American Board of Industrial Hygiene, Diplomat
American Industrial Hygiene Association, Local and National Member
TECHNICAL SPECIALTIES
Mr. Neill has 15 years of experience encompassing:
Building Microbiological Investigations and Remediation Plan Development
Indoor Air Quality Survey Assessments, Planned Program Development and Remediation
Industrial Hygiene Program Development and Implementation, and Audits
Response to Catastrophic Events such as Building Fires, Sewage Releases, Floods, and Building Evacuations
Environmentally Related Infection Control Investigations and Cancer/Illness Cluster Investigations
REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE
Key Projects by Specialty
Building Microbiological and Moisture Investigations and Remediation Plan Development
Microbiological Investigation and Remediation, Nazareth Area School District, Nazareth, PA
Responsible for developing a sampling plan and coordinating the efforts of industrial hygienists in the inspections of the high school and middle school for microbiological amplification and identification of major moisture sources. Developed a remediation specification, held contractor walkthroughs, qualified a contractor and acted as project manager for the district during the remediation. Facilitated an indoor air quality task force made-up of parents, teachers, administrators and various union representatives. Coordinated with an occupational health physician to investigate occupant complaints of building related disease and the districts architect and engineer for moisture issue resolution. The project was unique as it involved Stachybotrys chartarum and crawl space, ground water and roof moisture issues, HVAC contamination and several public meetings. After the remediation, several follow-up samplings were performed.
Microbiological Investigation and Remediation, Confidential School Client, Philadelphia Region
Responsible for coordinating industrial hygienists and engineers during the investigation for cause of a catastrophic mold amplification affecting 50 classrooms in an elementary school over a long summer holiday weekend. The engineers investigated the cause and origin of the mold "bloom" and the industrial hygienist characterized the extent of the microbiological amplification. Developed remediation specifications, qualified contractors and acted as project manager for the district. Interacted with occupational health physicians to identify or rule out potential building related disease. Attended several public meetings for presentation of data and findings. A subsequent engineering design project was completed to address the cause of the elevated indoor relative humidity that led to the mold amplification.
Indoor Air Quality Survey Assessments, Planned Program Development and Remediation
Proactive Indoor Air Quality Survey Program, Bangor Area School District, Bangor PA. Provided technical guidance in the development and implementation of a proactive indoor air quality survey for 5 school buildings. Data was collected both in the morning and afternoon to identify the effect of student and staff loading on the building systems. IAQMS® data management system was used to evaluate the data and establish a benchmark against published criteria. The survey was successful in identifying deficiencies in HVAC operations and maintenance, as well as, occupant practices that negatively impacted the IAQ. Since the survey, the Bangor Area School District has modified maintenance procedures and performed cleanings of air-handling units and unit ventilators.
Indoor Air Quality During Construction and Duct Cleaning, Capital School District, Dover, DE. Developed specifications for the maintenance of indoor air quality during the renovation of the Dover High School while the building was partially occupied and the cleaning of ductwork that had microbiological contamination. The specifications for IAQ maintenance were for demolition, roofing work, construction and finish work performed in phases as the building was occupied. Duct cleaning specifications were developed for the cleaning and sanitizing of non-porous ductwork. Supervised on site personnel who enforced specifications and performed clearance sampling to determine that ductwork was cleaned properly.
Investigative Indoor Air Quality Survey, OSHA Complaint, Mobil Oil Corporation, Malvern, PA. Addressed the concerns of office staff with regards to aggravation of allergies, which they felt were possibly due to recent construction activities. Reviewed the operations and maintenance of the HVAC systems. Managed the sampling activities and provided the level of expertise needed to address the concerns of employees and those of OSHA.
Industrial Hygiene Program Development and Implementation
Hospital OSHA Compliance Program, Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown, PA.
