Project Manager Management
Resume:
GAIL M. BACKUS, CHMM
Redford, Michigan 48240
313-***-**** OR ********@*******.***
STRENGTHS
Main areas of expertise are environmental, health and safety (EHS) reporting, EHS compliance & training, and
ISO/OHSAS/RC management systems. Work experience includes the chemical manufacturing, military contracts,
cosmetic / pharmaceutical, automotive industries, union/non-union facilities, and consulting. Experience in
managing projects, staff and programs in a diverse and changing world of EHS compliance for over 15 years with 4
years or more of direct managing experience.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Management Experience
Director of EHS for DCT, Inc. and Subsidiaries, including 6 manufacturing facilities. Responsible for all EHS
requirements, customer and regulatory. Working diligently to update the systems using leading EHS indicators
instead of being reactive to problematic situations.
Managed the Environmental Group for 13 plants in North America at Oxford Automotive, including a dotted line
reporting structure to the EHS staff at each plant. Conducted regulatory reviews, working with facilities and
corporate office on budgets for Environmental Group.
Directed EHS staffs for various companies, conducting reviews, mentoring, scheduling and working together to meet
company EHS goals and objectives.
Regional EHS Lead for 4-6 plants at GDLS working closely with site EHS staff and plant management to obtain
regulatory compliance and meet corporate EHS Metrics. Ensure safety RIR, frequency and severity rates are within
company standards.
Team Leader / Project Manager (Weston) with 4 team members to work with one of the nation’s largest
municipalities conducting health and safety audits, Industrial Hygiene monitoring and confined space evaluations
similar to an OSHA or MIOSHA inspection at 49 facilities.
Acting Manager of Environmental Management and Compliance with signature authority while manager was on
medical for 6 weeks in 2008.
Project Lead (Weston) for a multi-billion dollar firm with over 110 facilities. Assisted clients with ISO 14001
implementations and Environmental Management Systems development of procedures, work instructions, policies,
and showed them how to save hundreds of thousands of dollars by implementing a value added system
Regional Safety Officer at Weston (September 2001 – May 2003) responsible for managing the safety and health of
approximately 45 employees working in Michigan. Job responsibilities included training employees, maintaining
employee records, IH monitoring, conducting medical monitoring, respirator fit tests, and conducting health and
safety audits of current. Worked closely to manage the RIR, frequency and severity rates of any injuries in Michigan
and to manage the OHSA recordable rates.
Managed GDLS Diversity and Inclusion Council Activities Program and budget from 2008 to present
Management Systems & Auditing Experience
IRCA Lead Auditor – Certified for ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001
Created and Implemented RC14001 campus certification system in less than a year.
Hired at 2 large manufacturing companies to implement, obtain and maintain the ISO 14001 and/or OHSAS 18001
registration after several failures.
Implemented and maintained the corporate ISO 14001/RC14001 umbrella certification for up to 13 sites in 3
different countries at Oxford and at DCT, Inc’s 4 manufacturing divisions.
Conduct detailed process internal audits for plants and sites as needed to assist their systems.
Resume of Gail M. Backus PAGE 2
313-***-**** or ********@*******.***
Compliance Experience
Manage FIFRA pesticide registration, renewal and reporting processes throughout the US using ALSTAR system
and others to ensure products can be sold by large customers throughout the US.
Conduct JSA/JHA’s on equipment and processes as they enter facilities and determine how employees can best be
protected.
Work to establish programs based on leading EHS indicators to reduce EHS incidents and accidents to obtain cost
savings to the company.
Maintained all MSDS/SDS creations, updates and storage for approximately 1000 products manufactured at DCT,
Inc and Subsidiaries. Implementing the GHS requirements on all SDSs and labeling for company products.
Team Member for two GD Corporate Compliance Audits that evaluated PSM, EHS, hazardous waste management,
fire protection, asbestos, explosives and Military Ammunition requirements and other compliance topics
Evaluated due diligence, environmental liability and past contamination (Superfund sites) working closely with
lawyers, and government agencies to correct problems and reduce fines. Worked closely with regulatory agencies
at various levels during these negotiations.
Managed chemical and waste programs at various companies, including hazardous and radioactive materials per
the OSHA, EPA, NRC and location/state regulations. Responsibilities included finding safe chemicals and reducing
waste streams to implement cost savings for facilities. Worked to find a less hazardous metal preparation process
to reduce hazardous waste and eliminate process waste water discharges.
Prepared, implemented and managed EHS programs, created topic specific training and submitted regulatory
reports for the following programs. Many programs inspected successfully in 5 different states.
SWPPP / SPCC / FIFRA / Pesticides DHS Chemical Fire Respiratory
PIPP / Wastewater / Security Plans Extinguishers Protection Program
NPDES and Fire Safety
Medical Monitoring Confined Spaces Hearing HazCom / GHS BBP Exposure Plan
Conservation
Emergency Waste management Bonding/grounding Electrical Hazwoper 8 hour
Response programs / and storage of Safety / NFPA refresher training
Programs / Inspections and flammable liquids 70 / Arc Flash
Evacuations reports
OSHA Recordable / Community Right to Green House Gas Fall Protection ATF Alcohol Usage
300 logs Know / Tier II / Reporting Programs Reports
Form R
WORK EXPERIENCE
Diversified Chemical Technologies, Inc.
Corporate EHS Director - February 2012 - Present
General Dynamics Land Systems Division
Environmental, Health and Safety Specialist / Regional Lead – January 2005 – February 2012
Oxford Automotive, Troy MI
EMS Manager North American Operations – June 2003 to January 2005
Weston Solutions, Inc., Detroit, MI
EHS Compliance Specialist – May 2001 to June 2003
Davlyn Industries, Inc., Monroe Township, NJ
Environmental Quality Supervisor – April 2000 to April 2001
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATION
Illinois Institute of Technology; Chicago, IL
ME Environmental Engineering, December 1997
Oakland University; Rochester, MI
BS Engineering Chemistry, April 1993
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