Employed for almost two decades by Maryland Occupational Safety and Health, Mr. Rekus has developed both expert technical knowledge of OSHA standards and the practical management skills needed to integrate state-of-the-art safety principles, methods and practices into the progressive, customer-centered, business environment.

For many years he interpreted and explained the ambiguous and often conflicting requirements of OSHA regulations in ways that were understandable to executives and hourly workers alike. Now he uses his unique skills in a private consulting practice focused on finding practical, cost-effective solutions to difficult compliance problems, and improving profitability by helping to minimize losses from workplace accidents and injuries.

RESUME

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS CERTIFICATIONS EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIPS

FACULTY APPOINTMENTS HONORS AND AWARDS PUBLICATIONS EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

QUALIFICATIONS: Almost thirty years' experience in occupational safety and health, spanning industry, government and education. More than ten years experience in technical program planning, development, and administration. Extensive knowledge of technical standards, inspection techniques, and methods of sampling and analysis applicable to the investigation and control of workplace safety and health hazards.

CERTIFICATIONS: Registered Professional Engineer, Safety, certified in comprehensive practice by both the American Board of Industrial Hygiene and the Board of Certified Safety Professionals. Certified Fire Inspector II by the National Fire Protection Association.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING: BS in Chemistry, minors in Secondary Education and Electrical Engineering, Loyola College, Baltimore, Maryland, 1972. MS in Industrial Safety, Indiana University, Indiana, Pennsylvania, 1990.

Extensive professional training received from the OSHA Institute, Chicago, IL, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH; the Environmental Protection Agency Academy, Research Triangle Park, NC, the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute, College Park, MD and the National Fire Academy, Emmitsburg, MD.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS: Full member of the American Industrial Hygiene Association, the American Academy of Industrial Hygiene, the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, the American Society of Safety Engineers, Building and Code Officials International and the National Fire Protection Association

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIPS: Charter member of AIHA technical committee for Confined Spaces, AIHA representative to NFPA technical committee 326 Safeguarding Tanks and Containers During Cleaning, Maintenance and Inspection. Former member  AIHA technical committee for Ionizing Radiation, AIHA technical committee for Risk Communication and Training and NFPA technical committee for Hazardous Chemical data (NAPA-49)  NFPA technical committee for Spray Finishing Processes (NFPA-33). Former Vice-chair ACGIH technical committee for Construction Industrial Hygiene.

FACULTY APPOINTMENTS: Adjunct professor, Catonsville Community College, Department of Operations Man- agement, Occupational Safety and Health Program, Construction Safety 2001 to present , Industrial Hygiene 1984-1987. Guest Lecturer: School of Medicine, University of Maryland at Baltimore; Merrick School of Business, University of Baltimore; Graduate School, Towson State University; Fire Science Program, Community College of Baltimore.

HONORS AND AWARDS: Listed in Who's Who in the East, Recipient of American Society of Safety Engineers Scrivener Award 1991 for article "Eliminating Confined Space Accidents in the Coating and Lining Industry," which appeared in the April 1990 issue of the Journal of Protective Coatings and Linings.

PUBLICATIONS: Complete Confined Spaces Handbook, 400 pages with over 300 illustrations. The only textbook on this subject in the world. Author of more than fifty articles in such diverse journals as Fire Chief, the Journal of Protective Coatings and Linings, Occupational Health and Safety, Fire Command, the Welding Journal and Occupational Hazards.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY:

 

Independent Consultant  John F. Rekus and Associates Ltd.

1994 to Present

 

Provides clients worldwide with a variety of professional consulting services related to occupational safety and health.

Explains and interprets ambiguous and often conflicting rules and regulations promulgated by OSHA and NFPA.

Develops practical, cost-effective solutions to regulatory compliance problems. Performs on-site audits to help clients identify and correct hazards.

Provides management training on OSHA related topics.

Presents technical seminars at local, regional and national trade shows.

Serves as an expert witness and provides technical assistance to attorneys preparing cases related to workplace safety and health and accident investigation.