Responsible for providing ongoing comprehensive industrial hygiene services throughout a major hospital corporation with 5,000 employees. Services include monitoring for formaldehyde in the morgue operating rooms and various labs, organics in a variety of labs, ethylene oxide and glutaraldehyde sterilants, anesthetic gas, and noise, in addition to conducting waste inventories and waste water monitoring and ventilation surveys of isolation rooms, general HVAC systems, and laboratory hoods. These services assist the client in complying with OSHA, EPA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regulations.
Response to OSHA Inspections, Confidential Healthcare Clients, Philadelphia Region, PA Responsible for coordinating a team of industrial hygienists during sampling surveys to address employee health concerns in a hospital's clinical laboratory. Assisted the hospital in daily employee update meetings on the findings. Developed and implemented a sampling approach to evaluate the potential back venting of gases/vapors from the sinks. The survey provided the documentation needed by the hospital to satisfy OSHA. In response to an OSHA citation, conducted an ethylene oxide sampling survey in the SPD Department as required by the OSHA standard. Work included evaluating ventilation controls and calculations to determine a catastrophic release of ethylene oxide. The calculations and sampling data provided to the hospital caused OSHA to drop the citation.
Policy, Program and Training Development, Smithkline Beecham, Conshohoken, PA. Assisted in the development of policies and written programs with training materials for: Respiratory Protection, Personal Protective Equipment, Indoor Air Quality and Hearing Conservation. These documents were developed to provide consistent information across all operating units from a compliance standpoint
Response to Catastrophic Events such as Building Fires, Sewage Releases, Floods and Building Evacuations
Response to 26 out of 30 Students with Rashes, Wilson Area School District, Easton, PA. Conducted staff and administration interviews and assisted in developing a review form for the students to identify the etiology and cause of the rashes in the students that occurred in defined period in one section of a seventh grade class. Performed dust characterization sampling and identified that elevated levels of fiberglass were the cause of the rashes and pin pointed the source, which was found in the Art Room. Provided recommendations for remediation including; wet wiping and HEPA vacuuming. There were no other reported cases of the rashes after the remediation efforts.
Immediate Response to Evacuation of One Floor of Insurance Office, Confidential Client Philadelphia, PA Region Responsible for developing an immediate response to address the evacuation of one floor of an insurance office building due to occupants experiencing severe eye and upper respiratory irritations. Building manager assigned complete responsibility to Galson. Performed occupant interviews, HVAC inspections and developed a sampling plan to identify the cause. Sampling, interviews and report presentation satisfied the occupants who returned to the building with no further incidents. Suspect cause was the accidental release of "pepper spray".
Discharge of Raw Sewage into a Elementary School Crawlspace, Confidential School Client, Philadelphia, PA region.
Assisted in the emergency response activities to asses the area of contamination, contacted local and state agencies, developed remediation specifications, contacted three experience contractors, reviewed bids, managed abatement of 45 cubic yards of sewage contaminated soil, and conduct clearance sampling. The project was a success in that mitigation had to be accomplished between December 26, 1997 and January 2, 1998.
Infection Control Investigations
Legionella Outbreak Investigation and Control Program, Confidential Hospital Clients, East Coast and Mid-West, USA
Responsible for developing a Legionella bacteria control program for a hospital's domestic hot and cold water systems and cooling towers. In developing the program, operations and maintenance of the domestic hot and cold water systems and cooling towers were reviewed. The program included preventive maintenance procedures, guidelines for decontamination and suggested water sampling locations. The main purpose of the control program was to limit conditions that promote amplification of Legionella bacteria and if needed, guidance was provided to decontaminate the water systems.
Responsible for developing and implementing a sampling approach to identify environmental sources of Legionella bacteria in response to four cases suspect of nosocomial Legionnaires Disease. Sampling identified the presence and suspect sources of the Legionella bacteria which was latter sub-typed to match patient specimens. Decontamination recommendations were provided as an interim measure as the hospital investigated permanent engineering solutions.
