P.D. Shafer III, CHMM

Program Director - GZI/Trailmarker

B.A. Environmental Biology
M.S. Environmental Science
1986 - 2005
1986 - 1987

University of Colorado, 1975
Drexel University, 1979
Adjunct Instructor, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
Instructor, Allegheny College, Meadville, Pennsylvania


     David Shafer holds a Master of Science Degree in Environmental Health from Drexel University.  His twenty-eight plus years of experience include the application of health and safety knowledge and skills in the fields of hazardous waste site activities, emergency response, and industrial operations.  He is an OSHA Authorized Trainer for both the Construction and General Industry Outreach Training Programs.  Shafer is a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM).

     Throughout his career, Dave Shafer has developed training courses and provided instructional services.  He has presented over 1560 days of training including more than 560 courses for the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, California EPA, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Center for Hazardous Materials Research and many large and small private firms and non-profit organizations.  Shafer served a one year temporary appointment from September 1986 to June 1987 as a full-time faculty member in the Department of Environmental Science at Allegheny College.  Since 1986 he has been associated with Rutgers University as an adjunct instructor.  Shafer also worked as an instructor at the Pennsylvania College of Technology for nine years.

 

     Dave Shafer started his professional career working as a contractor to the US Environmental Protection Agency.  He served as a Training Instructor for the EPA Incident Response Training Program in Cincinnati, Ohio and Edison, New Jersey.  During that time he was directly involved in the development of the following courses: Personnel Protection & Safety (165.2), Hazardous Materials Incident Response Operations (165.5), Response Safety Decision-Making Workshop (165.8), Field Monitoring & Sampling of Hazardous Materials (165.4), Air Surveillance at Hazardous Materials Sites (165.4).  He was one of three principal authors of the EPA health and safety training manual that now serves as a standard training text.  He was also very involved in the development and review of the EPA Standard Operating Safety Guides for hazardous materials incident response.  The EPA Incident Response Training Program served as the model for the OSHA HAZWOPER training requirements.

 

     From 1988 through 2000 Shafer operated a multi-disciplinary environmental consulting firm.  He managed services that included industrial environmental management; residential environmental hazard evaluation including radon, lead-based paint and asbestos; industrial hygiene and safety; wetland delineation and permitting; on-site health and safety services for hazardous waste site clean-up workers; and phase 1 and 2 environmental site assessments.  He also developed and implemented health and safety programs for industry including Hazard Communication, Respiratory Protection, Confined Space Entry and Lab Safety Programs. 

 

     Shafer continues to expand his expertise regarding hazardous chemicals and materials.  Since 2004 he has completed training in DOT/IATA Hazardous Materials Transportation, Clandestine Laboratory Safety and Operations, Health Care Facility Infection Control, FEMA EMI Professional Development Series and the NJDHSS 40 Hour Bioterrorism Preparedness Training Program.  He has also completed the required training and received OSHA authorization to conduct the 10 and 30 hour Outreach Training courses for both the Construction and General Industry.


Allegheny College

Shafer served a one year temporary appointment from September 1986 to June 1987 as a full-time faculty member in the Department of Environmental Science.  Responsible for the development and presentation of the following academic courses: Elements of Physical Geography, Junior Seminar in Environmental Science, Introduction to Environmental Science, Evaluation and Assessment of Environmental Problems.

California EPA

As a consultant to the State of California EPA (formerly the Department of Health Services, Toxic Substances Control Division) Shafer provided training services for air monitoring instruments used at industrial and abandoned sites contaminated with hazardous chemicals and wastes as well as emergency response.  Project involved instructing State personnel in the proper use of such instruments in assessing site hazards.

  • Health and Safety Instrumentation for Hazardous Materials (32 hour course)   1987 – 1992 - 21 presentations

Cook College/New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

Shafer has served as an adjunct instructor at Cook College Rutgers University in the Office of Continuing Professional Education since 1986.  He has developed and presented health and safety training courses to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and New Jersey county health officials.

  • NJDEP Health and Safety Training (40 hour course)  1987 – 1991 - 31 presentations
  • NJDEP Health and Safety Refresher Training (8 hour course)  1988 – 1997 - 27 presentations
  • NJDEP Practical Instrument Use (32 hour course)  1988 – 1989 - 4 presentations

Shafer served on the Instructional Staff for the 40 Hour Bioterrorism and Emergency Preparedness Training Certificate Program in 2004 and was responsible for developing and presenting Module 6 of the program, “Developing Emergency Preparedness Plans.”  He also served as the back-up instructor for Module 13/14 – HAZWOPER refresher for BT Responders.

United States Environmental Protection Agency

From 1980 to 1984 Shafer worked for consulting engineering firms under contract to US Environmental Protection Agency.  He served as a Training Instructor for the EPA Incident Response Training Program in Cincinnati, Ohio and Edison, New Jersey.  During that time he was involved in the development and presentation of the following courses:

  • Personnel Protection & Safety (165.2)  5 days
  • Hazardous Materials Incident Response Operations (165.5)  5 days
  • Response Safety Decision-Making Workshop (165.8)  3 days
  • Field Monitoring & Sampling of Hazardous Materials (165.4)  5 days
  • Incident Mitigation & Treatment Methods (165.3)  5 days
  • Hazard Evaluation & Environmental Assessment (165.6)  5 days
  • Air Surveillance at Hazardous Materials Sites (165.4)  5 days

Shafer's primary responsibility was to develop the first three courses and contribute to the development of the remainder.  In fulfilling the course development, he served as one of three principal authors of a health and safety training manual which now serves as a standard training text.  In addition, several video training tapes and slide presentations were designed and produced. Other responsibilities included contributing to the development and review of the EPA Standard Operating Safety Guides.  As an instructor for the EPA Training Program, he presented training to over 1500 federal, state, and local response personnel in more than 60 course presentations.