Operations & EHS Leadership Professional

ALAN J. MICHAELS, M.S., CSP

EXPERIENCE/CARING/ TRANSFORMATIONAL SAFETY, HEALTH,,SECURITY & TRAINING PROFESSIONAL

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256-***-**** (leave message)

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*** **odley Rd., Madison, AL 35758

WHAT I HAVE TO OFFER

EDUCATION

+ Strong Program Leadership experience, which flourishes best in a collaborative team setting

+ Successful in driving cultural transformation in operations of all sizes and in union and non-union environments and in multi-cultural manufacturing environments

+ Expertise in Regulatory Compliance: how to achieve and sustain it. Ability to liaise with regulatory and OSHA Consultation officials and Fire Marshals

+ Hazard Assessment skill set, utilizing Risk Matrices

+ Dynamic, creative, engaging instructor in EHS and soft skills training

+ Extensive experience managing third party and company Security Forces

+ Workers’ Comp case management that operates in a caring manner

+ Dynamic, creative, engaging instructor in EHS and soft skills training

+ Voted Best Manager at OxyChem

+ Chosen as a Mentor of rising-star EHS professionals

+ 2023 Runner-up for BCSP’s Lifetime Achievement Award

+ Strategy development and goal setting

+ Analytic mind which can derive root causes and solutions.

+ Creative, common sense problem solver who thinks 3-dimensionally

+ Lean 6 Sigma/ Value Stream Optimization expertise/ Quality Assurance

+ ISO 9001, ISO/ Responsible Care 14001, ISO 45001. Experienced auditor

+ Rock-solid belief system based on treating Safety like you would any other business function…don’t over-complicate it…build strong relationships…tailor it to align with organizational goals

M.S. Safety Management

Colorado State University

B.A. Secondary Education

Arizona State University

CERTIFICATIONS

Certified Safety Professional (CSP)

Certified Incident Investigator

Process Safety Management (PSM)

Human and Organizational Performance (HOP)

Lean 6 Sigma Green Belt

Behaviour Based Safety (BBS)

Arc Flash Prevention

NFPA Fire Protection

FMCSA/DOT/ Reasonable Suspicion

Erosion and Sediment Control

Lead Abatement

Industrial Hygiene Boot Camp

Employee Relations Law

Leadership Skills I, II, & III

Mentoring Program

Cybersecurity

FSO (Facility Safety Officer)

Conducting Effective Meetings

Fall Protection

Ergonomics

811 Gold Shovel

Workers Comp Law

Aerial, Scissors, and Fork Lift Safety

HazMat & HazWOPER

Mobile Crane Safety

Basic Rigging

Media & Public Relations

Effects of shift work

These certifications need renewal

(if needed, when employed by you):

First Aid/ CPR/ AED Instructor

OSHA 10/30 Instructor

HazWOPER Instructor

SAFETY SKILLS

STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT

ESTABLISHED 2 OSHA VPP (STAR) SITES & 2 MSHA SENTINELS OF SAFETY MINES

SYSTEMS SAFETY

ERGONOMICS

SAFETY CULTURE ACTIVATION

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

WRITING POLICIES & PROCEDURES

CITATION PREVENTION & ABATEMENT

ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION

SAFETY PERMIT PROCESSING/ AUDITING

SITE EHS ORIENTATIONS

SOFTWARE SYSTEM MANAGEMENT

LOGS & RECORDS

INSPECTIONS & AUDITS

CONDUCT ENGAGING TRAINING & MEETINGS

EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM

RESPONSIBLE CARE ™

KNOWLEDGE OF OSHA, ISO 9001/14001/ & 45001, ANSI, NFPA 70& 101

WAREHOUSING/ DISTRIBUTION

HEALTH SKILLS

COORDINATION WITH MEDICAL REVIEW OFFICER & EMPLOYEE INJURY TREATMENT/RTW

WORKER’S COMPENSATION CLAIM MANAGEMENT

MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

MEDICAL AND DRUG SCREEN PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE SKILLS

KNOWLEDGE OF NIOSH SAMPLING METHODS

AIR SAMPLING PUMP OPERATION, CALIBRATION, & SAMPLE COLLECTION

PASSIVE BADGE SAMPLING

SAMPLE COLLECTION LAB SUBMISSION PROCESSES

LAB ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION & MONITORING REPORT WRITING

