Safety Manager

ALBA ROCIO HARRELSON, MS, RSO, RBP

** ********* *****, *** *********, TEXAS 77382

832-***-**** *******@*****.***

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY PROFESSIONAL

Uniquely positioned to apply comprehensive technical expertise, experience in EHS program development, implementation, and regulatory compliance, strong team and customer care leadership, and extensive track record of excellence, improvement and success in cutting edge science and technology organizations

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

• MS-Level Environmental Toxicologist certified as a Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) and Registered Biosafety Professional (RBP).

• Diplomatic, creative, and high-level problem solver with refined interpersonal team skills.

• Widespread technical and compliance understanding of environmental, health, and safety regulations as well as physical security of regulated hazardous materials of concern.

• Experienced and effective at communicating with Federal and State regulatory personnel during inspections and consultation interactions.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Director, EHS and Security Lexicon Pharmaceuticals Inc. 2007-Present The Woodlands, TX

Assoc. Director, Safety and Security 2008-2010

Manager, Environmental Health and Safety 2007- 2008

Responsible for the oversight of all safety, occupational health, environmental health, hazardous waste operations, and security functions in a 300,000 square foot campus with 250 employees. Manage a team of ten safety and security professionals. Specific functions and accomplishments include:

• Chemical Safety: Spearheaded the conversion to an electronic chemical inventory system to increase regulatory compliance, reduce cost through share/exchange practices and reduce hazardous waste.

• Radiation Safety: Re-designed the radiation safety program to improve compliance, this resulted in two very successful inspections from the DSHS Radiation Branch.

• Biological Safety: Structured work space and engineering controls for work with infectious materials and provided extensive training in BSL2 practices and procedures and Bloodborne Pathogens.

• Training: Developed a company-wide training program utilizing freeware software and internal resources to deliver on-line safety/policy training and facilitate electronic recordkeeping – this system is now used by all departments with regulatory driven training needs.

• Workers Compensation: Significantly reduced the number of days away from work by implementing a return to work strategy and strictly monitoring all worker compensation cases and near misses.

• Hazardous Waste Operations: Reduced costs by contract negotiation and implementation of bulking practices and recycling strategies. Improved recordkeeping and accumulations sites to maintain generator status.

• Environmental Health: Developed Spill Control and Countermeasures Plan and maintained compliance.

• Emergency Response: Led Business Continuity Planning cross functional team. Responsible for management of all aspects of emergency planning and response, as well as crisis management (fire, hazmat exposure, hurricane preparedness, medical emergencies, spill cleanup, etc) on campus.

• Security: Developed and maintained security procedures to meet required codes, regulations, and homeland security requirements. Managed the operation of the access control systems, CCTV surveillance system and security /fire alarm system.

• Leadership: Participate in executive committees such as the Quality, Safety, and Compliance Committee (QACC), and the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).

Manager, Environmental Health and Safety University of Houston 2004 - 2007 Houston, TX

Responsible for the management of biological and chemical campus safety. Specific functions and accomplishments include:

• Laboratory Safety: Directed the development and implementation of a comprehensive laboratory safety program for the annual audit of over 600 laboratories in the areas of radiation safety, biosafety, chemical safety, and controlled substances.

• Leadership: Advised the director of animal care operations while serving as safety designee and member of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Assisted the Director of EH&S with departmental budget allocations, recruitment and appointment on new staff, and administrative committees such as Risk Management (Univ. Insurance), Institutional Compliance, Training and Continuing Education, and Emergency Planning and Response (e.g. Natural Disasters and Flu Pandemic).

• Training: Trained over 800 staff and graduate students in Hazard Communication (HAZCOM), biosafety, and bloodborne pathogens.

• Compliance: Maintained regulatory oversight and compliance with University, State, and Federal agencies in all applicable aspects of the Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) Department.

Manager, Center in Molecular Toxicology Vanderbilt University School of Medicine 1997 - 2002 Nashville, TN

Environmental Information Specialist & Outreach Coordinator, Center in Molecular Toxicology/Middle TN Poison Center Vanderbilt University School of Medicine 1996 - 1997 Nashville, TN

Responsible for the scientific, fiscal, outreach, and compliance operations of the Center. Specific functions and accomplishments include:

• Managed all aspects of environmental health and safety for all the Center core facilities including compliance with regulatory committees such as IACUC, IRB, radiation safety, biosafety, and controlled substances.

• Coordinated the writing of Center core and training grants, electronic progress reports, financial reports, brochures and other outreach printed and electronic materials.

• Maintained liaison with the National Institutes of Health, the Middle Tennessee Poison Center, The Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center, and the Departments of Biomedical Research Education and Training, Human Resources, Financial Management, and Office of Research and Grants Management.

• Managed budgets and fiscal records for all grants and funded projects. Monitored all expenditures for compliance with procedures and regulations of the University and the funding agencies.

• Supervised an Administrative Assistant a Network Technician and Environmental Information Specialist, a Secretary and a Laboratory Technician.

• Coordinated recruiting efforts for the training program and provided support to pre/post-doctoral trainees.

• Developed the environmental health outreach program to provided environmental health advice and assistance to Poison Center pharmacists and information to the public on environmental health issues. Organized and coordinated events such as open houses, community forums and symposiums for both the academic community and the general public.

