March *, ****

Dear HR Representative,

I would like to express my interest in the EHS positions. Through my work experience, education, work ethic, and attainment of specialized professional certifications, I have developed a wide-range of skills and abilities, which I believe are a great fit for this position.

Currently, I work in the Environment, Health and Safety Department (EHS) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW). During my five and a half years of employment at UW EHS, I have served as a Risk Management Specialist Senior as a Biosafety Specialist, and most recently an Occupational Health Specialist Senior as the Animal Research Safety Specialist. My responsibilities at UW EHS have included inspecting many campus labs and animal housing rooms on an annual basis, performing biosafety and animal research risk assessments and protocol review, working with the research community to achieve compliance with all necessary standards and regulations, training, interacting closely with campus researchers particularly regarding animal safety and health issues, and training laboratory and support personnel. In addition, I served as the interim Occupational Health Officer for the EHS Occupational Health Program in 2009. As Occupational Health Officer, I was responsible for managing the campus Occupational Health Programs and was in charge of a staff of five.

Some of my ancillary responsibilities at UW include performing accident and injury investigations, compiling reports and recommendations on findings. I have also been involved in building related illness investigations and surveillance. For the several years I have performed respirator fit testing by both quantitative and qualitative methods for the campus compliance programs. I have been involved with confined space entry procedures as an attendant and have served on the Emergency Response Team, which included over forty hours of HAZMAT training.

Prior to my job at UW, I was the Biosafety Officer and Sanitarian at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) for seven years. This allowed for a great deal of experience with group facilitation and collaboration with various campus units. I served on the campus Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), Institutional Review Board #1, Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), Animal Facilities Sub Committee, UIC Hospital Infection Control Committee, and UIC Hospital Tuberculosis Sub Committee. Outreach and training to ensure compliance and minimize injury was an important aspect of my job. In addition to my service on campus committees, I performed Bloodborne Pathogen Training monthly, and biological laboratory safety and Select Agent training to name a few.

I was closely tied to research in this position and was constantly involved with protocol review regarding human, animal and bench-top research; and thus, interacted closely with campus researchers - for example, I reviewed all protocols that were submitted to the UIC Institutional Biosafety Committee, and many protocols submitted to the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. In addition, one of my responsibilities as UIC’s Campus Biosafety officer was the inspection of five hundred and thirty campus labs annually. This allowed for the development of expertise in working successfully with the research community to achieve compliance with all necessary standards and regulations in a cooperative, convenient, and effective manner. I have a very strong background in the biotech field.

I also developed a great deal of experience in technical writing and policy/procedure development. I wrote UIC’s ISO format ninety-two page biosafety manual, compiled documents of best practices, and wrote policies on biosafety cabinet usage, biological waste, recombinant DNA therapy practices and procedures, and compiled OSHA mandated annual updates for the UIC’s Campus Exposure Control Plan for Bloodborne Pathogens. Additionally, I supplied professional interpretation to the IBC, IRB’s, and IACUC in order to meet compliance for the NIH Guidelines and the CDC/NIH Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories regarding projects and situations on the UIC campus.

As a Sanitarian at UIC, I inspected twenty-eight food service facilities, including UIC Hospital patient food service, on a semester basis, consulted with campus day care, and dealt with water quality issues. I wrote and implemented campus food policies, lectured on food safety, and reviewed plans for restaurant construction. This aspect of my work experience helped develop my eye for detail and offered opportunities to work with various individuals on campus outside of research. This experience helped build my interpersonal skills as I continually inspected and consulted with a wide variety of research and non-research personnel. In many instances, I was put in a position to have to implement strategies to improve safety. For example, upon inspection of food service facilities, the manager was made aware of food safety violations. This allowed the manager to participate in corrective strategies. On rare occasions I had to make the difficult decision to shut down units until major food safety concerns were addressed. This can be a delicate situation and I have learned to handle it with the utmost care. I have taken these skills and successfully applied them to my current consultation work. I presently inspect restaurants and consult for Everclean Services.

Prior to my career in health and safety, I was a Medical Technologist for about thirteen years. I worked at the UIC Hospital for a total of ten years in the Hematology and Body Fluids section, Our Lady of the Resurrection in Chicago for two years as a generalist, and the remainder of time at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge Illinois in the Bacteriology section. I have experience with CAP and JCAHO requirements and inspections. Through this earlier work in medicine, I have obtained a solid background in various analyzer QC, spectrophotometers, atomic absorption, GC, and GC mass spec, and routine maintenance. As a med tech at UIC I recall some of your products (e.g. Erythropoietin Alpha) or some like them were undergoing phase III clinical trials. I assisted in bone marrow aspirations and read many peripheral blood and bone marrow slides in order to aid in the diagnosis of leukemia and other hematologic disease states. I was in the operating room to prep and obtain retinoblastoma slides and tissue. In short I have a strong medical background.

I have throughout my career developed a good deal of experience in radiation safety and particularly laser safety. I have worked on a Coulter Epics flow cytometer/cell sorter, a Becton Dickenson flow cytometer, and an Abbot CellDyne hematology analyzer, all with a laser detections systems. I have worked on a BacTech analyzer in microbiology labs and that was basically a syntilation counter. I have preformed wipe tests here at UW I performed and radiation safety audits during routine inspections. I have had radiation safety training at UIC and also here at UW. As part of my studies for the CIH exam, I had to study and pass sections on ionizing radiation safety and non-ionizing radiation safety. The non-ionizing section had a very strong emphasis on laser safety. I have had graduate level classroom training on laser, non ionizing radiation, and ionizing radiation safety. I have read and developed a strong understanding of Wisconsin Administrative Code DHS-157.61, 10 CFR 20 Standard for Protection Against Radiation, and LIA/ANSI 136.1-2007.

