PLATTSBURGH -- Plattsburgh State will be the greenest and safest campus within the State University of New York system.

Fulfilling that vision, said Keith Tait, entails making environment, health and safety a way of life.

"We are going to propose an entirely different model and do this in a very unique way by empowering the line management and students to do what they need to do," said the director of the university's Environment, Health and Safety Department. "Ultimately, it comes down to human behavior, such as the decision to throw a can in the right receptacle."

Tait has lived and breathed environment, health and safety for 25 years, coming to Plattsburgh State from Pfizer where he was director of corporate environment, health and safety. Based out of New York City, he spent nearly 20 years traveling the globe. He burned himself out in the corporate sector and jumped at the opportunity to work for his Alma matter.

Training is key

"There are a variety of different kinds of issues that can occur on a campus this size and larger," said the 1978 Plattsburgh State graduate.

Plattsburgh State is home to more than 6,000 students and around 1,200 faculty, staff, contractors and visitors on any given day. There are 35 occupied buildings and utilities, 23 academic facilities and 12 residence halls.

"People are coming and going all the time," Tait said. "And that in and of itself presents health and safety issues."

Goals of his three-person department include reducing the use of toxic substances and the generation of wastes, promoting strategies to reuse and recycle those wastes and the purchase of renewable, reusable, recyclable and recycled materials.

Tait is developing an Environmental Management System, which, among other things, will train employees and students to become more aware of environmental policies and procedures, the environmental impacts of their activities, their roles and responsibilities in supporting the system and the consequences of forgoing procedures.

"Training is one of the most important aspects of any EHS program."

SUNY aims to conserve

Part of the current focus is fueled by SUNY's new push to reduce energy use 37 percent by 2010 and cap greenhouse-gas emissions and reduce them 20 percent by 2014.

Energy is SUNY's second largest operating cost.

"SUNY has established an executive order that set forth very demanding goals on energy conservation," Tait said.