EDUCATION

MS, Biology (Environmental Toxicology), 1995 - University of Mississippi, Oxford, Mississippi

Publications:

• E.R. Kline, R.A. Figueroa, J.H. Rodgers, Jr., and P.B. Dorn. 1996. Effects of a Nonionic Surfactant (C14-15 AE-7) on Fish Survival, Growth and Reproduction in the Laboratory and in Outdoor Stream Mesocosms. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 15(6):997-1002

• J.H. Rodgers, Jr., N.O. Crossland, E.R. kline, W.B. Gillespie, Jr., R.A. Figueroa, and P.B. Dorn. 1996. Design and Construction of Model Stream Ecosystems. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 33(1):30-37.

• P.B. Dorn., J.H. Rodgers, Jr., S.T. Dubey, W.B. Gillespie, Jr., and R.A. Figueroa. 1996. Assessing the Effects of a C-14-15 Linear Alcohol Ethoxylate Surfactant in Stream Mesocosms. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 34(2):196-204.

BS, Biology (minor in Chemistry), 1990 - Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia

Publication:

• Figueroa, R.A. 1989. Social Interactions of a Fourth Month Adopted Infant in a Wild Group of Red Howler Monkeys (Alouatta seniculus). Field Studies of New World Monkeys La Macarena Colombia. 2:37-39.

CONTINUING EDUCATION EHS COURSES AND CERTIFICATIONS

• Audits and Inspections: A Quality Management System Approach – American Biological Safety Association (ABSA), Anaheim , CA – October 2011

• Leadership Tools for Today’s Biosafety Professional – ABSA, Anaheim , CA – October 2011

• IACUC 201 Plus – MD Anderson Cancer Center and Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW), Houston, TX – September 2011

• OSHA 8 Hour Hazwoper Refresher – Eduware on-line course, Chapel Hill, NC – August 2011

• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) membership – May 2011

• Heart Saver First Aid and CPR – American Heart Association/Cintas – December 2010

• Writing Policies and Procedures and Risk Management – COSS Professional Series of the Safety Council of Louisiana – Houston, TX, September 2010

• Creating and Running an Engaged and Proactive IACUC – Scientists Center for Animal Welfare (SCAW), San Antonio, TX – December 2009

• Fundamentals of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases – ABSA, Miami, FL – October 2009

• Molecular Biology 101 – ABSA, Miami, FL – October 2009

• Opportunities and Limitations with Electronic Training Solutions – ABSA, Miami, FL – October 2009

• A How-To Approach to Implementing Safety Management Systems in the Biological Laboratory – ABSA, Miami, FL – October 2009

• Introduction to Continuity of Operations Planning for Pandemic Influenzas – Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Online-course, September 2009

• Physical Security for Bioscience Laboratories – ABSA, Reno, NV – October 2008

• Personnel Security Within a Biosecurity Program – ABSA, Reno, NV – October 2008

• Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Compliance Bootcamp – ABS Consulting, Houston TX – February 2008

• 49 CFR Hazardous Material Transportation Training – ABS Consulting, Houston TX – February 2008

• Moving Participants from Knowing to Doing: Effective Training Strategies for Today’s Biosafety Officers – ABSA, Nashville, TN – October 2007

• Radiation Safety Officer/DOT Certification – Radiation Safety Academy, Gaithersburg, MD – August 2007

• DOT & NRC Requirements for Shipping and Receiving Radioactive Materials – Radiation Safety Academy, Gaithersburg, MD – August 2007

• Registered Biological Safety Professional – Designation from ABSA #180 – September 2007

• Industrial Hygiene for the Safety Professional 16 hr– American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), Orlando, FL – June 2007

• Business Management Institute – University of Houston, Houston TX – 2006

• Auditing for Safety Professionals – ABSA, Boston, MA – October 2006

• Biosafety Program Management – ABSA, Boston, MA – October 2006

• IACUC 101 – Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW), Austin, TX – May 2006

• Hazardous Waste Operations (HAZWOPER) 40 hr – Global Safety Sources, Houston, TX – March 2006

• Managing Internal and External Program Reviews in Bio-containment, Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA – January 2006

• Design, Construction and Commissioning of ABSL1-3 Animal Facilities, Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA – January 2006

• Review of Animal Biosafety Levels 1-4, 1-3Ag, PPE in Animal Facilities, CDC, Atlanta, GA – January 2006

• Industrial Hygiene for Safety Professionals – ABSA, Vancouver, Canada – October 2005

• Radioactive Materials Safety – University of Houston, TX – October 2005

• Laser Systems Safety – University of Houston, TX – October 2005

• Best Practices in Research Compliance –National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA), Houston, TX September 2005

• Critical Path to New Medical Products: Challenge in Protecting Human Subjects – FDA, Houston, TX – April 2005

• Control of Biohazards 40 hr – Biocontrol, Inc., Baltimore, MD – April 2005

• Department of Transportation HAZMAT Training – Global Safety Sources, Houston, TX – November 2004

• Basic Virology and Virus Based Gene Vectors – ABSA, San Antonio, TX – October 2004

• Shipping Infectious and Diagnostic Specimens – ABSA, San Antonio, TX – October 2004

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