PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Mr. Pons’ professional career consists of over 16 years of proven Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) management experience.  His effective communication skills, developed over years of construction safety management projects, have given him a keen ability to oversee EH&S activities for large (more than $100 million) civil and public works projects, including Sanitary Sewer Plant/Pumping Station, University/public school, Restaurant, Science/Research Facility, and Sports Center projects.  Prior experience includes 4 years as the Environmental Health and Safety Director at California State University, Long Beach; 4 years as the Safety and Health specialist at the Orange County Sanitation District; and 9 years as the Supervising Industrial Hygienist with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).  Mr. Pons has the knowledge and ability to successfully execute and meet an organization's safety goals while maintaining dedication to their corporate mission.  Examples of his project experience are shown below.

California State University, Long Beach, Environmental Health and Safety Director.  Managed and coordinated the activities and operations of the University’s EH&S department.  The EH&S operating programs include occupational safety, environmental compliance, construction safety management, EH&S education and training, and emergency response.

During these projects, Mr. Pons:

• Provided leadership and guidance on all EH&S activities related to University construction projects (capital and non-capital projects).  This includes specification evaluation, pre-bid drawing evaluation, preconstruction contractor safety orientation, construction phase submittal evaluation, participation in project meetings and acting as the university regulatory agency liaison.
• Formulated, organized, administered, and audited university EH&S policies, programs, and procedures.
• Provided recruiting, training, and development of EH&S staff.
• Served as lead university liaison with governing state and local regulatory agencies.
• Provided continuous consultation to deans, directors, researchers, department chairpersons and administrators to facilitate maintenance of the University’s safety culture and EH&S program compliance.
• Planned, managed and forecasted the EH&S department operating budget.
• Served as designated authority for implementation of the University Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP).
• Represented the department on various campus-wide and system-wide committees as required.
• Completely revised the university’s construction specifications to include all applicable EH&S disciplines involved in construction processes.  This included development of a Job Safety Analysis document for completion by university contractors prior to the project start up.
• Established a model electronic EH&S program survey for use by all California State University (CSU) campuses.  This was the work of a system-wide working group of EH&S directors working in cooperation with the CSU Chancellor’s office.  The team was awarded the 2009 CSU Quality Improvement Award for its efforts.
• Completed development of the university’s Return to Work (RTW) Program.  This was the first campus-based RTW Program to be approved by the CSU Chancellor’s Office.
• Reestablished the University’s Health and Safety Committee.  This included establishing an operating guideline for the committee’s activities.
• Coordinated university efforts to comply with newly established regulatory requirements in the disciplines of sanitary sewer management (SWRCB) and worker protection (Cal-OSHA) related to the Hazard Communication and Aerosol Transmissible Disease standards.

Orange County Sanitation Districts, Safety and Health Specialist.  In this role, Mr. Pons:

• Coordinated, participated and oversaw all activities in support of the District’s Safety and Health (S&H) Division.  The operational programs included Construction Safety, Occupational Safety, Environmental Compliance, Emergency Management and Workers’ Compensation.
• Provided leadership and guidance for all EH&S activities related to OCSD construction projects.  This included in-plant and collection system projects that were managed under public works contracts.
• Developed and implemented S&H policies and programs, integrated them into the organizations business process, managed and planned the departmental budget, coordinated training curricula/instruction and executed program auditing.
• Coordinated the development, implementation and staff training for the OCSD Integrated Emergency Response Program.  This included natural disasters and plant/collection system spill response.
• Participated in developing a pre-award contractor evaluation program for OCSD construction projects.  The program was developed by an inter-departmental working group and consisted of evaluation criteria, including contractor’s historical loss control data, regulatory citation history and Injury and Illness Prevention Program compliance.
• Revised the two highest risk safety programs for the organization, the Hazardous Energy Control, and the Confined Space Entry Programs.
• Led the S&H Division team that completed revision of the OCSD S&H training program.  This included establishing training matrices for all applicable staff, developing/revising training curriculum and effectively implementing the revised program into OCSD’s daily business operations.
• Assisted in the development and implementation of a construction contractor pre-award qualification program.
• Working cooperatively with the Orange County Flood Control District (OCFCD), we created a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that allowed a cooperative response for responding to sanitary sewer releases in the OCFCD storm water receptors.  The team also developed a Request for Proposal (RFP) to retain qualified contractors to assist in these efforts.

Los Angeles Unified School District, Supervising Industrial Hygienist.  In this role, Mr. Pons:

• Managed the LAUSD industrial hygiene (IH)/safety program.  This incorporated over 1000 facilities over a service area in excess of 500 square miles.
• Primary focus was to develop and maintain IH/safety programs, facilitate effective IH safety program implementation with all operating entities and mitigate organizational risk related to EH&S compliance.
• Recruited, supervised, mentored, and evaluated a staff of 22 supervisory and professional personnel.
• Conducted presentations to the LAUSD Board of Education and participated in public meetings with community, faculty, and parent groups.
• Technical advisor on internal working groups in the disciplines of asbestos, lead, and pest management and workers’ compensation.
• Participation in two nationally recognized school safety programs:  (1) the US EPA Tools for Schools (TFS) Indoor Air Quality Program; and (2) the California Department of Public Health Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch (CLPPB).
• Developed the original LAUSD construction specifications for hazardous materials remediation and disposal processes, coordinated organizational implementation with the Construction and Facilities Management Departments, conducted field audits to ensure contractor compliance and coordinated activities with the LAUSD Owner Controlled Insurance Program (OCIP) consultant.
• Original member of the LAUSD team that developed the new school site evaluation program in cooperation with the California Department of Toxic Substances Control.  This program is currently active and viable.