EDUCATION
1985, M.S. University of Massachusetts School of Public Health - Environmental Health
1983, B.A. Saint Anselm College, Biology
SUMMARY OF EXPERIENCE
As Director of Field and Laboratory Services, Ms. O'Brien manages OS&E's Sensory Laboratory and manages a variety of projects involving odor measurement, identification and control. She directs many project activities including field sampling programs, odor panel evaluations, and atmospheric dispersion modeling analyses utilizing a specially designed "puff" odor model. She has also directed numerous training programs for client personnel and regulatory officials in odor investigation and monitoring procedures. Ms. O'Brien currently serves as chairman of the Air & Waste Management Association’s Odor Committee. She is also Chairman of the committee on International Standardization of Odor Sampling and Measurement Techniques.
Before forming OS&E in 1987, Ms. O'Brien was an Associate Scientist with TRC-Environmental Consultants. In that position, Ms. O'Brien participated in odor investigations and odor abatement studies for most major industries including: chemical plants, food processing plants, automotive manufacturing firms, wastewater treatment plants, composting facilities, landfills, rendering operations, petroleum refineries and resource recovery plants. Ms. O'Brien's experience also includes various projects investigating the health and safety aspects of industrial settings and the indoor air quality of commercial and residential buildings.
Ms. O'Brien's previous experience includes a position with W. R. Grace & Co. which involved responsibilities for conducting industrial hygiene surveys sampling for dusts and vapors, noise monitoring, respirator training and fit testing, and safety inspections. She was also responsible for statistical handling of hygiene data and for recommending control strategies to abate workplace hazards.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
American Industrial Hygiene Association
Air & Waste Management Association (AWMA)
AWMA EE-6 Odor Committee (Chairman)
AWMA EE-6 Odor Committee Sub Committee on the Standardization of Odor Measurement (Chairman)
PUBLICATIONS
Ms. O'Brien has authored more than 20 publications dealing with odor sampling, odor measurement, odor modeling and odor pollution control techniques.
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