Safety is everyone’s responsibility.
That’s the mantra UNMC Safety Manager John Hauser has shared with the med center community for the past 40 years. From severe weather awareness, emergency alerts and tobacco-free campus guidelines to pedestrian crossings, fire extinguisher training and respirator fit testing, Hauser has been the go-to safety expert across the UNMC and Nebraska Medicine campuses.
On Dec. 19, the med center community is invited to celebrate Hauser’s tenure during a retirement tea from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the Dr. Leland and Dorothy Olson Atrium inside the Wigton Heritage Center. Remarks will begin at 2 p.m.
“Safety is everyone’s job,” Hauser said from his Shackleford Hall office, which is lined with safety awards that spill into another room. “It’s not me; everyone plays a part.”
For Hauser’s part, he has worked within a clinical environment most of his life. While in high school, he first worked in the kitchen at Saint Joseph’s Hospital, then trained as an orderly and later worked night shifts in sterile processing and supply. While earning a Bachelor of Science in business administration at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, he accepted the hospital’s opening as a safety assistant – and never looked back.
In 1983, the Omaha native who grew up four blocks east of the UNMC campus was hired as a safety officer at what was then University Hospital. When UNMC and Clarkson merged in 1997 to form what is now the Nebraska Medical Center, he became a hospital employee because the need for safety oversight was greater on the clinical side. In 2008, he also became a full-time safety operations leader for UNMC because of rapidly expanding research facilities and capabilities that required UNMC to increase its safety efforts and regulation.
“It’s a great place to work,” he said. “I love the diversity of the job and have worked with a lot of great people.” His last day on campus will be Dec. 22, and others in environmental health and safety will carry on the safety focus.
“John has profoundly impacted the safety culture of both UNMC and Nebraska Medicine…and been an active voice for those with safety concerns,” said Pat Wortmann, executive director of environmental health and safety. “It will be difficult to replace someone with so much institutional knowledge, but true to form, John has been diligently working with many of us to pass on his knowledge.”
Kelly Johnson, safety specialist in environmental health and safety, agreed. “John has been a tremendous leader for safety on our campus. His willingness to share knowledge and expertise will be something I treasure for years to come. I can’t thank him enough for everything he has taught me during the past decade of working together.”
After 40 years, Hauser is a walking textbook on Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards, decontamination protocol and fire codes and regulations. He knows every nook and cranny of the med center campus, visits each UNMC campus at least one a year, and has taken every opportunity to educate employees on environmental health and safety issues.
Close your eyes and you can hear him say:
- Do not block the view of exit signs or fire alarms.
- Electrical decorations, Christmas lights and live holiday trees are not allowed.
- Nothing can be stored in stair towers, mechanical rooms and electrical closets.
- Doors must not be blocked or wedged open.
- During a fire emergency, RACE (Rescue, Alarm, Confine and Extinguish).
- When using a fire extinguisher, PASS – Pull the pin, Aim the nozzle, Squeeze the trigger and Sweep the extinguisher from side to side.
For 20-plus years, Hauser also dressed as Santa Claus and visited hospital patients on Christmas Eve, sometimes joined by wife Claudia as Mrs. Claus or an elf. Although Hauser has retired the red suit, he’s sure to stay busy in retirement. He is actively involved with the Masons, the Order of the Eastern Star, Job’s Daughters, a Masonic youth group and is executive secretary for The HIKE Fund, a not-for-profit organization that provides hearing devices for children up to age 20 with hearing loss.
John it has been an honor to work with you and at times beside you. I have learned alot from you. I wish you a long and healthy life, I know you will enjoy your retirement, it sounds like your still going to be very busy.
Good luck my friend, Jeff Ebel
Jeff, It has been a pleasure working with you. Thanks for all your support. Be Safe.
Congrats, John!!
Thanks, Matt. Thanks for your support
Congratulations on a terrific career, John! Here’s to a retirement filled with joy!
Thanks, Bill. It has been a pleasure working with you and your department. Thanks for your support. Be Safe. John
Best wishes to you John, you are a legend on the UNMC campus. We will always remember you whenever the issues of safety arise, with your wise advice and steady command.
Thanks, Lisa for your kind words and your support. It has been great working with you. Be Safe. John
Thank you for your years of service and for sharing the knowledge you have amassed! You will be missed. Enjoy a well deserved retirement.
Thanks, Carla for your kind words and your support. It has been great working with you. Be Safe. John
John – Thank you for all of your years of great advice and great service to UNMC/Nebraska Medicine. Best wishes for a successful retirement.
Thanks, Dr. Rupp. It has been great working with you. Thanks for all your support. Be Safe. John
Congratulations on your retirement!
Thanks, Marcella for your support. It has been great working with you. Be Safe. John
Enjoy this next chapter of your journey. You have been a valuable resource in keeping UNMC safe.
Thanks, Melonie for your kind words and your support. It has been great working with you. Be Safe. John
John, congratulations on your retirement and your wonderful career!
Thanks, Matthew for your kind words and your support. It has been great working with you. Be Safe. John
Congratulations on your retirement! Thanks for everything you’ve done for UNMC.
Thanks, Amy for your kind words and your support. It has been great working with you. Be Safe. John
It has been a pleasure and a privilege to work with John all of these years.
Thanks, Tony for your kind words and your support. It has been great working with you. Be Safe. John
Wishing you the best, John!
Thanks, Nicole for your kind words and your support. It has been great working with you. Be Safe. John
John was the perfect fit for his job. No matter the crisis, he was always steady as a rock and knew exactly what to do. I’ve never seen him in a bad mood. It was always a pleasure to have John in the room. Enjoy your retirement, buddy, and take a bow for one awesome career.
