Teresa Richardson

Accomplished Health, Safety and Environmental professional with a proven track record of transforming workplace safety cultures by promoting management systems that provide governance, frameworks and resources to foster a commitment to protect people, property and the environment.

• Implemented and administered various HSE programs which ensured regulatory compliance, including but not limited to: Chemical Hygiene Plan, Hearing Conservation Program, Emergency Action Plan, Respiratory Protection, Medical and First Aid, Confined Spaces, Bloodborne Pathogens, Lockout/Tagout, Biosafety Program and Potent Compound Handling.
• Developed and delivered a broad range of HSE training programs to educate employees and enhance awareness on safety. Programs include regulation specific, corporate best management practice and new hire safety orientation.
• Integrated HSE processes into key pharmaceutical, textile, electronic, biological, agricultural, distribution business operations to obtain sustainable compliance. Areas include: greenhouse, plant cell biology, virology, laboratories, facility maintenance, warehousing, full line pharmaceutical, textile and tool manufacturing, and electronic systems lines.
• Provided HSE guidance for start-up of manufacturing, pilot plant, laboratory and greenhouse businesses to ensure regulatory compliance prior to and during permanent operations.
• Oversaw HSE activities for decommissioning of manufacturing operations to include: chemical and hazardous waste removal, wastewater treatment facility shutdown, state and town permit modifications and rescinds, sampling and testing, area decontamination and equipment removal.
• Managed the Permit to Work program by ensuring all high hazard jobs and work activities is done safely through a formal controlled documented process which include: hazard identification, risk assessment and mitigation of isolation management.
• Drove improvements for Fire Life Safety Systems through enhanced employee training and certification, improved preventative maintenance programs, and fire system upgrades.

• Investigated injuries, accidents, near misses, safety incidents and complaints. Provided recommendations to educate employees and put measures in place to prevent recurrence.
• Facilitated Root Cause Analysis and Excellence Deviation Management practices to deliver robust investigations based on the real root cause and output strong corrective and preventive actions.
• Conducted HSE inspections and audits to evaluate program effectiveness and ensure regulatory compliance. Developed reports and presented recommendations to all levels of management.
• Cohesive management with Contractors to oversee safety programs that protect the welfare of contract employees through safe work environments, identifying job risks, and reviewing safe systems of work while controlling project timelines and cost.
• Generated innovative HSE marketing strategies and communications to promote positive employee engagement and a proactive safety culture; information was accessible via internal intranet and webpage, direct and email campaigns, HSE awareness sessions, multimedia and site events.
• Coordinated OSHA lead consultation audit to obtain Voluntary Protection Program certification which helped sustain a business partnership with OSHA.
• Obtained site radiation license, authored radiation manual, and performed monitoring. Licensed allowed research activities to expand into a new business capability and increase revenue by 35%.
• Created Biosafety Program by applying a combination of: laboratory practices and procedures, laboratory facilities renovation, PPE, medical surveillance, risk assessments and safety equipment to protect employees from exposures of potentially level 1-3 biohazard materials.
• Established hazardous waste programs for Small and Large Quantity Generators by: implementing disposal procedures, identifying satellite areas, inspection policies, employees training, manifest tracking, waste categorization, waste minimization protocols, and contingency planning.
• Supervised the wastewater, air and groundwater permit requirements to include: sample preparation, sampling, equipment monitoring, test results review, annual report preparations, employee education and investigation of permit deficiencies.
• Acted as site Incident Commander by providing leadership and direction to maintain safe operations during emergency incidents. Prepared emergency response plans for site personnel and partnered with local emergencies services to ensure efficient response.
• Organized Medical Surveillance programs for employees to monitor exposures and ensure employee protection is effective from respiratory and biological hazards, OSHA regulated chemicals and potent compounds.
• Oversaw and assisted with the industrial hygiene monitoring to evaluate exposure levels. Proposed corrective actions for administrative and engineering controls to the management team.
• Partnered with Human Resources to administer the Workers Compensation Program to ensure injured employees on the job receive compensation for lost wages, medical care and rehabilitation.

• Authored EHS Manuals to provide documented processes and procedures for site the environment, safety and health management systems to reduce the exposure to hazards, reduce accidents and injuries, provide guidance and organize performance driven focus on EHS.
• Supervised and support the Occupational Health Department toward the goal of observing, assessing and treating employees health and wellness in regards to job task and hazards. Maximize their specialized experience to recognize and prevent health effects from hazardous exposures and treat employees injuries and illness.
• Drive and sustain the Behavior Based Safety Program to prevent injuries and hazardous conditions by increasing safety awareness through positive employee-to-employee verbal discussions. Design the program to promote safe behavior as part of the everyday work culture and accountability to reduce accidents.
• Championed the Zero Accident Program to drive closures through facilities maintenance work orders and project engineering management facilitation.

• Member of the Senior Management Team where I provided key contributions of HSE activities, promoted HSE initiatives and gained support for driving a sustainable health, safety and environmental programs.
• Directed and led HSE Teams including Risk Assessment, Safety and Biosafety Committees, Lab Safety Committee, Emergency Response Team, Spill Response, Inspection Team; recruit team members, establishing team direction and create action plans.
• Manage HSE staff by creating business models, establishing team goals and objectives. Assign staff job functions based on candidate qualifications, core skill competences and cross training capabilities.
• Perform management tasks such as performance reviews and creating performance improvement plans, conflict resolution, career development and promotion plans.
• Appointed High Performance Change Ambassador to coach and mentor employees through various initiatives which included management re-organizations, site relocation and consolidation, change of business objectives and corporate branding.
  

• OSHA #500 Trainer Course in Occupational Safety & Health Standards for the Construction Industry
• OSHA #510 Occupational Safety & Health Standards for the Construction Industry
• OSHA #511 OSHA Standards for General Industry
• 30-Hour OSHA Certification
• Construction Manager of Environmental, Safety and Health (C-MESH) Certificate
• Licensed Coaching Clinic Facilitator by Corporate Coach U
• Certified Instructor, Facilitator and Virtual Trainer by Langevin Learning Services
• Root Cause Analysis Certification
• Excellence Deviation Management
• Toastmasters Competent Communicator