KNOWLEDGE OF OSHA PELS, STELS, AND ACTION LEVELS

ENVIRONMENTAL SKILLS

STORM WATER PREVENTION POLLUTION PROGRAM / NPDES

CLEAN AIR ACT

WASTE MANAGEMENT, 3R’S

EROSION/ SEDIMENT CONTROL

LAB ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION

BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS STANDARDS

RCRA

TITLE V

TIER 2 REPORTING

SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING

HAZMAT/HAZCOM SKILLS

KNOWLEDGE OF HAZCOM AND HAZWOPER

GHS, HMIS, & NFPA LABELING

DOT SKILLS

ELECTRONIC LOGGING DEVICE MANAGEMENT

WASTE MANIFEST AND BILL OF LADING MANAGEMENT

FMCSA PLACARDING, MARKINGS, & LABELING

PHMSA

TRANSPORTATION. SAFETY: RAILROADS, SHIPS, BARGES, TRUCKS

MEMBERSHIPS

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF SAFETY PROFESSIONALS (ASSP)—PROFESSSIONAL MEMBER, CHAPTER OFFICER

ATD

ASQ/ LEAN DIVISION

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

October 2024-present

Health & Safety Manager, Confidential Lumber and Door and Window Manufacturing Company, Huntsville, AL

I am building (collaboratively) a positive safety and health program that is being woven into this Company’s 5 Core Values—tailor made. In addition, I am bringng us into OSHA compliance in AL and TN, including the writing of policies and procedures and PPE Hazard Assessments. Working with OSHA Consultation Officials in two states. Ensuring bilingual training and safety and health communications.

When the DOT Specialist position was downsized, I volunteered to take over DOT/ FMCSA oversight responsibilities. In addition, serve as company Lean 6 Sigma/ 5S and industrial hygiene/ ergonomics expert, perform community outreach efforts, and am a contributing writer for various company publications…and so much more.

[Would consider leaving for the right position, near relatives and for a more financially secure organization]

October 2023- October 2024

EHS Manager, Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Grain, Huntsville, AL

Under my leadership we began driving a EHS cultural transformation via a strategy of building trust and employee buy-in. This was done by being on the shop floor daily, by listening to the workers, and by showing some tangible results—mainly as the result of expertise and workmanship of J. Wayne Angle. I wrote or supervised the writing of environmental air, land, and water reports and RCRA HazMat paperwork. This plant has 5 electro-arc furnaces that operate at 5000 degrees F to fuse exotic minerals.

I managed one person and nurtured the Plant EHS Committee. Created and delivered engaging OSHA and EPA-mandated training modules. Developed, maintained, and reconciled the EHS budget. Directed contractor and vendor relationships—including crane, hoists, boiler, and fire protection systems. Managed the Workers’ Compensation and return-to-work programs and contractor safety compliance.

[As much as I liked most of the people that I work with, I moved on for a better opportunity in a flatter organization. For example, I now have 1 supervisor instead of 6 and have more direct input in my new company’s EHS direction.]

September 2022- October 2023

EHS Specialist—Safety Focus, 3M, Decatur, AL

Provided technical leadership and expertise on a multitude of Safety Engineering and Training issues in support of Operations. Collected and analyzed data and recommended incremental continuous improvement steps based on that data and personal observations/ See & Act conversations. Conducted Risk Analysis on processes, machine guarding, and tool use and offered engineering solutions of same. Participated in PSM compliance and new equipment evaluations. Critiqued and re-wrote EHS procedures. Was part of the Ergonomics, Lock out/ Tag out, Contractor Safety, EHS Culture Assessment, School Outreach, and Diversity Teams. Was responsible for OSHA VPP self-assessment and re-certification. Conducted high-hazard risk assessments in the Plastics Plant, Mill Room/ Dryers, Maintenance Department, R&D Lab, Waste Water Treatment and Water Quality facilities, Boiler House, Labs, Warehouse, and all contractor activities. Served as back-up Safety Engineer for fluorocarbons/ polymers. Was Subject Matter Expert for overhead crane safety, the incident reporting system, Corporate Safety Audit, EHS compliance training, the monthly EHS Crew Meeting Agenda, and 7 of the Safe Work Procedures. Actively participated in Cultural Activation, HazOps, PSSRs, and MOCs (PSM requirements) and Emergency Response Drill planning and evaluations.

