December 2019
Sitzabee's Soundbite
Happy Holidays!
 
Another year has come and gone, but what a great one it has been for OPP!
 
When I look back at all that we have accomplished, it truly is amazing and that's a testament to all of the tremendous folks we have here.
 
We completed a variety of important projects this year, including the Steam Services Building, the Chemical and Biomedical Engineering Building, the Student Veteran Center and the College Heights School Building. We've also made significant progress on many other projects, including the Animal Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences Building, the James Building replacement and the transformation of Willard.
 
In addition, we were recognized with a Professional Grounds Management Society Honor Award for the second year in a row and the Suez "Proof-Not-Promises" Award for our efforts in reducing operating costs and optimizing our cooling water processes.
 
We were also a part of an important solar project, which continues to support the University's commitment to sustainability and will significantly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions while also saving Penn State millions of dollars over the next 25 years. I'm also excited for the accomplishments and hard work of our folks in Real Estate. Well done, team!
 
There are too many accomplishments throughout OPP to mention them all, but know that all of your hard work and dedication this year was certainly appreciated and does not go unnoticed!
 
As I think about the Penn State Values heading into the New Year, I think of Community. The work we do at OPP wouldn't be possible without teamwork and a commitment from all of our folks to provide excellent facilities services for the University. The great folks in OPP are truly a family and I’m thankful for all you do as a team helping each other, as members of our community, and for Penn State.
 
I hope you get to spend plenty of time with family and friends over the holiday. Please be safe if you're traveling!
 
I'm looking forward to what 2020 has in store for OPP.
 
Best,
 
Bill
Provide Excellent Facilities Services for Penn State
OPP Mission
Integrity | Respect | Responsibility | Discovery |
Excellence | Community
OPP Values
Welcomes
Andrew Alexander accepted a position as a facilities supervisor.
First day: Dec. 9
Scott Barbara accepted a position as an administrative support assistant.
First day: Dec. 9
Eden Crum accepted a position as an occupational safety/environmental health specialist. First day: Dec. 9
Jack Jones accepted a position as a maintenance worker, utility.
First day: Dec. 9
Cheers
Holiday Donation
Kudos to District 12 Custodial! This holiday season, District 12 collected and donated a variety of items to Pets Come First:
 
52 pounds of cat litter
48 pounds of dry cat food
43 cans of wet cat food
82 pounds of dry dog food
6 cans of wet dog food
4 pounds of dog treats
20 rolls of paper towels
United Way Holiday 50/50
Thank you to all who participated in OPP's Holiday 50/50 raffle. We raised $1,105.50 in support of the United Way, another example of our commitment to the value of community.

Congratulations to Marcus McGuire and Cyle Vogt , winners of the 50/50 drawing. Pictured is Turtle Patterson of OPP Stores, who pulled the winning ticket.
Project Showcase: College of Engineering

Design work is progressing for the first stage of a proposed, decade-long, multi-phase plan that will transform the Penn State College of Engineering and its footprint on the University Park campus. The college is one of the largest of its kind in the country and  ranks among the best in the nation  in multiple disciplines.

The initial five-year phase of the plan includes two new buildings that will serve as anchors to a new central engineering hub to the west of North Atherton Street, adding 377,000 gross square feet to the college’s infrastructure. Phase one, which is projected to conclude in 2023, also includes proposed renovations to Sackett Building and the demolition of Hammond Building along College Avenue and the Engineering Units behind Hammond. Check out the story via Penn State News !
Safety Spotlight:
Personal Protective Equipment

There are many hazards on the job and the use of PPE is necessary to help prevent injury. Penn State will supply your protective equipment to do the job, but it’s your responsibility use it and to properly care for it. Damaged or broken safety equipment may not properly protect you. Let your supervisor know when any of your safety gear needs to be repaired or replaced because you never know when your life will depend on it.

Follow these six PPE guidelines to stay safer on the job:

PPE SHOULD BE THE LAST LINE OF DEFENSE: The first two lines of defense against safety hazards should be engineering and administrative controls. Only after deploying both of these should PPE be used to guard against safety hazards.

PPE MUST FIT AND BE WORN PROPERLY: PPE that is too large or too small may not properly protect you from hazards and could create additional hazards. Wearing improper PPE could subject you to harm.

REUSABLE PPE MUST BE KEPT CLEAN AND WELL-MAINTAINED: Reusable PPE should be cleaned after each use and inspected before every use to ensure that it is still in good working order.

PPE DOESN’T LAST FOREVER: Worn out PPE may not provide the proper protection and can become a hazard. Replace PPE when it shows visible signs of wear or when test data shows that it is no longer serviceable.

PPE ONLY PROTECTS YOU WHEN YOU’RE WEARING IT: Even the most expensive, highest quality PPE won’t protect you if it’s not on your body and properly applied.

STAY CAUTIOUS WHILE WEARING PPE : No piece of PPE will protect you against every workplace hazard. That’s why there are so many types and styles. Each one protects you from different types of hazards. No matter what PPE you wear, it is still essential to follow the safety procedures that have been established by your employer.

Note to Workers: Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the PPE you are wearing and never hesitate to replace PPE that is worn out or does not fit well. It is your employer’s responsibility to explain workplace hazards and provide safeguards, including engineering and administrative controls and PPE. It is your job, however, to make sure that it is worn properly and fits well.

Have a safety suggestion or concern? Email OPPsafety@psu.edu .
KPI of the Month
One of OPP’s missions and strategic plan goals is to develop meaningful performance measures that guide our decisions to maximize our efficiency across many aspects of stewardship. Here is the KPI of the month:
D&I Insight
The 45th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Banquet will be held Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020, at the Bryce Jordan Center on Penn State’s University Park campus. Tickets for event, for individual seats and group tables, are available now! For more information and to purchase tickets, click here .
Photo of the Month
OPP intern Yumna Kurdi (left), a doctoral student in the Architectural Engineering Department, was named a 2019 John Roe Student Sustainability Award winner. Yumna's work aimed to evolve Penn State's sustainability policy for Design and Construction.