Celebrating Tarran Richardson: A Career Dedicated to Safety and Service

  • by Daniel Kaplun

After more than 25 years in environmental health and safety, including over two decades as a safety specialist, Tarran Richardson retires from University of California, Davis, leaving behind a legacy of professionalism, dedication, and a lasting impact on campus safety.

At UC Davis, Tarran played an important role in advancing laboratory and workplace safety. As an inaugural member of the Laboratory Safety Review Team, he helped shape and strengthen safety practices across campus. He also contributed to the development of the Lab Safety 201 Application Class in partnership with the School of Veterinary Medicine, an effort that earned recognition at the 2023 Risk Summit with the Spotlight on Innovation Award.

Smiling older man wearing glasses and gray sweater in office with framed certificates
Tarran Richardson, safety specialist at UC Davis.

Reflecting on his time, Tarran shared that the people and culture stood out most. “Whether it was a custodian, groundskeeper, or a double M.D./Ph.D. Nobel Prize winner, everyone demonstrated a strong commitment to their work,” he said. 

He valued the university’s support for staff, including opportunities for professional development and the ability to step away to support his family during important life moments. 

Throughout his career, Tarran held a variety of roles that shaped his experience in safety and operations. His first role at UC Davis involved supporting the UC Davis Medical Center Blood Bank during high-demand hours, where he worked early morning shifts to help ensure critical operations ran smoothly and efficiently. He later worked in pathology as a specimen processor, gaining hands-on experience across a wide range of lab work. One especially memorable moment came during his time in Davis, when he performed a venipuncture on a five-day-old infant with precision and care. The relief and gratitude from the child’s parents left a lasting impression.

He also spent 15 years commuting to University of California, San Francisco, where he worked as a waste technician and supported a major facility renovation, helping move dozens of 55-gallon drums over a nine-month period to enable construction progress. He later advanced into a specialist role and briefly served as a systemwide ergonomics representative before returning to UC Davis.

As he enters retirement, Tarran looks forward to spending more time with his family, celebrating 30 years of marriage this August, continuing to officiate high school and youth sports, and traveling to explore new places.