Staff

Barb O’Kane

Director for Environmental Health and Safety
Education: B.S. Botany, M.S. Industrial Hygiene, Colorado State University
Office: Carpenter Shop
(303) 384-2561 (Office), (303) 550-7837 (Cell), bokane@mines.edu

Read more about Barb

I joined Colorado School of Mines in the fall of 2013. I have 20 years of Environmental Health & Safety experience. Before joining Mines, I was the Health and Safety Manager and Laser Safety Officer for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden. Previously, I held similar positions with Eastman Kodak Company and COBE Cardiovascular. The EHS Department’s current focus is on increasing EHS training offerings to the campus and helping evaluate and control risks associated with the work we do. I am a huge proponent of collaboration and learning. I believe in a risk and fact based approach to health and safety, rather than a black and white compliance mindset.

Key Areas of Practice:

Training Incident Investigation and Prevention
Emergency Management Hazard Identification and Control
Project Management Lockout Tagout
Indoor Air Quality Industrial Hygiene
Machine Safe Guarding Spill Response Team Member


Certifications and Professional Organizations:

  • Certified Industrial Hygienist
  • Certified Safety Professional
  • Certified Laser Safety Officer
  • American Industrial Hygiene Association, Rocky Mountain Section
  • American Society of Safety Professionals
  • International Association of Emergency Managers

Tim Sweitzer

Associate Director Environmental Health and Safety
Education:  B.S. Environmental Health, West Chester University
Office:  Coolbaugh Hall, Room 030
303-273-3869 (Office), 303-478-0254 (Cell), tsweitze@mines.edu

Read more about Tim

I joined the Mines Environmental Health and Safety Department in October 2000.  I have over 20 years of experience in Environmental Health and Safety.  Prior to joining Mines, my professional experiences included employment with small to mid-sized consulting companies.  Responsibilities included providing RCRA and CERCLA compliance services, property assessments, industrial hygiene monitoring, and training. In my spare time I try to enjoy the Colorado outdoors.  I am easily distracted by conversations concerning bicycling and fly fishing.  I volunteer my time with the Colorado chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and manage a team in the annual Colorado Bike MS ride.

Key Area of Practice

  • Training
  • Environmental Protection
  • Hazardous Waste Management
  • Job Hazardous Analysis
  • Chemical Hygiene
  • Personal Protective Equipment

Certifications:

  • Certified Hazardous Materials Manager
  • Colorado Asbestos Building Inspector

Haitao Dong

Radiation Safety Officer
Education:  Ph.D., Chemistry, University of Oklahoma MS, Health Physics, Colorado State University
Office: Carpenter Shop
303-273-3573 (Office), 303-324-O589 (Cell), hdong@mines.edu

Read more about Haitao

I started as the Radiation Safety Officer at Mines in 2010. My primary job function is to ensure the safe use of ionizing radiation and non-ionizing radiation in research and education.  In my free time, I like to hike and camp out in the beautiful Colorado Rockies.

Key Areas of Practice:

  • Health Physics and Radiation Safety
  • Laser Safety
  • Spill Response Team Member

Certifications and Professional Organizations:

  • Board Certified Health Physicist
  • Member of the American Academy of Health Physics

Kyle Filkins

Safety and Health Professional
Education: B.S. Environmental Health, Colorado State University
Office Location: Carpenter Shop
303-273-3998 (Office), 303-513-8248 (Cell), kfilkins@mines.edu

Read more about Kyle

As a Colorado native growing up in the mountains, I appreciate spending time in the wilderness and higher elevations.  I enjoy outdoor recreation and support most Colorado sports teams.  Go Orediggers and Rams!I joined the Mines’ Environmental Health and Safety Department during the summer of 2014.  I previously worked for a consulting firm named Bureau Veritas North America and primarily provided safety and health services for a pharmaceutical client and oil and gas client. Coming from the consulting world, I look forward to having the opportunity to see projects to completion and make a positive impact both for employees and students. I am capable of supporting many aspects of EHS but my main area of focus is supporting staff and students by conducting job hazard analysis, incident investigation, exposure monitoring, and personal protective equipment selection.

