News

High-tech science combats environmental hazards

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Moody
  • 446th Airlift Wing, Public Affairs
MCCHORD FIELD, Wash. --  Those who have heard of bioenvironmental engineers may know it is a unique job - one that goes far beyond fit-testing gas masks.

A typical day can include water and air sampling, noise and radiation analysis, ventilation air flow measurements, respiratory protection, and yes - gas mask fit-tests.

For Maj. Mark Monsrud, 446th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, bioenvironmental engineering element chief, helping ensure safety on McChord Field is his unit's mission.

"We have three basic areas of expertise: industrial hygiene, environmental compliance, and medical readiness for deployment," said Major Monsrud. "The end goal is to protect (Airmen) from exposure to hazards in the workplace, like harmful chemicals, radiation, excessive noise, heat stress, or contaminated water," said Major Monsrud, a Boeing flight operations engineer and flight instructor in his civilian job.

Bioenvironmental engineering blends engineering and preventive medicine to evaluate environments possibly harmful to Airmen, employees, and families. The results help design measures preventing illness and injury.

"Our overall mission is to make sure our personnel are safe, healthy and fit to fight," said Capt. John Lever, 446th AMDS bioenvironmental engineer, who is also a Boeing F-22 Raptor systems engineer as a civilian.

Each month, bioenvironmental engineers monitor the status of occupational health programs around the wing, ensuring control measures are adequate to protect the workforce from hazards. When conducting shop evaluations, they may collect samples for analysis. In doing so, the bioenvironmental engineers ensure that Air Force activities remain in compliance with existing local, state and federal regulations, such as those set by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Bioenvironmental engineers also do health risk assessments and recommend steps to correct deficiencies.

"We have an active role on the base to bring preventative medicine out to the wing," said Major Monsrud. "Working with all the people and using hi-tech equipment in different industrial work centers is one of the best parts of the job."