[Left due to impending workforce reductions due to the company’s exit from the PFAS market.]

October 2020 – September 2022

Area HSE Manager, PSC/JAMES Construction Group,

Baton Rouge, LA

Primary responsibility was to oversee safety, health, and environmental operations for all heavy civil construction project sites in Louisiana. Duties included: OSHA compliance, conducting site SH& E orientations, safety software system management, site security checks, safety meetings, site focus audits and inspections, vendor relations and purchase approvals, incident investigations, leadership safety assessments, EM-385 training for USACE, and Supervisor Development Training. I mentored and developed 4 HSE professionals.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Achieved 65% reduction in OSHA Medical Recordables, 37% reduction in equipment damage incidents, and an 72% reduction in Motor Vehicle Accidents.

Leaned out some cumbersome SH&E programs—including our Daily JHA Risk Reduction Planning; commended by Division President for doing so.

Ensuring bilingual communications in our Daily Planning, safety meetings, and HSE orientation training.

Introduced “Safety II: A New Way to Look at Safety” to our division.

Improved time to close out corrective actions by an average of 1 week

[Left for ethical reasons--because I refuse to under-report OSHA medical recordable cases just to have glossy metrics.]

April 2015 – October 2020

Training and Continuous Improvement Manager, Alabama State Port Authority, Mobile, AL

My role included developing and delivering engaging training (e.g., soft skills, supervisor development, EHS compliance topics, OSHA 10, first aid/ CPR/ AED, security, business procedures, Lean Enterprise and State Ethics). Led the Lean Enterprise Program for the McDuffie Island Coal Terminal and Pinto Island steel slab-handling facilities. Assisted Terminal Railroad and storage warehouses in their training needs and 5S Program. Managed 2 Associates.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Created illustrated operations procedures and competency checklists.

We trained and re-trained 343 employees in “Active Shooter: Run. Hide. Fight.”

I enhanced the ethics training PowerPoint program and then trained 701 employees on Alabama State Ethics over 5 years.

Training evaluations revealed a 4.9/ 5 approval rating on courses offered

Increased throughputs at Coal terminal by 18% and Pinto Island by 15%.

[Left for better pay and for a bigger role in EHS.]

October 2013 – March 2015

Safety, Security, and Lean Manufacturing Manager, Mississippi Phosphates, Inc., Pascagoula, MS

Responsible for OSHA compliance (including PSM and noise monitoring), port security as FSO, Workers Comp/ Return-to-Work, and EHS and media training. Duties included DOT and OHS program management and championing 43 Lean “Save Our Plant” proposals, LEPC representation, handling citizen’s complaints, and Hazard Communications. Led Cardinal Safety Rules and 5-S improvements in our Maintenance shops, warehouses, and plant facilities. Managed 1 PSM and 1 Safety Coordinator.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Revamped a stagnant OHS program toward a 54% reduction in OSHA recordable injuries and a 19% reduction of Worker Comp costs.

Extricated our company from the Severe Violators Program that I had inherited.

Worked with management team toward infusing new life into our Emergency Response Team, creating Cardinal Safety Rules, improving guarding, and implementing ergonomics improvements.

[NOTE: Plant went into chapter 11 Bankruptcy, in spite of much effort to keep it afloat.]

May 2010- September 2013

Corporate Safety Director, Ames Construction, Burnsville, MN

My role was comprised of providing safety leadership and an EHS vision to 6 heavy civil construction regions--plus the Nevada Mining and /Dakota Aggregates Divisions, driving the new Crane Safety Standard by breaking it into manageable “chunks,” diplomatically challenging spurious/ overly-broad MSHA and OSHA citations, ensured site security, providing training—including MSHA Part 46 Training Plans, and monitoring the DOT CSA program. Duties included creating and driving specialized EHS programs to satisfy numerous customers, actively participating with our Insurer and Broker to close out open cases, and auditing our EHS programs for effectiveness.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Led the efforts (and compiled the documentation) to win the coveted NRCA (railroad construction) Gold Safety Award, a company first.