Key Areas of Practice:

  • Industrial Hygiene
  • Asbestos Evaluation
  • Job Hazard Analysis

Certifications and Professional Organizations:

  • Certified Safety Professional (CSP)
  • Certified Asbestos Building Inspector
  • American Industrial Hygiene Association – Professional Member
  • American Society of Safety Engineers – Professional Member

ELISABETH CITTA

Chemical Store Coordinator
Education: B.A. Biology/Chemistry, B.A. German, M.Ed. Secondary Education – Science & German
Office Location: Chemical Store, Coolbaugh Hall, Room 030
303-273-3555 (Office), elisabethcitta@mines.edu 

Read more about Elisabeth

I joined the Mines’ EHS department in March 2022.  During my 15 years of experience in the environmental industry I’ve worked on superfund sites, hospitals, and hazardous materials companies creating chemical safety programs and hazardous materials management.  Prior to joining Mines I  worked as a science teacher in middle and high schools for 8.5 years.  My passion for chemistry and safety continues in this role as safety starts with the understanding of chemistry, the safety and responsibility of hazardous materials.  When I’m not here at Mines I’m easily found hiking, skiing, enjoying a good book, German soccer (Go Bayern Munich!), or with my family and am easily distracted by conversations of chemistry and traveling.  I look forward to supporting faculty, staff, and students with chemical safety in both ordering, storage, and disposal. 

OSHA – 40 hour

ACS – Chemical Health & Safety

Cory Smith

Chemical Safety Officer
Education: B.S. Biochemistry , Arizona State University
Location: Coolbaugh Hall, Rm 030
303-273-3511 (Office), corysmith@mines.edu

 

Read more about Cory

I joined the Mine’s Environmental Health and Safety Department in April of 2019. I have over ten years of experience in environmental health and safety. My previous experience includes 4 years of environmental compliance with a local government in Arizona and almost 6 years with the University of Colorado Denver as the Senior Environmental Health Specialist. My focus at CSM is to promote the safe use of chemicals across campus. Chemical safety starts with understanding the risks associated with the hazardous materials we use at Mines. I hope to collaborate with faculty, staff and students to identify and understand these risks, and to develop procedures to ensure a safe work environment. When I’m not at Mines, you can find me playing basketball or at the climbing gym!

 

Key Areas of Practice:

  • Chemical Safety
  • Biosafety
  • Emergency Spill Response
  • Hazardous Waste Management
  • Hazardous Materials Shipping
  • Laboratory Safety
  • Training

 

Certifications:

  • Associate Safety Professional
  • Registered Environmental Health Specialitist
  • Registered Sanitarian

Lauren Poole

Campus Sustainability Coordinator
Education: B.A. Journalism/Political Science, University of NM; Master of Business Administration (MBA) Sustainability, Renewable Energy, Marylhurst University, Oregon.
303-384-2413 (Office), poole@mines.edu

mines.edu/sustainability

 

 

Read more about Lauren

I joined the Mine’s Environmental Health and Safety Department in March 2018. Prior to Mines, I served as Executive Director of the Energy Efficiency Business Coalition, a Colorado nonprofit that advocates for energy efficiency policy and financial incentives for commercial buildings and homes. Prior to that, I worked as a sustainability consultant for companies and for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory as a communications specialist for their net-zero energy buildings, solar, wind, and biofuels research programs. I like to hike, camp, ski, and sail in the beautiful mountains in Colorado. I’m excited to help Mines take its sustainability programs to the next level.

Professional Organizations:

  • Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)
  • International Institute of Sustainable Laboratories
  • U.S. Green Building Council / LEED Green Associate
  • APPA: Leadership in Educational Facilities
  • Energy Efficiency Business Coalition
  • Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy