing 
  • Neyland Stadium – trouble shooting tamper switch and fire alarm 
  • ANRB – Changed strobe in freezer 
  • Hoskins Library – tested duct detectors with fire Marshall 
  • Music Center – reset duct detector 
  • Jessie Harris – Disable smoke detectors for elevator contractor 
  • IAMM – alarm set off by event coordinator 
  • 1812 Fraternity Park – clean dirty smoke detector 
  • Early Learning Center – set time and date on fire panel 
  • G13 parking garage – enable smoke detector 
  • Communications – trouble going in and out 
  • Presidential court decommission generator and ATS 

Plumbing Utilities

  • Marking and logging 811’s on campus and performed utilities GIS documentation (on going) 
  • Hess Hall temporary hot water (on going) 
  • Paint, test, and flush all Fire Hydrants on campus (ongoing) 
  • Camera and locate manhole at Sherri Lee Stadium Construction site 
  • Excavated and leveled meter box at Fred Brown 
  • Checked on restoration at Chi Omega Sorority 
  • Installed meter for Chemistry Construction water source at Law College 
  • Located a 3” water line at Central Greenhouse 
  • Repaired a 2” copper line for the pump house at the pond 
  • Serviced steam vaults across campus 

Plumbing M&R

  • Cleared a clogged bathroom at Alpha Delta  
  • Cleared a clogged bathroom at Hodges Library 
  • Repaired a condensate leak at Buehler Hall 
  • Cleared a clogged drain at Biosystems 
  • Installed two new gauges on the steam condensate line at McClung Museum 
  • Repaired leaking drain in room 560 at Dabney Buehler 
  • Repaired leaking cast iron pipe at Reese Hall 
  • Cleared a clogged drain in room 413 B at Claxton 
  • Installed new bottle filler at 1525 University Avenue 
  • Reese Hall, room 71 shower valve needs to be replaced 
  • Hess Hall steam leak in pod at storage closet 
  • Hodges Library water heater on third floor is not working 
  • TRECS Zurn hose located in the rear of the building needs to be replaced 
  • Lake Avenue 2016 leak in the laundry room on washing machine lines 
  • Two sinks in room 325 Hesler Biology are without hot water 
  • Stadium gate has a 24-inch water line leaking 
  • Brown Hall room Gill steam valve is leaking behind the wall 
  • Doughtery Engineering water leak in ceiling room 612 
  • Hopecote Leak in the basement coming from a two-inch cast-iron drain leak 

Steam Plant

  • Check Fluids on all forklifts  
  • Walk around the steam plant and fuel oil tanks, checking for leaks 
  • Clean shop area and boiler room floors 
  • Continue to isolate #1 boiler for removal 
  • Monthly report 
  • Boiler #1 Meeting 
  • Continued fire floor clean, up after demo 
  • Replaced media filters on air intake on solar turbine  
  • Replaced gasket on unit c on condensate polisher  
  • Started demo on aux softeners for relocation  
  • Repaired check valve on condensate polisher  
  • Pumped steam vaults on campus  
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In-house Construction