Aspergillosis Outbreak Investigation, Confidential Hospital Clients, East Coast and Mid-West, USA
Responsible for coordinating a team of industrial hygienists and engineers, and developing and implementing an approach to evaluate for airborne and surface Aspergillus species in Bone Marrow and Burn, Oncology Units and in their associated HVAC systems in response to confirmed nosocomial cases of Aspergillosis infection. The investigations included sampling for airborne and surface microbiological contamination, airborne particle sizing, HVAC maintenance and operations evaluations, room pressure relationship determinations, and a review of construction activities. The surveys identified potential sources of contamination and provided recommendations for cleaning of HVAC systems, patient rooms, and to control dusts generated during construction activities
Tuberculosis Engineering Controls Evaluations, Confidential Healthcare Clients, Philadelphia Region
As Project Manager, responsible for coordinating a team of industrial hygienists and professional engineers during a phased approach to identify deficiencies associated with the supply and exhaust air systems. Developed temporary ventilation controls to minimize infectious droplet nuclei while permanent controls were being designed and implemented. The project was unique because it involved multidrug-resistant TB, heat recovery systems, ongoing renovations, and inadequate as-built drawings.
Selected Presentations and Publications
Favata, Elissa Ann, Neill, Harry M., Yang, Chin S., Chapter 38 Emerging Microbial Diseases of the Indoor Environment, pp 697-716, Occupational and Environmental Infectious Diseases, Edited By Alain J. Couturier, MD, OEM Press Copyright 2000.
Neill, Harry M., 1997. "Is Your Hospital Making Patients Sick? Pay Now-or Later!" Proceedings from the American Society for Healthcare Engineering of the American Hospital Association, 34th Annual Conference and Technical Exhibition, San Antonio, TX, July 1997.
Bruun, Daniel M.and Neill, Harry M.1995. Poster session 334, "Case Studies of Biological Contamination Three Schools: Investigative Approach, Engineering Aspects, and Remediation", American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exhibition, Kansas City, Missouri, May 1995.
Neill, Harry M. and Guisbond, Jon M., 1995. "An Investigation to Identify Sources and Conditions that Promote Aspergillus Amplification in Hospitals" Proceedings from the American Society for Hospital Engineering of the American Hospital Association, Annual Conference and Technical Exhibition, June 1995.
Neill, Harry M., 1994. "Engineering Controls to Prevent TB Transmission." North and South New Jersey Chapters, American Practitioners for Infection Control, Advanced Practitioners Course, April 1994.
Neill, Harry M., 1994. "Industrial Hygiene Hazard Assessments." Proceedings from the American Hospital Association's Fourth National Symposium on Health Care Safety and the Environment, February 1994.
Neill, Harry M., 1993. "Ventilation Systems and TB Prevention." American Society of Hospital Engineering, Health Facilities '93, 30th Annual Conference and Technical Exhibition, June 1993.
Neill, Harry M., 1993. "Environmental Management of Tuberculosis-Ventilation Issues." Live teleconference sponsored by the American Hospital Association, June 1993.
Neill, Harry M., 1993. "Environmental Control/Ventilation." The Hospital Association of Pennsylvania, Spring Symposium, presented in Pittsburgh and Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
Neill, Harry M., 1993. "Evaluation of Isolation Room Ventilation-Recommended Guidelines." Proceedings from the American Hospital Association Third National Symposium on Health Care, Safety, and the Environment, February 1993.
Neill, Harry M., 1992. "Isolation Room Ventilation Critical to Control Disease." Health Facilities Management Magazine, Vol. 5, No. 9, September 1992.
Neill, Harry M., 1992. "Roundtable on TB and Its Impact on Healthcare Facility Design." American Institute of Architects Healthcare Committee, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Neill, Harry M. and Schneider, Christian M., 1990. "Addressing Indoor Air Quality Concerns from the Consultants', Managers, and the Employees' Perspective," Presented at the Hazardous Materials Conference, 1990.