 

Technical Coordinator  Maryland Occupational Safety and Health

1984 - 1994

 

As a senior level technical staff member with administrative duties, took a lead role in developing, coordinating and administering programs and policies for Maryland OSHA

Coordinates professional staff development and trained all compliance inspectors hired between 1984 and 1992.

Served as agency liaison with the Occupational Health Laboratory, responsible for oversight of three analytical laboratories staffed by seven lab scientists.

Managed the industrial hygiene compliance unit of the Maryland Occupational Safety and        Health program from 1984 to 1986. The unit consisted of three supervisors, twenty staff industrial hygienists, and two occupational health nurses.

 

Senior Safety and Health Specialist  Maryland Railroad Safety and Health

1980 - 1984

 

Planned, organized and implemented all activities concerning recognition, evaluation and control of railroad safety and health hazards.

Assisted in identifying program priorities, objectives and goals; developed and implemented technical and administrative procedures, policies and guidelines governing the transportation of hazardous material by rail.

Identified primary targeting areas for regulatory activity, and developed methods of recognizing, evaluating and controlling railroad safety and health hazards.

Conducted surveys, investigations and research relative to railroad safety and health hazards as well as encouraging joint labor management efforts to reduce injuries and occupational health problems.

Identified deficiencies in railroad safety and health programs, and recommend alternative solutions to railroad safety and health problems.

 

Senior Safety and Health Consultant  Rockville, Maryland

1979 - 1980

 

Conducted occupational health and safety surveys for private and public sector clients. Evaluated clients' corporate safety and health programs recommending changes, modification and improvements as necessary.

Under subcontract with the US Department of Education prepared performance-based training modules in environmental health. Developed, prepared and presented management training courses in occupational safety and health to corporate clients.

Provided direction and field supervision to junior level safety and health specialists. Directed and conducted occupational safety and health surveys for small businesses in Pennsylvania under contract with the US Department of Labor. Evaluated survey sampling data and recommended possible control technology.

Assisted in the field surveys and sampling for criteria document, Industrial Hygiene Characterization of Petroleum Refineries under contract with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

 

Maryland Occupational Safety and Health  Baltimore, Maryland

1975 - 1979

 

Chief of Measurements and Calibration (1978) developed special programs to assist field industrial hygienists. These programs included implementing a quality control program for the occupational health laboratory, establishing routine sampling and calibration procedures, and developing a special acoustical calibration program for sound measuring equipment. Assisted field industrial hygienist on complex surveys that required sophisticated measurements such as spectrum analysis for noise, or infrared analysis for air contaminants. Designed and implemented a comprehensive training program for new industrial hygienists.

Regional Senior Industrial Hygienist (1976) coordinated, directed and scheduled the activities of a staff of five field industrial hygienists. Reviewed staff technical reports and provided technical and administrative guidance when necessary.

Staff Industrial Hygienist (1974) conducted occupational health surveys of considerable scope and complexity and contributed to the development of various operational policies and administrative procedures relative to program activities.

 

Public Health Specialist  Baltimore County Department of Health  Bureau of Environmental Health

1973 - 1975

 

 

Division of Air Pollution and Industrial Hygiene

1974 - 1975

 

Performed calibration, repair and maintenance of electronic instrumentation used for measuring levels of occupational and environmental air contaminants.

Evaluated data for recognition of hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions.

Recommended, evaluated and tested other sampling devices and controls for effectiveness, reliability and potential application.

 

Division of Health Care Facilities

1973 - 1974

 

Conducted environmental health inspections of acute, general and special hospitals as well as clinical laboratories for compliance with State and County public health and safety regulations and safe use, application, storage and disposal of chemical, biological and radiological agents.

 

Associate Engineer  Professional Electronics  Parkville, Maryland

1973 - 1973

 

Assisted in the design and supervised the construction of high power radio transmitters for the US Weather Service.

Performed construction, repair installation and calibration of electronic radio communications systems. Assisted in bid preparation of government contracts.

Performed technical writing and illustration.

Served as plant safety and health officer. Supervised the safe use, application and storage of hazardous materials.