Cal State Long Beach Staff Members Honored for Life-Saving Efforts at Governor's Employee Safety Awards Ceremony

Three staff members at California State University, Long Beach have been presented with the Governor's State Employee Safety Award for 2001 for their heroic efforts in saving the life of a co-worker at the campus.

Tim Ball, Ed Parra and Greg Pascal were selected by the California Office of Risk and Insurance Management to receive the safety award for successfully resuscitating a fellow employee who had suffered a heart attack while on the job in April 2001.

Ball, associate director of facilities management, Parra, supervisor of facility engineering, and Pascal, dispatch supervisor for University Police, received one of several "group" awards at the 22nd annual Governor's Employee Safety Awards ceremony, which was held recently at the Sacramento Convention Center.

"Through their willingness to accept responsibility, adapt to the situation and apply their CPR training, they were able to save the life of a co-worker," said Robert Quirk, director of facilities management at CSULB who nominated the trio for the award. "Their exemplary handling of this emergency situation beyond the scope of their customary duties is reflective of meritorious service and is a credit to themselves, the Facilities Management and University Police departments and the university as a whole."

On April 6, 2001 just after 10:30 a.m., one of the building services engineers contacted his supervisor, Parra, by telephone/radio complaining of chest pains. Parra contacted his supervisor, Ball, and they found the engineer lying on the ground in the workshop, barely breathing.

Recognizing the severity of the situation, Parra and Ball made a call for paramedics and began administering CPR. They were joined by Pascal from Public Safety who assisted by checking the employee's pulse and making sure his airway was opened. The three continued CPR until personnel from the Long Beach Fire Department arrived.

As a direct result of their efforts, the employee survived the heart attack and eventually returned to work at full capacity.

"Many of our employees work alone in areas where they may not be seen or heard, so (this employee) was fortunate enough to be able to seek assistance before collapsing in front of us," Ball said, recalling the incident. "We're also very fortunate that our Safety and Risk Management Office is committed to providing us with CPR and first aid training, which prepared us for this situation.

"This was a very rewarding experience," he added, "and we are lucky to still have (this employee) with us."

Established in 1980, the Governor's Employee Safety Awards recognize individuals and groups of employees who distinguish themselves through outstanding safety and health service to the state. Awards have been presented for lifesaving, responding to hazardous events and for developing safety programs that were not part of the person's normal duties. The awards presented are for projects and events completed during the previous year.

"By helping to maintain a health and safe workplace, (these honorees) have made a positive and lasting impact on many lives," Governor Gray Davis wrote in the ceremony's program. "Their hard work and dedication serve as an inspiration for all Californians."