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2023 Safety Award
AWARD CITATION
Dr. Damazo is cited for recognizing a toxic-gas hazard in the underfloor vibration-isolation pits in the Advanced Measurement Laboratory (AML) and for developing an efficient safe-access protocol. Dr. Damazo saw that the barriers between pits in neighboring labs are permeable, allowing heavier-than-air inert gases or toxic gases to spread unknowingly from lab to lab. He developed a safe-entry protocol that includes shutting off local sources of gases, pretesting the pit air, and a buddy system. The new protocol increases both safety and efficiency by eliminating the need for cumbersome permit-required access procedures for pits throughout the AML.