Four Decades of Environmental Health and Safety Excellence
My passion for all things environmental, health and safety, and DG transportation-related began with OSHA’s passage of the HAZWOPER (Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response) standard in 1989. The University of Tennessee, my alma mater, was chosen to receive federal grant monies through the Midwest Consortium for Hazardous Waste Worker Training.
I and others from consortium schools went to Washington, D.C. to be trained for two weeks by OSHA and EPA specialists in emergency response and hazardous waste handling. We then received RAD Worker II training at the Fernald, OH uranium processing facility.
Midwest Consortium Training Initiative
The consortium's goal was to establish an elite group of trainers who would teach HAZWOPER to emergency responders, treatment storage and disposal (TSDF) workers, and Superfund site cleanup and management in a manner the HAZWOPER authors had intended. We were to be the standard by which all other training would be compared.
During this time, I trained hundreds of waste site workers and technician-level emergency responders and implemented Incident Command training and programs for several businesses.
Environmental Resources Management (ERM)
In 1994, I accepted a position with Environmental Resources Management (ERM) after a senior partner had attended one of my classes. At ERM, I opened and managed a new office in Oak Ridge, TN. I was a featured speaker for Executive Enterprises on RCRA and EPCRA and developed emergency response plans and training for dozens of companies in the chemical manufacturing, soft drink, automotive production, and many other industries. That includes the development of a permit-required confined space entry and non-entry rescue program and training on-site for a Federal Corrections Institute confinement facility.
Occidental Petroleum (OxyChem)
In 1998, having been a full-time consultant for the chemical division of Occidental Petroleum in Dallas for almost a year, we agreed that I would become a full-time employee.
At OxyChem, along with program development and training, I authored Material Safety Data Sheets (now called SDSs) for their consumer products. Their main production was chlorine and sodium hydroxide shipped via rail tank cars for industrial use. Emergency preparedness and training were obviously critical for materials such as chlorine, shipped in the quantities we moved daily.
American Presidents Line (APL)
In 1999, I accepted a position with ocean carrier American Presidents Line (APL) in Oakland, CA. I performed pre-approval for all DG shipments and was a member of their emergency response team. Wanting to buy a home, I realized the Bay Area was not for me, so I took a position with UPS (a former consulting client when I was with ERM).
I had the privilege of attending the first Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor (DGSA) program taught in the United States. It was facilitated by the Scottish Qualifications Authority in Houston in 1999.
UPS Corporate Compliance
I started at UPS in Corporate Compliance. I was to implement the DG shipping processes for their new Logistics Group. UPS has many decades of experience as an air and ground carrier, but not as a shipper, an originator of DG shipments. I developed the tools, process, and customer communications that enabled me to develop clear shipping instructions for our warehouse operators.
The processes I developed were used in our service parts, high-tech, automotive, and healthcare divisions. These processes, developed over two decades ago, although refined and improved over the years, are still in place today.
With the acquisition of Menlo/Emery Worldwide, I was assigned three Coordinators and the responsibility to train and audit UPS Acceptance Auditors, Air Loaders, and Drivers for 70 Air Freight Service Centers in the US and Canada.
UPS has always been a big supporter and exhibitor at COSTHA conferences. I had the privilege of teaching COSTHA-sponsored conference courses on the IMDG Code and DOT regulations.
Retirement and Continued Service
I retired from UPS after 25 years. I am supporting my community as a trained member of our Community Emergency Response Team.
I hope to continue to serve the DG community in developing effective compliance programs and providing training through my consultancy, HazProz.