100% success rate in getting either reduction or elimination of the few OSHA and MSHA citations that we did receive.

Revised the Corporate EHS Manual that was long overdue.

Started up the California Division to be “Best in Class”.

Created the EHS program for the Dakota Aggregates JV and was rewarded with the title of VP- EHS to add credence to the position. (dual position).

Tirelessly led efforts to reduce serious injuries by 23%, with no fatalities.

Mentored 26 EHS and Workers Comp employees.

[Left this good job because Minnesota Winters were physically and mentally rough on my wife.]

December 2008- May 2010

District EHS Manager, PCL Services, Burnsville, MN

Responsible for managing a 64-part EHS program to meet OSHA and company standards, developing and conducting all training activities/ the Brown Bag Lunch Program/ PCL College of Construction, and providing a safety presence at the 31 projects that either started up or were completed during my tenure. Duties included, but not limited to: creating the annual EHS strategy and monitoring it, preparing for the President’s Safety Audits, managed security efforts, providing safety meeting topics each week, incident investigations and reviews, job safety analysis reviews, incident investigations, and client relations. Supervised 1 Administrative Assistant.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Created the only VPP OSHA STAR site in the company’s 116-year history and only the third construction site to receive this designation in MN OSHA history.

Directed efforts that led to 15 consecutive months of zero medical recordables, which is rare for commercial/ vertical construction.

Consolidated and leaned out the Corporate EHS Responsibilities Matrix.

Led the Most Improved District Award in the aforementioned President’s Safety Audits.

Upgraded the industrial construction relationship with 3M and other manufacturing clients due to my industrial background.

[Left for more responsibility and pay.]

February 2005- November 2008

Division Safety and Health Manager, Vulcan Construction Materials, San Antonio, TX

My role was comprised of ensuring that all industrial hygiene sampling and interpretation of results was completed, ensuring bi-lingual mandatory OSHA and MSHA training, conducting safety and health performance reviews for 14 quarries and their hot-mix asphalt plants and ready-mix plants, and nurturing and sustaining the BBS programs at all 14. Duties included analyzing both leading and trailing indicators and making recommendations on how to incrementally improve safety and health. Actively served on the Lean/ 5S Team. Supervised 5 OHS & DOT professionals.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Led the only division to reach its 5-year NSSGA goals.

Chosen as a Mentor in a Diversity Enhancement Program.

Created fun, engaging, relevant, bilingual training programs.

[Part of 172-person layoff due to economic downturn of 2008.]

March 1999- January 2005

President, Alan Michaels Safety and Training Services, Brighton, CO

Provided safety services (e.g., audits, procedures writing, risk assessments, etc.) and offered training (e.g., OSHA and MSHA mandatory training, “Supervising for Safety” training) for my clients. In addition, consulted on Organizational Re-design.

November 1994- March 1999

Director of Safety, PSM, Security, and Community Outreach

Courtaulds Fibers Inc., Axis, AL

Directed PSM compliance, industrial hygiene sampling, and safety training for a large chemical-textile plant complex. Liaised with OSHA and NIOSH when called upon to do so. Revamped the Safety Incentive Program. Managed the O.W.L.S. behavior-based safety process from inception until plant closing. Re-organized and managed the security services. Coordinated community outreach activities and assisted the Environmental Director in responding to neighborhood complaints/ concerns. Worked with Nichols Communications on the “Wake up With Ease ™” marketing campaign.

Our safety initiatives led to reaching the 4 million-LTA-free mile stone on two separate occasions.

February 1988- October 1994

Safety and HR Manager, OxyChem, Mobile, AL

Led the Mobile Plant to OSHA VPP status by ensuring that compliance with and adherence to all of the VPP application requirements. Self-evaluated our plant’s activities vis-à-vis Responsible Care ™ principles to ensure that we were doing what we committed to do. Besides VPP, our biggest accomplishment was going 1,010 days without an OSHA recordable.

On the HR side, I directed the conversion to 12-hour shifts and a team-directed workforce and handled all traditional HR duties. In addition, I represented OxyChem on the Chickasaw Chamber of Commerce, which led to my being chosen as the President of that fine organization.

Excellent references available upon request.

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