Students of the University of Findlay's ESOH 465 Environmental Audits and Assessment class, under the guidance of Professor Carl Habekost, JD, COSS, COSM, have successfully completed a comprehensive capstone project aimed at enhancing workplace safety for nonprofit organizations. Partnering with S4NP volunteers, the class worked diligently to evaluate and improve safety programs within a chosen nonprofit organization.

The collaboration between the University of Findlay and S4NP exemplifies a commitment to advancing workplace safety while supporting charitable endeavors. Through this partnership, students had the opportunity to contribute their expertise to a nonprofit organization, ultimately improving the safety and well-being of its volunteers and service recipients.

During the project, students evaluated various safety programs within the nonprofit organization, including Walking Working Compliance and Safety, Emergency Action Planning (including protocols for Bloodborne Pathogens, First Aid, Threat of Violence, and life safety standards), as well as enhancing training capabilities within these programs. The nonprofit expressed sincere gratitude for the students' efforts and anticipates significant improvements in their safety protocols as a result of the collaboration.

The Food Safety Toolkit was developed for non-profit organizations that have volunteers serving in roles that include the preparation and serving of food as well as distribution of food in the community. The resources within the toolkit can also benefit non-profit organizations without a food-centered mission, including those that host potlucks, shared meals or events with food.  

The Toolkit is a work product of the S4NP collaboration with the American Biological Safety Association (ABSA) International and its affiliate, the New England Biological Safety Association (NEBSA). Cynthia Parenteau, a NEBSA member, collaborated with S4NP to design and develop the Toolkit.

Don't Forget the Worker author, Jack Geissert, along with Nancy Orr and Sharon Shindel presented this free webinar, co-hosted by AIHA and ACGIH, introducing Safety for NonProfits (S4NP), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of EHS professionals that provide occupational health and safety services on a pro bono basis to charities in their communities. Topics include an introduction and background on the founding of S4NP, as well as a call to action for AIHA and ACGIH members to volunteer. This lunch and learn webinar will be held on April 22, 2024; Noon-1:00 p.m. ET.  to discuss how US-based non-profits wrestle with limited knowledge of their operations’ safety, their limited capabilities to address those risks, and how Safety for Nonprofits (S4NP) was made to address those concerns. This presentation will describe S4NP’s formation, whom they serve, how to volunteer, and case studies on the work they have performed for nonprofits as well as how safety and health professionals can give back to the profession and the community. 

S4NP presented a webinar with YellowBird to discuss how US-based non-profits wrestle with limited knowledge of their operations’ safety, their limited capabilities to address those risks, and how Safety for Nonprofits (S4NP) was made to address those concerns. This presentation will describe S4NP’s formation, whom they serve, how to volunteer, and case studies on the work they have performed for nonprofits as well as how safety and health professionals can give back to the profession and the community. 

S4NP recently provided health and safety consulting to the Si Se Puede Foundation, a nonprofit that provides opportunities for underserved youth  to develop an interest in and proficiency in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).   The foundation runs a STEM center which includes many types of manufacturing equipment and supports several competitive robotics teams.  

S4NP volunteers  worked with foundation employees to review the operations and identify continuous improvements to their safety program. 

S4NP volunteers met for a Town Hall to review 2023 and our plans for 2024.  Volunteers shared S4NP success stories and tips on recruiting clients and delivering S4NP services.  We reviewed S4NP's tools for volunteers including Wombat Software and our YouTube channel with volunteer onboarding videos.  The recording is available on our YouTube channel.  

S4NP and YellowBird have signed a partnership agreement.  YellowBird’s platform uses AI technology to match EHS Professionals with companies seeking safety and risk management services for short-term and long-term jobs.  We will partner to introduce S4NP and YellowBird to our team members and work together to promote volunteerism and delivery of services to nonprofits by the EHS profession.  

