Compliance Safety and Health Officer Industrial Hygienist

KEITH DEMEREST

*** **** **** **** *, Medina, OH *4256 216-***-**** ************@*****.***

EDUCATION

Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio

Master of Arts in Environmental Studies; Non-profit Management Specialization; 2013

Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science; Chemistry Specialization; 2009

EXPERIENCE

The United States Department of Labor (DOL) - Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA),

Cleveland Area Office: Independence Ohio

Compliance Safety and Health Officer; Industrial Hygienist, February 2014 – March 2023

oConduct occupational health and safety investigations and inspections in private business enterprises and in federal agency workplaces for complaints, injuries and illnesses, occupational related deaths, and inspections selected by application of targeting directives.

oConduct opening conferences with business management and employee representatives at the sites being investigated/inspected.

oReview occupational health and safety programs and recordkeeping at inspection sites. Suggest improvements to be made and provide solutions to problems identified.

oLead worksite inspection walk-throughs, noting which operations (if any) have potential for safety and health hazards. This includes observing operations, taking measurements and samples, taking photographs, and interviewing employees related to the hazards.

oPerform interim and final closing conferences to advise management of their rights and obligations under the OSH Act, and to discuss (in general terms) abatement action, time requirements, and follow up procedures.

oPrepare for inspections and investigations by reviewing the complaint/referral, researching case files of previous inspections in the same or like workplace, learning and understanding the standards applicable to work processes and hazards anticipated in the workplace, and by researching information on industry practices and work processes, toxic substances, and abatement methods.

oAssure that measuring devices and personal protective equipment needed to perform the inspections are in good operating condition and properly calibrated, as required.

oProficiently document case files, assuring accuracy, completeness, and legal sufficiency.

o Coordinate shipment of inspection samples to laboratory and analyze and evaluate the results upon their return.

oCreate reports detailing the findings of sample results. The reports are included in the overall case file and provided and explained to the employer, as well as are used in court (when necessary).

oProvide abatement assistance to employers based on air quality and noise sampling results including suggestions for engineering controls and personal protective equipment.

oCite the detailed provisions of standards which have allegedly been violated and calculate penalties which should be assessed based on gravity and severity of violations.

oCreate case files for review by OSHA management which include citations, narratives, sampling data, and analysis detailing the hazardous situation(s) and advice to the employer on how to abate the hazard(s).

oParticipate in litigation process, providing agency attorneys with background information necessary to support legal defense of agency actions. Testify as a witness under examination by DOL solicitors and attorneys for employers and employee organizations.

oParticipate in agency efforts to obtain warrants and to subpoena witnesses for cases in which the agency is a party.

oOversee and coordinate multiple Safety and Health Management System (SHIMS) programs for the local OSHA area office, including hazard communication, laboratory, hearing conservation, heat stress, silica, hexavalent chromium, and respiratory protection.

oProvide technical advice, solutions, standard requirements and interpretations, and effective abatement of health and safety hazards to employers, employee organizations, and others concerning health and safety related matters.

oPerform Assistant Area Director duties (when needed due to their absence), including peer case file review, issuing of citations, leading informal conferences with employers, offering/signing informal settlement agreements on behalf of the DOL, assigning inspections and investigations to other peer compliance officers, and scheduling assignments for inspection.

oDesign and facilitate various trainings for other OSHA peers. Examples include annual hazard communication training, noise sampling and hearing conservation training, lead safety and sampling training, asbestos safety and sampling training, hexavalent chromium safety and sampling training, silica safety and sampling training, respiratory protection training, and field training of new-hire OSHA personnel.

oRepresent OSHA/DOL while attending and presenting at various public events. Some past examples include local municipality and county-wide safety council meetings, industry specific trainings and conferences (for excavation safety, combustible dust safety, flammable gasses and liquids safety, pallet industry safety, hospital health and safety), high school career day events, and Cleveland State University graduate fairs, alumni events, and graduate classes on public safety, policy, and planning.

oRegularly collaborate with OSHA management including Regional and National Office representatives, and US DOL Solicitors office attorneys regarding complex and novel case work.

oParticipated on a team of peers to obtain and renew Cleveland area OSHA office Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) status. Additionally, worked as a VPP auditor with the agency’s compliance assistance program to ensure that a private employer petitioning for VPP status had demonstrated a highly effective level of industrial safety and health.

oAwarded two different OSHA impact awards by the OSHA National office for work on two cases that significantly impacted the industry.

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

oProficient at interpreting US Code of Federal Regulations

oKnowledgeable on OSHA regulations, procedures, directives and interpretations, and emphasis programs

oProficient at developing and implementing safety and health management systems

oProficient at providing adequate training for programs within the safety and health management system

oProficient at occupational air quality and noise exposure testing, screening, and sampling

oFirst Aid, CPR, and AED certified by American Red Cross

oProficient with MS Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint

oEarning trust and relationship building

oDetail oriented and organized

oEffective communicator (both oral and written)

oMulti-tasking and time management

oAbility to work both independently and in a team environment

oQuick to learn new concepts

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