Thanks, Tom for your kind words and your support. I have missed you for the past few years. It has been great working with you. Be Safe.
P.S. Thanks for helping me draft the WH editorial several years ago on the civil defense sirens. John
Congratulations to you on your retirement! Thank you for your years of service to UNMC!
Thanks, Liane for your kind words and your support. It has been great working with you. Be Safe. John
John, the Med Center is a safer place because of you and I’ve appreciated your help over the years. Congrats on the long career. Now go and enjoy your retirement!
Thanks, Amy for your kind words and your support. It has been great working with you and knowing I could consult with you on risk management issues. Be Safe. John
Congratulations John! We worked together at St. Joseph Hospital back in the 80’s and you were fun to chat with in the Occupational Health and Safety Office there. Years after when I started at UNMC and heard your name I smiled and thought “he’s great at that job, how cool is that?!” And I certainly was right! I wish you the best in your retirement!
Thanks, Patty for your kind words and your support. I learned a lot at St. Jose, come to think about it I have learned a lot over the years. It has been great working with you. Be Safe. John
My best to you John on your retirement. We have had many interactions over the years and I was generally the one on the learning end. So glad to have had you as my instructor. Great Job and nice that you have mentored others. Enjoy!!
Thanks, LuAnn for your kind words and your support. I have also learned a lot over the years. It has been great working with you. Be Safe. John
Jon, I have enjoyed working with you since the start of your career and wish you all the best as you move into this next chapter with your family.
Thanks, Pete for your kind words and your support. I have learned a lot over the years. It has been great working with you. Be Safe. John
John, congratulations on your retirement and thank you for your service to UNMC. I wish you all the best in this next chapter. Enjoy!!
Congratulations and enjoy your retirement!
Thanks, Heidi for your support. It has been great working with you. Be Safe. John
Best wishes, John, on your retirement!
Thank you for your advice over the years!
Thanks, Sharon for your kind words and your support. It has been great working with you. Be Safe. John
Congratulations John!! Enjoy your adventures in retirement!
Susan @ the COD
Thanks, Susan for your support. I always enjoyed the visits to the COD. It has been great working with you. Be Safe. John
John, I have valued your expertise and knowledge working with you these past 5 years. Thank you for always being there to answer any questions. Congrats and enjoy retirement!
Thanks, Maddy for your kind words and your support. It has been great working with you. Be Safe. John
John, congratulations on your retirement! You will be missed! Wishing you the best!
Thanks, Laura for your kind words and your support. It has been great working with you. Be Safe. John
John,
It has been a few years, but I always enjoyed working with you on various projects, as well as preparing for the JCAHO visits!! Also, thank you for taking me on the weekly Campus Safety Walk-throughs when I first started my career, I learned a lot from you!!
Enjoy your retirement, it is well deserved!!
Thanks, Paul for your kind words and your support. It has been great working with you. I recall with fond memories our trip to Orlando for Laser Safety Training. Be Safe. John
John! Your passion and calm demeanor has been so inspiring. Thank you for the great example you have set for all of us. You will be missed!
Thanks, Julie for your kind words and your support. Thanks for all you do. It has been great working with you. Be Safe. John
Congratulations on a great career and best wishes for a wonderful and relaxing retirement!
Thanks, Steve for your kind words and your support. It has been great working with you. Be Safe. John
Congratulations on your retirement Santa John! I am so glad we had the opportunity to work together. You have been such a phenomenal resource and support over the years. I wish you a retirement filled with joy. Sounds like you have a lot of wonderful things planned. Take care of yourself friend!
Thanks, Patty for your support. I enjoyed the years volunteering as Santa. I have several wonderful memories of those times. It has been great working with you. Be Safe. John
Enjoy your retirement, John! Congratulations.
Thanks, Stacie for your support. It has been great working with you. Be Safe. John
Congrats on an impactful career, John, and for helping create a culture of safety across campus. Enjoy retirement!
Thanks, Karne for your support and the wonderful article. It has been great working with you. Be Safe. John
Congrats, John! Best wishes on the next phase for you and family. Take care and be SAFE!!! 🙂
Thanks, Dan for your support and for all the times you accommodated my requests. It has been great working with you. Be Safe. John
Congratulations, John, on an amazing career. It was a pleasure to work with you over the years. Happy retirement!
Thanks, Dr. Turpen for your support. It was great working with you. Be Safe. John
Congrats on your upcoming retirement John. I so enjoyed working with you over a period of 25 years at UNMC. Enjoy yourself. Big shoes for your replacement to fill. Godspeed.
Thanks, Dr. Dixon for your support over the years. I learned a lot about Comparative Medicine working with you. Be Safe. John
Congrats John… Well you beat me! It has been my pleasure working with you for the last 40 years. Best of luck to you as you begin your new journey. Who knows maybe our paths will cross again….
Thanks, Standy for your support over the years. We grew up together here over the years. I still remember when Security Disptach was in a small “corridor” office in the ED. Have fun as you get ready for retirement. It has been great working with you. Be Safe. John
Standing ovation, John! Thank you for all of your hard work, dedication, and help over the years. Wishing you all the best on your next adventure!
Thanks, Mimi for your support. I have learned much from you over the years and it has been great working with you. Be Safe. John
It’s been a pleasure working with you John! Happy Retirement!
Thanks, Kim for your support. It has been great working with you over the years. Be Safe. John
Thank you John for all of your wonderful work at UNMC!