Nick Vent, Supervisor, San Diego County Hazardous Incident Response Team and John Johnson, of Thermo Scientific Portable Optical Analyzers, Escondido Bomb Factory Response, The Detonator January/February 2012, p. 29-33
Memberships to Organizations while with County of San Diego:
Member, Policy and Operations Committee San Diego Operational Area Hazardous Incident Response Team (HIRT)
Member, Exercise Design and Training Committee Metropolitan Medical Strike Team – San Diego Operational Area
Member, Steering and Operations Committee Metropolitan Medical Strike Team – San Diego Operational Area
Member, Steering committee for the San Diego County Community Awareness and Emergency Response (CAER) group
Member, Conference design committee (1996 & 2004) for the San Diego County Community Awareness and Emergency Response (CAER) group
Member, San Diego Operational Area Terrorism Early Warning Group
Educational Background:
Associate of Science degree – 1974 Major: Chemistry Mesa Junior College San Diego CA. 92123
Bachelor of Science degree - 1989
Major: Occupational Health and Safety National University San Diego CA.
Special Positions / Team Positions while with County of San Diego
Operations Chief and Training Officer for Team one of the San Diego Operational Area Metropolitan Medical Strike Team (MMST)
Safety Officer – California FEMA DMAT CA-4 (Currently in same position)
Supervisor - San Diego County’s Hazardous Incident Response Team
Training officer – San Diego County’s Hazardous Incident Response Team and for the Department of Environmental Health
Evidence Custodian for the Department of Environmental Health Department
Operations section member during activation(s) of County’s Emergency Operations Center
1)Clarkson Laboratory and Supply Inc. October 1974 to February 1984. 350 Trousdale Dr. Chula Vista, California 91910
Positions Held: Chemist and Laboratory Manager. Responsibility:
Quality Assurance and Quality Control of all samples received by the laboratory for analysis.
As Laboratory Manager trained and familiarized the full and part time staff at the facility with and all analytical procedures to be performed.
Samples included Water, Soil, Air, Ore, and food.
Oversight of lab safety program
Coordinated sales of exotic laboratory glassware and chemicals
2)Cleaning Dynamics Corporation February 1984 to September 1985 2146 Main Street
San Diego CA. 92101
Position Held: Manager of Health and Safety.
Responsibility:
Assuring the company was in compliance with Federal and State environmental and health and safety regulations.
Instrumental in the Design and startup of one of San Diego Counties first offsite permitted Treatment Storage and Disposal Facilities (TSDF)
Met with regulatory agencies on a regular basis, and to perform compliance inspections of the facility prior to and during governmental audits.
Designed facilities first Safety Incentive and compliance program, which resulted in over $100,000 of savings in the first year.
Performed accident investigations
Performed Job Hazard Analysis and wrote Standard Operating Procedures for the various cleaning procedures used by the company which included;
- Hydroblasting - Acid and Caustic cleaning of boilers - Degreasing operations
Lead instructor for the waterfront based company and taught:
- Respiratory protection, - Hazard Communications, - How to comply with hazardous waste disposal issues - Driver safety for the fleet of 18 vacuum trucks operated
3)Pacific Treatment Corporation, September 1985 to August 1986 2190 Main Street San Diego CA. 92101
Positions Held: Facility Manager for the EPA permitted Treatment Storage and Disposal Facility, Chemist, Emergency Response Supervisor, and Training Instructor.
Responsibility:
Assuring the company was in compliance with Federal and State environmental and health and safety regulations.
Instrumental in converting the facility from a part A to a part B permitted Treatment Storage and Disposal Facilities (TSDF)
Met with regulatory agencies on a regular basis,
Performed compliance inspections of the facility prior to and during governmental audits.
Primary point of contact for all waste shipments delivered to the facility by offsite companies.
Operations and safety officer involved in accident investigations
Performed Job Hazard Analysis and wrote Standard Operating Procedures for the various waste treatment procedures used by the company
Lead instructor for the TSDF and taught:
- Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response classes in compliance with 29CFR 1910.120. - Respiratory protection, - Hazard Communications, - How to comply with hazardous waste disposal issues - Driver safety for the fleet of 18 vacuum trucks operated
2)IT Corporation August 1986 to October 1986 Sim J. Harris Road San Diego CA,
Positions Held: Sales Manager for the Hazardous Waste Facility and member of the emergency response team.
Responsibility: Large client sales relations and assisted on response teams when additional staffing was required.
3)County of San Diego October 1986 to March 2014 Department of Environmental Health Hazardous Materials Division. 5500 Overland Ave. San Diego, CA. 92123
Positions Held: Supervising Environmental Health Specialist
RETIRED: March 20, 2014 Responsibility:
Supervisor, San Diego County’s Hazardous Incident Response Team (HIRT).
Training officer for San Diego County’s Hazardous Incident Response Team (HIRT).
HMD’s Safety officer
Member of DEH’s Safety and Accident review committee
Disaster preparedness coordinator for the Department of Environmental Health
Member of Operations and Technical Reference section in the County’s Emergency Operations Center during major events that require the opening of the center
Responded to or coordinated over 10000 responses in San Diego since 1986
Including 500 plus Biological terrorism responses
30 Radiological responses
Provide accident causation investigation services as part of the HIRT team during incidents