rcarr

About Russell Carr

How A Sales Guy Transformed Into An Environmental, Health & Safety Expert & Advocate For Small BusinessesI've spent my entire 30+ year career working within the manufacturing and “industrial services” sectors.The first 15 years of my career focused on sales of hazardous materials related products and services to the manufacturing sector, then for the last 16+ years transitioned into entrepreneurship, founding 3 small industrial services related contracting businesses. As you’ll see below, running these companies eventually lead me to found yet a 4th business, but more on that in a minute….Here’s a brief description of the first 3 companies:Berg Environmental Services, Inc.: hazardous waste disposal & transportation services, founded in August of 2003 3rd party wind energy operations & maintenance services provider to utility scale wind farms throughout the US, founded in September 2007 3rd party oil & gas exploration & production services provider, founded in August of 2011Each of these companies operated in extremely dangerous working conditions and exposed my employees to a wide range of serious health & safety hazards on a daily basis.To complicate matters, 2 of the companies also exposed the environment to significant potential harm.In other words, I learned very early the critical importance of managing environmental, health and safety issues so as to ensure the safety of our employees and the environment, as well as minimizing related risks.But I also learned how incredibly difficult and challenging this endeavor can be due to the wide range of complicated and continually changing environmental, health and safety rules and regulations that impacted the companies.To summarize the challenges: First I had to determine which regulations applied to each company, then I had to build compliance programs to meet those regulations, and finally I had to ensure that the programs were being managed and followed by our staff on a daily basis.All while trying to run and grow 3 profitable businesses….It was overwhelming and I always struggled to keep up.To make matters worse, throughout this time I also witnessed the devastating price that companies, management and ownership can pay for failing to manage EHS compliance.This included seeing one of my hazardous waste management clients get sent to jail over environmental issues, another client’s management team threatened with jail time, a direct competitor get fined $378,000 by OSHA fine after an employee was nearly killed, and many others face major fines and penalties.Full disclosure, one of my companies got fined by OSHA at one point, & another was cited by TCEQ, so I know how it feels.In summary, I learned first hand how incredibly difficult it is for small companies to manage EHS compliance due to a common lack of the critical expertise, time and resources that are needed to keep up, and how this situation then ends up exposing them to these potentially catastrophic risks that can literally destroy lives and businesses.This later inspired me to found my 4th company, Berg Compliance Solutions in 2012, which is dedicated to helping other small businesses, and business owners, to manage EHS compliance and risk.EducationBA, Philosophy, University of Colorado, Boulder, December, 1990.Summary of Professional Experience & Qualifications:30+ years serving the manufacturing & industrial services sectors 30+ years of sales and marketing experience 16+ years as small business owner & entrepreneur: Founded and operated 4 small businesses since 2003.Environmental, Health & Safety Compliance & Program Related:19 plus years of hazardous waste management including EPA, TCEQ & RCRA regulations 8 years of DOT/FMCSA compliance experience, including hazardous materials transportation 8 years of combined experience implementing and managing OSHA health and safety compliance programs for 2 high risk energy services businesses Successfully implemented and gained ISO 9001 Quality Management Certification and OHSAS 18001 (Occupational Health & Safety Advisory Service) Certification for wind energy maintenance business.Regulatory Enforcement Related Experience:Served as expert witness in criminal environmental compliance enforcement cases Superfund-CERCLA OSHA enforcement inspections, investigations and resolution in following industries: industrial services, manufacturing & construction. TCEQ enforcement inspections, investigations and resolution in manufacturing.

ISO 45001 Certification for Manufacturers: Why 70% Fail (And How to Succeed)

ISO 45001 for Manufacturers: Why OSHA Compliance is Your Essential First Step to Occupational Health and Safety Certification The critical OSHA compliance foundation that most ISO consultants ignore – and why it's essential for certification success Every year, thousands of manufacturing companies pursue ISO 45001 certification. Most of them approach it the wrong way. They hire expensive ISO consultants who promise quick certification. They focus on creating impressive documentation packages. They implement management systems that look good on paper but [...]

By |2025-07-24T17:15:36-05:00July 24th, 2025|Hazardous Waste Management, OSHA Health & Safety, OSHA Texas Laws & Regulations, Safety Training, Texas OSHA Compliance|Comments Off on ISO 45001 Certification for Manufacturers: Why 70% Fail (And How to Succeed)

Why Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Compliance is The First Step for ESG

ESG for Manufacturers: Why EHS Compliance is Your Essential First Step to Environmental, Social, and Governance Success If you're a small to medium-sized manufacturer, you've probably started hearing more about "ESG" and "sustainability requirements" from customers, investors, or industry peers. Maybe a major client has started asking about your environmental practices, or you've noticed competitors highlighting their sustainability credentials and ESG reporting. Perhaps you're exploring new markets where ESG performance seems to be a prerequisite for doing business, or you're [...]

10 Reasons Why OSHA compliance is so difficult for small manufacturers (and how to overcome them)

Navigating Complex OSHA Regulations: A Constant Challenge for Small Manufacturers Introduction Small manufacturers face a perfect storm when it comes to OSHA compliance. Unlike their larger counterparts with dedicated safety departments and substantial budgets, smaller operations must navigate complex regulatory requirements with limited resources and expertise. The challenge extends beyond simply understanding regulations—it involves implementing comprehensive safety programs while maintaining operational efficiency and profitability. In our experience working with hundreds of small manufacturers since 2003, we've witnessed firsthand how these [...]

By |2025-07-24T09:34:13-05:00July 22nd, 2025|Good To Know|Comments Off on 10 Reasons Why OSHA compliance is so difficult for small manufacturers (and how to overcome them)

Heat Stress Guidance & Compliance Reminder

While Texas has given us a break with relatively mild temperatures this summer, the forecast shows we're about to enter the real heat of the season. With several months of intense weather ahead, now is the perfect time to refresh your heat stress prevention strategies. As your EHS partner, we want to ensure your team stays safe and productive during these challenging conditions. Heat-related illnesses are 100% preventable when proper precautions are in place – and that's exactly what we're [...]

By |2025-07-21T17:47:15-05:00July 21st, 2025|Good To Know|Comments Off on Heat Stress Guidance & Compliance Reminder

How Manufacturers Can Attract and Retain Employees

Manufacturers attract and retain top talent with robust safety program Understanding the Manufacturing Labor Shortage Crisis The manufacturing industry is grappling with a severe labor shortage that has worsened over recent years. This issue isn't just about vacant positions; it affects the overall productivity and morale of your current workforce. Existing employees often face increased workloads, leading to burnout and higher turnover rates. For manufacturing leaders, this creates a cycle that's hard to break: fewer workers mean more stress on [...]

By |2025-05-08T16:45:28-05:00April 3rd, 2025|OSHA Health & Safety, OSHA Texas Laws & Regulations, Safety Training, Texas OSHA Compliance|Comments Off on How Manufacturers Can Attract and Retain Employees
OSHA and EHS Compliance Texas
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