September 4, 2013 -- HalenHardy LLC is pleased to announce the addition of Bob Glenn as Chief Scientist. Bob is one of the world’s leading experts on occupational lung diseases and the health effects of mineral dust exposures, and was largely responsible for developing and helping guide the silica mining industry’s successful Silicosis Prevention Program (SPP). Bob’s professional career includes:
- President and Chief Executive Officer of the Industrial Minerals Association (IMA-NA), a trade association representing the interests of the industrial minerals industry, and the National Industrial Sand Association (NISA) for over 15 years.
- Commissioned Officer in the U.S. Public Health Service where he served as Director of the Division of Respiratory Disease Studies of NIOSH. In this capacity, he directed a staff of more than 170 physicians, epidemiologists, industrial hygienists, and biological scientists conducting occupational lung disease research.
- Over 41 years of experience in conducting and directing research of the dust diseases of the lung; in designing and implementing occupational health programs for silicosis prevention; and in the recognition, evaluation and control of pneumoconiosis.
- Adviser to the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization on occupational lung diseases and silicosis prevention.
- Professional training in the field of industrial hygiene and a Certified Industrial Hygienist; B.S. from Clemson University and a Masters in Public Health from the University of Minnesota.
Bob will direct HalenHardy’s Silicosis Prevention Program (SPP) consulting practice. The HalenHardy SPP contains six (6) specific steps, which, if properly executed, can effectively result in the management of worker exposure to silica dust and the prevention of silicosis. The HalenHardy SPP includes the following elements:
1) Inspire management commitment to implementation – Without management’s pledge, a SPP won’t succeed.
2) Engender employee involvement – A workforce fully engaged in health and safety management is an essential part of any successful health and safety program.
3) Implement a comprehensive Occupational Health Program (OHP) – Necessary for the prevention of silicosis.
4) Incorporate medical surveillance – To identify cases of silicosis early enough to prevent complicated lung disease from developing.
5) Employ dust exposure assessment – Dust sampling to characterize the environment in the breathing zone of individual workers, in order to evaluate their work exposures and identify sources in need of control measures.
6) Evaluate dust control practices – Includes appraisal of personal protective, clothes cleaning and hygiene processes, assessment of administrative controls and evaluation of current and proposed engineering controls.
Under Bob’s guidance, HalenHardy will now offer a comprehensive SPP for the oil and natural gas industry. “As we learned in the silica mining industry over the last several decades, the elimination of silicosis requires a commitment of industry, a proven prevention strategy, and implementation of a comprehensive program with all elements focused on the objective.” notes Glenn.
“With recent advances in the oil and gas industry requiring large tonnage and rapid movement of silica sand, these prevention programs will be required if we are to prevent unnecessary cases of silicosis from occurring. While engineering controls are our first line of defense, they will need to be augmented by effective worker personal protection, clothes cleaning and hygiene practices. Our focus will be on developing worker health and hygiene programs to keep up with changes in the industry and to assist the industry in complying with the pending OSHA silica standard.”
Glenn concludes, “Like the silica mining industry, worker protection in the oil and natural gas industry will require a constant, vigilant effort on the part of many people. I am excited to join the HalenHardy team to help the industry achieve this goal.”
Donny Beaver, HalenHardy co-Founder and CEO added, “The addition of Bob gives us unique qualifications and experience to help our clients in the oil and natural gas exploration and production industry create effective health and hygiene programs to protect workers exposed to respirable silica dust. We are honored to have Bob on the team.”
HalenHardy LLC was formed in January 2013 to focus on health and hygiene products and services relating to worker exposure to respirable crystalline silica in the oil and natural gas industry and its supply chains. HalenHardy has two main divisions:
- The Products Division launched MASHH (the Mobile Air Shower by HalenHardy) in late August 2013 to reduce worker exposure to respirable silica by removing dust from worker clothing in less than 30 seconds per employee. The MASHH Mobile Air Shower will be featured as one of the finalists in the Marcellus Shale Coalition/Shale Gas Innovation & Commercialization Center Technology Showcase at the Shale Insight Conference on September 24, 2013.
- Bob Glenn will direct the HalenHardy Silicosis Prevention Program consulting practice, providing silicosis prevention solutions for the oil and natural gas industry.
For more information contact Donny Beaver at DBeaver@HalenHardy.com