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Focus on Industrial Hygiene

| By Chemical Engineering

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These absorbent products help ensure workplace safety

Kafko International

Kafko International

The eco-friendly Oil Eater Naturals line of absorbent pads, rolls and socks (photo) is available to help facility personnel respond to spills and leaks in the workplace — anywhere drips or spills can cause slippery conditions. The product line is made from natural plant byproducts and has woven construction. Oil-Only pads and rolls soak up oil and repel water. Universal Pads and Rolls soak up oil, water and other liquids. Absorbent socks are available to contain larger spills and protect drains. All come in various weights, finishes and sizes. — Kafko International, Skokie, Ill.

www.oileater.com

 

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Featured Conference

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November 9-11, 2026 Irving Convention Center | Dallas, TX
Explore this topic and more — live at Clean Americas. Join environmental, health, safety, and emergency response professionals tackling the industry's most urgent hazards. View Conference Program
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Session Briefing 1 / 6

When a major incident strikes, the people stepping into Incident Command aren't always the ones who trained for it. Engineers, operators, trades supervisors, and compliance specialists may suddenly find themselves filling Command and General Staff roles — not because they volunteered, but because the situation demands it. Panelists will share practical strategies for leading without positional authority, tools and frameworks that help personnel rapidly orient to ICS roles, and approaches for closing the gap between day-to-day job functions and emergency command readiness before the next incident makes it urgent.

Speaking
  • Scott Andrews (Trans Mountain Canada Inc., Manager Emergency Management)
  • Autumn Albright (Marathon Petroleum Company, MPLX Compliance Specialist)
  • Kelly Codlin , MSPH, CIH (Marathon Petroleum Company, Emergency Preparedness Director)
  • Nick Hickson (Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), Hazmat Training Manager)
  • Josh Dubach MSc, CEM (Onterris, Senior Response Management Consultant)

This session will examine produced water as the largest waste stream in the oil and gas industry and one of its most pressing emerging challenges. It will address the growing volumes of produced water, the increasing regulatory and public scrutiny of constituents such as PFAS, salts, and Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM), and the operational implications for management, treatment, reuse, and disposal. The discussion will also explore how operators, regulators, and communities are redefining approaches to produced water management in response to environmental, technical, and stakeholder pressures.

Speaking
  • Steve Pepper, Ph.D., (Onterris, Director of Response Management)
  • Charles Maguire (Railroad Commission of Texas, Advisor, Oil and Gas Division)
  • Prof. Shane Walker Ph.D. (Texas Produced Water Consortium, Director)
  • Ray Cheatham (Onterris, Energy Sector Leader)

This session will present a detailed case study of a large-scale lithium-ion battery fire response that extended over 12 months. Attendees will explore the hazards associated with thermal runaway events, the operational challenges of suppressing lithium battery fires, and the response strategies that proved effective in this prolonged incident. The


Drawing on insights from U.S. EPA Region 9 wildfire response efforts, the session will also highlight tactics such as hazard characterization, air monitoring and evaluation, and household hazardous waste collection and disposal. Participants will leave with a stronger understanding of the complexities involved in large-scale battery fire incidents and the critical factors to consider when planning and executing an effective response.

Speaking
  • Robert W. May PG (Clean Harbors, Senior Vice President, Branch Services and Sales)
  • Crosley Welch (Missouri Department of Natural Resources, State On-Scene Coordinator)
  • Samuel Cheek , CSP, RRPT (U.S. EPA, Region 6, Federal On-Scene Coordinator)
  • Christopher Myers (U.S. EPA, Region 9, Federal On-Scene Coordinator)

This session introduces use of remote sensing technologies to detect, characterize and monitor spills across marine and coastal environments. Discussion will highlight how tools can integrate into modern spill response workflows to improve safety and support data-driven decision making.

Speaking
  • James Hanzalik (Clean Gulf Associates, Vice-President)
  • Gordon Staples (MDA Space Ltd., Senior Radar Applications Scientist)
  • Grant Coolbaugh (Applied Research Associates / Ohmsett, Mechanical Engineer)
Speaking
  • Allyson Purcell MEP, CEM (ConocoPhillips, CMER Director)
  • Michael Delio (Maxum Petroleum, EHS & SECURITY MGR)
  • Travis Hallam (Three Affiliated Tribes Pipeline Authority, Director)

This session provides a practical, ground‑level introduction to the essential steps required after a battery undergoes a thermal event. We’ll break down how to assess site conditions, stabilize and prepare damaged cells or packs, select appropriate containment and packaging methods, and navigate the regulatory landscape that governs transport and disposal. The lecture emphasizes real‑world decision‑making, safety considerations, and compliance requirements, giving participants a clear framework they can apply immediately in field operations or emergency response planning.

Speaking
  • Mark Steadman (The Battery Network, Program Manager)
  • Dalan Zartman (Energy Security Agency, CEO)