Christopher Benavente

Experience

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  United States Air Force

  Sept 2002 - Jul 2008

  Bioenvironmental Engineering Technician

  • Manage staff and conduct studies of physician reports, worker activity and compliant studies in order to determine whether specific instances of disease or illness are job related. • Evaluate compliance with Air Force Occupational Safety and Health Standards pertaining to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Department of Transportation (DOT), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and American National Standards Institute (ANSI). • Draft health and safety programs using regulations and consensus standards to provide consistent approaches to risk reduction and compliance. Drafted a consumer confidence report on water quality for a local Japanese government agency. • Assist in the development and delivery of training materials to management and employees (e.g., hazards, accident prevention techniques and regulations, etc.) using established methods to ensure regulatory compliance. • Test workplaces for environmental hazards such as exposure to radiation, chemical and biological hazards, and excessive noise. • Communicate with various base agencies concerning the control and elimination of hazards. • Ensured compliance with locals (Japanese Environmental Governing Standards) and federal standards (Environmental Protection Agency) in Japan for drinking water, wastewater, storm water and hazardous waste to help prevent harm to workers, property, the environment, and the general public. • Properly collected and handled samples of dust, gases, vapors, and other potentially toxic materials to ensure personal safety and accurate test results.• Developed annual sampling budget in excess of $120,000 and annual sample schedules to local community. • Liaison for all environmental sampling analysis between five different labs located in the US and Japan. • Led inspections of more than 75 industrial work centers focusing on Hazard Communications, Respiratory Protection, Hazardous Materials, and OSHA guidelines. Show less

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  United States Air Force

  Oct 2008 - Apr 2011

  Industrial Hygiene Specialist

  • Manage and maintain various Occupational Safety and Health programs such as Respiratory Protection, Confined Spaces, Hazardous Communication, Hearing Conservation, etc, ensuring compliance with local and federal regulations – protecting workers through effective program management and training.• Evaluate compliance with Air Force Occupational Safety and Health Standards pertaining to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Department of Transportation (DOT), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and American National Standards Institute (ANSI). • Identified health criteria for experimental and test projects (X-51, F-16, F-22, etc); assessing 30+ types of hazards and establishing Occupational Safety and Health Programs for all workers involved keeping more than $40M worth of programs on track and workers safe.• Alleviates potential occupational and industrial injuries through effective health risk management techniques for 3,000+ workers in over 50 industrial shops by identifying problem areas in work centers and recommending appropriate administrative, engineering, personnel protective equipment, etc. • Investigated occupational injuries through accident investigation techniques identifying root cause problems and identifying adequate solutions to prevent recurring injuries.• Assist in the development and delivery of training materials to management and employees (e.g., hazards, accident prevention techniques and regulations, etc.) using established methods to ensure regulatory compliance. Show less

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  Defense Logistics Agency

  Apr 2011 - Feb 2013

  Occupational Safety and Health Specialist

  • Developed and implemented multiple Occupational Safety and Health Programs and Standard Operating Procedures to include Respiratory Protection, Hazardous Communication, Lock-Out/Tag-Out, Personnel Protective Equipment, Fall Protection, Emergency Response Actions, etc.• Conducts onsite surveys for the DLA to assist in determining the degree of potential exposures that may exist at the worksite and formulate corrective actions to eliminate any unacceptable conditions. • Review and research multiple analytical sampling results ranging from air sampling of various chemicals in the work center and determines acceptability and mitigation actions where required.• Created training plans and conducts required occupational safety and health training for DLA personnel based on regulatory requirements (local/federal).• Studies plans or modifications to facilities where new equipment or construction will occur to determine potential health risks associated with the project. • Compiles trending analysis data based on recorded injuries, near misses, and unsafe conditions then creates corrective action plans to work on solutions to trended data. Show less

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  US Army

  Feb 2013 - Jul 2019

  Supervisory Industrial Hygienist

  • Established and maintains a comprehensive industrial hygiene program for all Army personnel, their families, and local national (LNs) employees stationed/working within the country of Japan in accordance with all applicable publications and regulations. Overseas comprehensive IH program for more than 10 Army installations throughout the country of Japan.• Direct oversight for scheduling, assigning, and performing periodic industrial hygiene visits and sampling projects at over 150 worksites and hundreds of homes throughout the country of Japan.• Supervises and trains multiple industrial hygienists/industrial hygiene technicians assigned by developing them through continuing education and objective based OJT. Directs and reviews comprehensive studies throughout Japan to identify trends/hazard risks to personnel in the country.• Regularly communicates with commanders and directors of varying commands regarding the status of their programs, possible health risks to their personnel, and corrective actions to mitigate health risks through professional reports and committee meetings with those shareholders. • Provides training to Soldiers, Civilians, Family Members, and LN employees on multiple IH topics such as (but not limited to): Hazard Communication, Indoor Air Quality, Confined Spaces, Ergonomics, Personal Protective Equipment, and Respiratory Protection. • Conducts multiple IH surveillance tasks such as sound level measurements, noise dosimetry, air sampling, ventilation surveys, and worksite assessments; provides written report with appropriate controls and mitigation techniques. Show less

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  U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

  Jul 2019 - Dec 2021

  Industrial Hygienist

  • Performs contractor oversight duties for the Fluor Idaho: Idaho Cleanup Project worth 1.4 billion dollars in industrial hygiene and industrial safety; ensures contractor performance is in accordance with DOE regulations, OSHA standards, and self-established work control documents (amongst other local/federal regulations).• Serves at the Department of Energy’s Industrial Hygiene/Industrial Safety Subject Matter Expert for the Idaho Environmental Management (EM) Division; provides consultation to EM management in the associated fields and provides information based on contractor activities. • Prepares detailed reports on current conditions of contractor industrial hygiene and industrial safety based on findings discovered during in-depth program review and observed tasks performed by contract employees. • Interprets policy and regulatory requirements pertaining to industrial hygiene and industrial safety to local field office staff employees which include managers, quality assurance, fire protection engineers, and nuclear engineers. Show less

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  US Army Public Health Command

  Nov 2021 - Apr 2023

  Industrial Hygienist
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  US Army Public Health Command - Europe

  Apr 2023 - now

  Supervisory Industrial Hygienist

  Supervisory Industrial Hygienist managing staff of other IHs who provide support throughout the European region.