  • Agriculture and Natural Resource Building: Display cabinet 219; Changes to suite 469 
  • Alpha Chi Omega: Tuckpoint brick steps 
  • Andy Holt Tower: Outlet for cart chargers P1; New electric panel 1st floor mech room; Paint and carpet P105 
  • Austin Peay: Classrooms 203, 308; Electric for monitors in corridors 
  • Bailey Education: Paint, carpet, etc. A401A; Multiple rooms carpet/paint/shades 3rd floor 
  • BESS Office Bldg.: Paint and flooring 101 and 103 
  • Burchfiel Geography: Paint and moving workstations 107 
  • Campus: TCE lab renovations in various buildings; Create impound lot for UTPD staff lot #14; Asphalt repairs; Impound lot for UTPD; Replace retaining wall Lot 9 
  • Ceramics Building: ADA operator  
  • Cherokee Mills: Move new folks in- Shared Services, Ed Research; Business; Paint suite 228 
  • Clarence Brown Theatre: New displays 
  • Claxton Education: Cubicle changes 338 and 344 
  • Communications: Renovate 001-017, 250/251, 294/295, 333 and 420; HVAC for WUOT 299I; Renovate 101; Paint 107V; Paint and carpet 268, 432B 434; On air light 299I: Door and paint 219 
  • Conference Center Bldg.: Electric 399S5; Paint and electric 215; Renovate window displays; Replace hand sinks in kitchen on 4; Move schedulers 
  • Dabney Buehler: Lab renovation 209-214; Nitrogen piping; Paint 569 
  • Dougherty Engineering: New sink 301; Electric and air 102B; Wind tunnel 101; Carpet 424 
  • Engineering Research Annex: New lights 
  • ETREC Johnson Animal: Repair kennel floor  
  • ETREC Walland: Build a wall/door 
  • Facilities Services Complex: Remove concrete walls for parking expansion 
  • Ferris Hall: Outlet for digital display on 3 
  • Fred Brown: Lights and electric work in laundry room 
  • HPER: Various renovations for Capital Project 
  • Haslam Business Building: Renovate 320; Install backbox, electric and mount for monitor 334; Digital signs in corridors; Door lights 2nd floor office suite; Divide 540 into 2 rooms; Changes to serving area in 501; Rework drain line 501; Add or relocate barricade switches in classrooms 
  • Hesler Biology: Install emergency electric for greenhouses; Outdoor Garden by greenhouses 
  • Hodges Library: Renovate 171 for Census Bureau; Carpet 606; Flooring 209; Access controls various locations; Carpet 306G 
  • Hoskins Library: Carpet 2nd floor corridor 
  • Innovation South: Electric connections for equipment 
  • International House: Panic button at main desk 
  • Kingston Pike Building: Door work 135B and 135D5 
  • Lake Avenue Garage: Convert to dry fire protection system 
  • Law Complex: Offices, conference rooms 212; Paint and carpet 247 and 252; Carpet 201 and 202 
  • McClung Tower: Paint and carpet 803; Window film on 11th floor 
  • McCord Hall: Floors in hallways; Renovate G055, 111 and 112; Remove letters, paint 101 
  • Middlebrook Pike Building: Fence for Vol Shop 
  • Min Kao Engineering; Access controls 6 doors on 3rd floor; Replace sink and faucet 401 
  • Morgan Hall: Paint 204, etc.; Lighting, sound proofing 
  • Mossman Building: Labware washer 620F; Install humidity system 120C 
  • Nielsen Physics: Renovate 407 
  • Perkins Hall: Floors in hallways; Renovate S008 for robotics 
  • Plant Biotech: Controls for growth chamber B015; Remove sinks and plumbing 101 
  • Rocky Top: Dining renovations and repairs 
  • Senter Hall: Lab renovation 117 
  • SERF: Renovations for 103, 106, 108, 213; Lab renovations for cluster hires; Lab renovation 420-433 
  • Sorority Village: Install turnstile 
  • Stokley Hall: Paint interior of building; Paint Keoke Coffee 
  • Stokely Management Building: Renovate restrooms on 7; Build offices 436 
  • Strong Hall: Lab work 726A1 
  • Student Aquatic Center: Grout pool tile 
  • Student Rec.: Refinish basketball courts 
  • Student Union: Dining renovations; Install door glass 382H; Vol Shop light 
  • Tickle Engineering: Access controls on 1st floor 
  • Tom Black Track: Signage 
  • UT Arboretum: Repair beams in auditorium 
  • UT Drive Building C: Renovate for move from Presidential 
  • UT Gardens: Install Smart flower 
  • UT IAMM: Electric 150; Electric G035; Electric 258; Electric 158; Cover pit G033: Electric 119 
  • Vet Med Center: Renovate lab A335; Wall repair B022C; Add 16 panic buttons; Carpet in Pendergrass 
  • Volunteer Hall; Correct settling issues 
  • Walters Academic: Renovate spaces on 2nd and 3rd floor 
  • Zeanah Engineering: Card reader\ Add access controls for 8 rooms; Lab renovations for cluster hires; Electric and plumbing G169 
  • 11th Street Garage: Multiple rooms of carpet on 1st floor 
  • 2023 Lake Avenue: Access controls and lights 
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Safety Stand Down

April Work Zone Safety Month

April is National Work Zone Safety Month, traditionally associated with roadway construction. However, work zones extend far beyond our roads, they exist anywhere work is being performed. This month, we will be highlighting the importance of properly creating, maintaining, and respecting work zones in every environment. 

Work Zone Safety Month is a time to refocus our attention on something we encounter every day but don’t always fully recognize; the risks created whenever a work zone is established. While many people think of highway construction when they hear “work zone,” the reality is much closer to home. Work zones exist anywhere work is being performed across our facilities, job sites, and campus. 

Any time we open a confined space, begin an excavation, change a light fixture, or perform maintenance that requires barricades or restricted access, we should be creating a work zone. And just like on our roadways, these environments are dynamic, constantly changing, and full of potential hazards if not properly managed. 

Across the country, data continues to show that work zones carry serious risks, with increases in incidents, injuries, and fatalities highlighting the need for stronger awareness and proactive safety measures. These aren’t just statistics, they are reminders that every barrier we place, every piece of PPE we wear, and every procedure we follow has a direct impact on protecting lives, and the same goes for when we do not utilize these important safety features.  

The most effective work zones share a few critical elements:  

Clear Visibility: Work zones should be easy to see and understand, with clear signage, markings, lighting, and high-visibility PPE to prevent confusion and accidental entry. 

Proper Protection: Use barriers, guards, safe procedures, and appropriate PPE to separate workers from hazards and reduce injury risk.  

Strong Communication: Ensure clear instructions, reliable signaling, and coordination between workers, teams, and other stakeholders to prevent misunderstandings and hazards.  

Well-Trained Personnel: Workers must be trained in tasks, hazard recognition, and emergency response to maintain a safe and effective work zone. 

Whether it’s high-visibility gear, proper barricading, effective traffic or pedestrian control, or continuous training, these are not optional; they are essential. 

This month, and every day, our goal is simple: create work zones that are not only compliant, but truly safe. That means planning ahead, staying alert, looking out for one another and those around you, and recognizing that safety doesn’t stop at the roadside, it applies everywhere work is being done. 

Because in every work zone, no matter the size or location, safety is the first job. 

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