M r. Fairfax works part time as a consultant for ORC HSE. In his role as a consultant he supports ORC HSE members by providing expert advice on OSHA issues, their HSE issues, conducting surveys on topics of member concern, leading efforts to comment on policy and regulatory issues from OSHA, speaking, and visits to member sites.
Prior to joining OSHA Mr. Fairfax worked as a journeyman pipe fitter and welder at several oil refineries in Pasadena and Texas City, Texas. Mr. Fairfax joined the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in December of 1977. From 1977 to 1994 Mr. Fairfax worked in various OSHA field offices as a compliance officer. In 1994 he moved to Washington, DC and worked as the Senior Industrial Hygienist for the Office of Health Enforcement in OSHA’s National Office. From there he became the Deputy Director, for the Directorate of Enforcement Programs, where he directed day-to-day activities in health and safety enforcement, and he became the Director in 1998. In 2008, he was additionally assigned as the Acting Director of Construction. In April 2010, Mr. Fairfax was designated as the Deputy Assistant Secretary, overseeing all field, enforcement, and training operations for OSHA. He retired from OSHA in May of 2013. From 1993 through 2010, Mr. Fairfax wrote an industrial hygiene column entitled “OSHA Compliance Issues” for the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene. He still serves on their Editorial Review Board and conducts peer review of Journal articles.
Mr. Fairfax holds a Master of Arts degree in Zoology from Humboldt State University in Arcata, California and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Cal Poly State University in San Luis Obispo, California.
He is certified in comprehensive practice of Industrial Hygiene.
