GREENVILLE, Pa.—Thiel College served as the host site for the American Society of Safety Professionals March Technical Meeting on Tuesday evening, welcoming regional safety professionals, faculty, and students to campus for a discussion on hazardous waste operations and emergency response safety.
The event featured Melissa A. Heike, senior consultant with RJR Safety Inc., who delivered a presentation titled “HAZWOPER Overview.” Heike, a former Thiel College faculty member, is a nationally recognized Certified Safety Professional with more than 35 years of experience in occupational safety and health.
Her presentation provided an overview of HAZWOPER, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response standard. The regulations establish requirements designed to protect workers involved in hazardous waste cleanup, treatment, storage, disposal, and emergency response activities.
The meeting was attended by Thiel College Environmental Safety Management majors and faculty members from the department, providing students with an opportunity to engage directly with a seasoned safety professional and learn about industry standards and regulatory practices.
In addition to her consulting work, Heike serves as an adjunct instructor with the West Virginia University OSHA Training Institute Education Center. She holds a Master of Science in Safety Sciences from Indiana State University and is a professional member of ASSP.
Hosting professional association meetings on campus supports Thiel College’s commitment to experiential learning and strengthens connections between students, faculty, and industry leaders in the environmental health and safety field.
About Thiel College
Thiel College is an independent college founded in the Lutheran tradition. Located in Greenville, Pa., the College offers 60 majors and minors, 24 varsity sports, and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The College is also home to a new Master of Science in speech-language pathology and 2Master of Business Administration. Both master’s degree programs offer innovative and accelerated five-year paths which allow students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. The speech-language pathology program also has an accelerated 15-month graduate-level program. The M.B.A. program also has a 12-month post-graduate program.A dedicated faculty paired with dynamic research and internship opportunities produce numerous graduate school and job placements. Coeducational from its beginnings, the College remains committed to combining tradition with innovation as it celebrates 150 years.