I have also continued to improve my professional standing throughout my career. I have obtained several professional certifications including Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), (ABIH), Certified Biological Safety Professional (ABSA), Specialist in Microbiology (NCRM), licensure as a State of Wisconsin Sanitarian, Registered Sanitarian (NEHA), and Medical Technologist (MT) Specialist in Laboratory Safety (SLS) from the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP). These certifications and qualifications demonstrate that I have a broad base of knowledge and experience in the health and safety field and a great deal of background with analytical work.

My educational achievements have provided a great deal of technical and theoretical knowledge that I have been able to apply to my professional career. I have a Masters of Public Health from the UIC School of Public Health, and Bachelors of Science degrees in Biology, and Chemistry, Cum Laude, from Northeastern Illinois University.

My work ethic is something I take great pride in. I started working at a local supermarket at 14 years old and have not been without a job since. My parents were not rich and I paid for my first bachelor’s degree on my own. When I am assigned a task I accomplish it in a timely manner, and personally expect the same from my coworkers when involved in a shared task. By leading by example with my strong work ethic, I have had success I in managing others, particularly student workers in several projects and the staff I oversaw as interim Occupational Health Officer at UW.

I have a broad range of health and safety experience, and meet the major qualifications required for the EHS job description. I would very much like the opportunity to further discuss this position. Please contact me if you would like any further information or references.

Sincerely,

Terrance J. Lawrin, MPH, MT (ASCP) SLS, CIH (ABIH), CBSP (ABSA), RS (NEHA), RS (WI)

Terrance J. Lawrin

5421 Dennis Drive

McFarland, Wisconsin 53558

608-***-****

hknve7@r.postjobfree.com

CERTIFICATIONS

AMERICAN BOARD OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENISTS

CERTIFIED INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST

AMERICAN BIOLOGICAL SAFETY ASSOCIATION

CERTIFIED BIOLOGICAL SAFETY PROFESSIONAL

NATIONAL COLLEGE OF REGISTERED MICROBIOLOGISTS

SPECIALIST IN MICROBIOLOGY

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CLINICAL PATHOLOGISTS

MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST - SPECIALIST IN LABORATORY SAFETY

NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION

REGISTERED ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST / REGISTERED SANITARIAN

LICENSED SANITARIAN FOR THE STATE OF WISCONSIN

WORK EXPERIENCE

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN- MADISON, OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH PROGRAM

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SPECIALIST , 2008 – PRESENT

INSPECT CAMPUS LABS AND ANIMAL HOUSING ROOMS ANNUALLY

PERFORM ANIMAL RESEARCH PROTOCOL REVIEW AND COMPARISON TO THE CORRESPONDING UW BIOSAFETY PROTOCOL

WORK WITH THE RESEARCH COMMUNITY TO ACHIEVE COMPLIANCE WITH ALL NECESSARY STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS

INTERACT CLOSELY WITH CAMPUS RESEARCHERS PARTICULARLY REGARDING ANIMAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ISSUES

REPRESENT THE UW OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH PROGRAM MONTHLY IN ALL FIVE ANIMAL CARE AND USE COMMITTEES (IACUC)

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN- MADISON, OFFICE OF BIOLOGICAL SAFETY

CAMPUS BIOSAFETY SPECIALIST, 2005-2008

CONDUCT ANNUAL BIOLOGICAL SAFETY VISIT OF CAMPUS LABORATORIES

PERFORM INSTITUTIONAL BIOSAFETY COMMITTEE PROTOCOL REVIEW

PROVIDE VARIETY OF TRAININGS AS NEEDED

CONSULTING POSITIONS

EVERCLEAN SERVICES INC

STRATATECH INC

WESTERN INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD

2008 – PRESENT

CLINICAL TRIAL SITE INSPECTOR

INSTITUTIONAL BIOSAFETY COMMITTEE MEMBER

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY OFFICE

CAMPUS BIOSAFETY OFFICER, SANITARIAN, 1998-2005

CONDUCT ANNUAL SAFETY AUDIT OF 500+ CAMPUS LABORATORIES

PROVIDE MONTHLY OSHA BLOODBORNE PATHOGEN TRAINING, SELECT AGENT TRAINING, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SECURITY TRAINING, FOOD SERVICE SAFETY TRAINING

CONDUCT RESPIRATOR FIT TESTING

PROVIDE VENTILATION CONSULTATION

SANITATION INSPECTION OF 28 CAMPUS FOOD FACILITIES

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIPS:

INSTITUTIONAL BIOSAFETY COMMITTEE

UIC INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD #1

ANIMAL CARE COMMITTEE (IACUC)

ANIMAL FACILITIES SUB COMMITTEE

UIC HOSPITAL INFECTION CONTROL COMMITTEE

UIC HOSPITAL TUBERCULOSIS SUB COMMITTEE

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS HOSPITAL

SENIOR TECHNOLOGIST, HEMATOLOGY LABORATORY, 1987-1998

WHOLE BLOOD, URINE, AND BODY FLUID ANALYSIS

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS COLORECTAL SCREENING PROGRAM

OUR LADY OF THE RESURRECTION HOSPITAL

MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST, GENERALIST, 1985-1987

LUTHERAN GENERAL HOSPITAL

CLINICAL TECHNOLOGIST, BACTERIOLOGY LABORATORY, 1984-1986

EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CHICAGO

MASTERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH

NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY

BACHELORS OF SCIENCE (CHEMISTRY), CUM LAUDE

BACHELORS OF SCIENCE (BIOLOGY)

LUTHERAN GENERAL HOSPITAL SCHOOL OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

MAJOR: MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY TRAINING

UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCE/THE CHICAGO MEDICAL SCHOOL

MAJOR: MICROBIOLOGY

Contact this candidate