JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
Do you ever wonder if your water is safe? Do you ever wonder if there is anything in the air that could hurt you?
Well the reason you don't have to worry is because someone else is doing the worrying for you.
The 779th Medical Group Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight strives to ensure every work area on Joint Base Andrews, Md., is a safe one.
The Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight technicians blend engineering and preventative medicine to identify and evaluate potential hazards around our base. If any are found, they develop plans and programs to prevent injuries and illnesses on JBA.
The key areas they focus on are industrial hygiene, occupational health, radiological health and environmental protection.
"Air Sampling to help monitor the amount of chemicals workers are exposed to is just one of the jobs we do on JBA," said Airman 1st Class Peter Cambra, bioenvironmental engineering technician.
"Tech. Sgt. John Mills-Hearne, a painter with the 459th Reserve Air Refueling Wing on Andrews has to wear an air sampler while he works as a painter to ensure his protection equipment is working properly," said Airman Thomas McMahon, bioenvironmental engineering technician.
Airman 1st Class Alexandra Aloba and Senior Airman Erica Green, bioenvironmental engineering technicians, are required to visit specific locations around base to test their water once a month.
"We do water sampling to check for chlorine levels and get bacteria samples on various watering points on JBA," said Green. "We also check the pH balance in the water."
"We want to make sure that where customers like Tech. Sgt. Ronnie Tookes, fuel supervisor for the 201st Air Squadron, is getting his water from is safe for the planes and water trucks," said Aloba.
Bioenvironmental engineering technicians also take Wet Bulb Globe Temperature Index (WBGT) readings.
"Measurement is often required of those environmental factors that most nearly correlate with deep body temperature and other physiological responses to heat. At the present time, the WBGT index is the most used technique to measure these environmental factors," said Capt. Christian Apsey, bioenvironmental engineer.
"The monitor is used to notify the base of heat flag conditions for working outside," said Senior Airman Alex Ribbens, bioenvironmental engineer technician.
"They are also first responders," said Maj. Elisa Hammer, Flight Commander. "They are specifically trained to identify, analyze and recommend protective measures or equipment for unknown hazards like a white powder that could be anthrax or checking out a suspicious package that is leaking toxic chemicals."
On Jan. 23, 2013, two members of the team got to practice doing a vehicle inspection for an unknown radiation source during a practice exercise. Airman 1st Class Jeremy Karcher, and Airman 1st Class Bridgette Brzenzinski, bioenvironmental engineering technicians, were suited so they could practice with their equipment.
"Our team works with the JBA Emergency Management and Fire Department as a team to protect military and DoD personnel from unknown chemical, biological, nuclear and radiological threats," said Hammer.
The 779th Medical Group Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight strives to be a jack of all trades working to keep JBA safe.