News 2024

2024-25 NEW JERSEY ASSP CHAPTER ELECTION CANDIDATE-PRESIDENT

Corey Jones, CSP
Current President

Corey Jones, CSP has been a professional member of the American Society of Safety Professionals since 2013. Since then Corey has held various Executive Board and Standing Committee positions within the New Jersey Chapter. Positions held includes Chapter President, BISE local level liaison, government affairs chair, and chapter Secretary. Corey has a great amount of zeal for chapter members, both emerging professionals and seasoned professionals. Corey continues to work on initiatives the support knowledge sharing, collaboration, and networking. Such initiatives include Past President dinners, Common Interest Group festivals, and Chapter Professional Development Conferences.

Corey has over 20 of EH&S experience, beginning as aviation hazardous materials manger while serving in the United States Marine Corps (USMC). Corey holds BCSP certifications such as CSP, SMS, and CHST. In addition Corey is an OHSA Outreach Trainer, licensed NYC Site Safety Manger and holds an MBA in Supply Chain Management from Seton Hall University. Corey  is a dedicated EH&S professional and takes pride in the execution of his duties. Corey has obtained various certifications and complements his accomplishments with the simple premise of a commitment to, “Caring for People”!

2024-25 NEW JERSEY ASSP CHAPTER ELECTION CANDIDATE-PRESIDENT ELECT

John Duffy, CHST, CBRE
Current Vice President

John has 20 years of safety experience. He currently is The HSE by Design Program Manager for Novartis Americas. Executive EHS Consultant with Signature Safety. Prior to CBRE/Novartis he was an Executive EHS Consultant with Signature Safety. Before joining Signature Safety, he was the Safety Manager for one of the largest mechanical contractors in New Jersey. Prior to that position he worked on a several high-rise projects as the site safety manager. John is an OSHA Authorized Instructor, Certified MEWP/Forklift/Telehandler instructor and teaches numerous safety awareness topics for clients.
John has served as a member of his church’s parish council with a tenure of 10 years as its president. He currently serves as the chairmen of the Zoning Board in his town.

2024-25 NEW JERSEY ASSP CHAPTER ELECTION CANDIDATE-VICE PRESIDENT

Phillip Bauknight, Esq.: Fisher Phillips
Current Secretary

Phillip C. Bauknight represents and serves as trusted counsel for employers in a broad range of employment, business, and labor issues. As part of his practice, Phil handles OSHA and workplace safety matters across the country. He routinely helps clients contest and litigate OSHA citations and has experience representing employers during OSHA inspections and investigations, conducting OSHA compliance audits, and defending whistleblower/retaliation claims as well as providing OSHA compliance counseling to clients. Phil also counsels and represents his clients on employee hiring, discipline, and termination issues, performance management, discrimination, retaliation, employee leave, and disability accommodations issues.

In addition, as Chair of the Firm’s Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Practice Group, Phil regularly provides guidance on navigating the complexities and challenges of blockchain technology and digital currency in the workplace.

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2024-25 NEW JERSEY ASSP CHAPTER ELECTION CANDIDATE-SECRETARY

Meghna Dhawan: Environmental Health Safety and Sustainability (EHS&S) Manager at Nestle Health Sciences.

Meghna is responsible for the implementation & support of Environmental Health Safety and Sustainability Site Operations strategy for Nestle Health Science.

Meghna started her career with Johnson & Johnson as an EHS Specialist supporting Medical Device manufacturing operations, and AbbVie Biopharmaceutical. Meghna brings to the team experience as an operational production supervisor building strong cross functional relationships with engineering and maintenance teams, experience with implementation and maintained compliance of ISO14001 (Environmental Management), ISO 45001 (Safety Management), & ISO 50001 (Energy Management) as well as experience leading outreach Sustainability efforts to educate employees on waste reduction, energy conservation, and compost recycling programs.

Meghna has earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Purdue University as well as a Master of Public Health in Environmental and Occupational Sciences, with a concentration in Industrial Hygiene, from University of Illinois at Chicago.

FP Snapshot on Workplace Safety: Will SCOTUS Whistleblower Ruling Have Broader Impact on OSHA Investigations?

Below is an article written by the NJ Chapter Secretary Phillip Bauknight who is a Partner at Fisher & Phillips LLP.

Welcome to this edition of the FP Snapshot on workplace safety, where we take a quick snapshot look at a recent significant workplace law development that affects your safety and health programs. This edition is devoted to how a recent Supreme Court ruling could impact workplace retaliation claims and OSHA whistleblower investigations. Read on to find out what you need to do as a result.

What Happened?

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court held that a whistleblower does not need to show their employer acted with retaliatory intent to prove retaliation under a federal law that protects financial investors. Instead, the Justices unanimously held that a whistleblower bringing a claim under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) needs to show that their protected activity (such as reporting or disclosing violations) was a contributing factor in the adverse employment decision. The ruling resolves a disagreement among federal appeals courts and sets a consistent standard of proof in SOX cases. As a result, we expect to see more whistleblower claims make it to a jury trial.

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