Spotlight on Volunteers
Underwriters Laboratories ─ FIRST Volunteerism at its Best
Since its initial connection with FIRST several years ago, Underwriters Laboratory (UL) ─ the trusted resource for product safety certification and compliance solutions throughout the world ─ has been a model corporate citizen in demonstrating how for-profit companies can partner with non-profit organizations to the benefit of both.
UL initially became involved with FIRST in 2006 when it agreed to become the lead safety resource for all FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) events. UL president and CEO, Keith Williams, has been committed ever since. "As FIRST safety advisors, we're able to raise safety consciousness so we view our involvement with FIRST as directly supporting UL's global mission of working for a safer world. Also, we're able to give back to the local communities where we live and work which is one way to bring our corporate social responsibility priorities to life. But UL benefits as well: by investing in safety science and education, we're nurturing the next generation of engineers and technical workers who are essential to our future success,” explains Williams.
As part of their relationship with FIRST, UL engineering and field staff act as lead and floor safety advisors for high-school teams at 45 competitive events and the FIRST Championship. Over the years, UL has distributed numerous safety materials to 30,000 contestants from high schools across Brazil, Canada, Israel, Mexico, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Not only does UL provide the safety advisor trainers for all FRC events ─ including regional events and the annual Championship ─ but the company also provides the corresponding training and marketing materials to support these events. Materials include safety DVDs and manuals that teams use to build robots for the competitions, as well as a UL-produced video to be used in sponsorship recruitment, and an instructional safety video featuring Grant Imahara of the television series Mythbusters.
In addition to providing the manpower at FIRST events, UL picks up the tab for many of the promotional items distributed at the competitions, such as polo shirts and thousands of “Star of the Day” and “Hard Hat” award pins. The company also provides a $3,000 grant for use in the purchase of safety glasses for participants in FIRST events.