S4NP and ABSA International  (The Association for Biosafety and Biosecurity) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a working relationship.  Recently, Betsy Gilman Duane, ABSA member and past President and Jack Geissert, S4NP founder partnered to present a webinar to ABSA members on how the biosafety community can work to give back to the community by volunteering with nonprofits in a professional capacity.  

S4NP volunteer Nancy Orr worked with the Forestburgh Playhouse, a community theater in Catskills NY.  She was able to observe and assess safety risks during setup, performances and breakdown of sets.  She also performed a fire prevention assessment of public, back stage and set construction shop areas.  

Working with the theater management as well as local jurisdictions, S4NP was able to recommend improvements to operational controls including respiratory protection, set construction safe practices, fire safety practices and emergency evacuation zones. 

Colorado S4NP volunteer Kassey Braun completed forklift training for four volunteers at MESA Sharing (Medical Equipment Supplies and Aid), a non-profit in Pueblo, Colorado, that gathers and dispenses excess medical equipment and supplies to developing countries around the world. Their scope of work consists of collecting equipment from hospitals and other medical centers around the state and organizing and assembling items to prepare for shipments. Shipments consist of pallets and other larger equipment such as hospital beds loaded into a cargo shipping container. This work heavily relies on forklift use to load the cargo containers. 

S4NP trained four of their volunteers with classroom training, written exam and skills evaluations. MESA Sharing is an incredible non-profit doing amazing work for those in need and S4NP is so honored to have helped improve their volunteer safety.  

S4NP recently provided health and safety consulting to AZ StRUT- a nonprofit that supports Arizona’s technical education and works towards a more sustainable future. They recycle and refurbish electronic equipment, train students on computers and donate equipment to many nonprofits.   

Working together with the AZ StRUT team, S4NP volunteers were able to help identify continuous improvements to their safety program. 

Volunteers from Safety for NonProfits, Inc. gathered at Boston College to assist HouseHold Goods, Inc in collecting quality donations from the student body.  As a group we loaded two trucks with donations to help families in need.  The items were transported to the HouseHold Goods warehouse in Acton, MA for families to view and select donations for their home. 

Nancy Orr and Sharon Shindel spoke with Faridodin "Fredi" Lajvardi from Si Se Puede on the Healthier Workplaces Podcast.   Together, they delved into the crucial intersection of OEHS and nonprofits, highlighting the advocacy and education initiatives that drive workplace safety. 

Sharon Shindel delivering safety training to Heritage Square employees.  The training focused on how to assess risks, avoid slip, trips and falls, and ladder safety.  

Cary Gherman and Mike Bryant performing a risk assessment at Heritage Square in Phoenix, AZ. The team focused on slip trip and fall hazards to prevent injuries to volunteers, employees and guests. 

Over 200 attendees and sponsors attended the annual AZ Health and Safety Summit in Phoenix Arizona. the AZ S4NP team engaged with participants to recruit volunteers and help local nonprofits with their health and safety programs.

Skip Pratt spoke to the EHS attendees on the opportunity to join us on our mission of helping volunteers in the nonprofit sector.  Mike Sample spoke to the group on our overall mission and our aspiration to have an active program in all US states.  He discussed the four formed state programs in Ohio, Arizona, Colorado and Massachusetts and our acquiring of liability insurance to allow us to engage in in-field volunteer work with other nonprofits.   

Nonprofit organizations, which are often heavily staffed by dedicated volunteers, share many of the same hazards as any other organization. For National Volunteer Week this week, the EHS on Tap podcast sat down with Jack Geissert, the founder and president of Safety for NonProfits (S4NP), for a chat about how he and S4NP provide a helping hand to nonprofits with pro bono health and safety services.

Safety For NonProfits Inc. (S4NP), launched by ASSP member Jack Geissert, has established a system for delivering pro bono professional workplace safety and health services to the charitable nonprofit sector. PSJ spoke with Jack about how the organization connects nonprofit groups with OSH professionals.