Access Code: Occupational Safety, Health, and Environmental Office (Code 106.21)

At Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY), the sight of a safety hat approaching the waterfront can sometimes bring work to a sudden halt. Mechanics and technicians often brace for an inspection or a reprimand, instinctively pausing their tasks.
However, the industrial hygienists of the Occupational Safety, Health, and Environmental (OSHE) Office (Code 106.21) want the workforce to know they are allies in helping to meet the shipyard mission.
"I wish people weren't as fearful when they saw us coming to the waterfront because we're not there to find something wrong with them," said John Lewis, lead industrial hygienist. "We're there to support... We're there to help. We're not police."
As industrial hygienists—specialists trained to anticipate, identify and control environmental hazards in the workplace that can cause sickness, disease or impaired health—their goal is prevention. Known around the shipyard as the “Health Branch,” Code 106.21 manages everything from the shipyard's gas-free program to OSHE safety and health chapters.
A key part of their mission is educating the workforce on what it means to be exposed to a hazard. While many workers associate “exposure” strictly with breathing in airborne contaminants like dust or chemical fumes, the branch monitors hazards that threaten all five senses. For these specialists, exposure can be to any physical, chemical or biological force that impacts the body over time. This includes irreversible hearing loss from loud machinery, vision damage from improper eye protection, skin contact with corrosive liquids and the accidental ingestion of toxic metals.
The branch's ultimate mission is to keep the shipyard’s mechanics working efficiently while strictly protecting their long-term health.
"This is a risky work environment," said Mark Spence, supervisory industrial hygienist. "There are a lot of things out there that can hurt us long-term and create those kinds of exposures. By protecting personnel, we actually keep them in the fight to go perform their job another day."
To mitigate shipyard hazards, the Health Branch relies on a strict hierarchy of controls. They prioritize engineering solutions—such as installing proper ventilation—before turning to administrative controls and personal protective equipment (PPE).
"We want the employees to be safe while they're doing their job," said Pamela Edwards, an industrial hygienist for the branch. "Some of the diseases do not happen acutely; they happen over time. Once they retire, we want them to be able to enjoy their retirement and not have any illnesses from their employment here at the shipyard."
Recently, the branch has made significant strides in reducing toxic exposures. One of their most highly anticipated victories is an ongoing, collaborative effort with the Pipefitter Shop (Shop 56) and Code 138 (Weld Engineering) to implement cadmium-free brazing. Brazing is a process of bonding pieces of metal by melting a filler metal in the joint.
For years, brazing operations required strict engineering controls and specialized respirators due to the severe risks of toxic metal exposure associated with cadmium. By transitioning to a cadmium-free substitute, the shipyard will effectively eliminate a significant hazard from the training and operational process. Lewis noted that the shipyard is closer today to standardizing this safer alternative than it has been in years, calling it a massive win for the health of the workforce.
Despite these programmatic advancements, daily challenges remain. The branch frequently responds to reactive, short-term problems and works to correct ongoing negative trends, such as the improper use of safety glasses. Recently, personnel have been spotted wearing standard glasses and tinted sunglasses shipboard instead of approved prescription or safety-rated eyewear.
To combat this, the branch focuses heavily on communication and education, ensuring workers understand exactly why specific controls and PPE are necessary. When mechanics grasp the "why" behind the safety measures, buy-in increases and overall safety improves.
“It is our goal to have every person on the shipyard, whether it be a shipyard employee, a contractor, or from another command or agency, to go home the way they came onto the shipyard,” said Industrial Hygiene Technician Sarina O’Quinn.
Code 106.21 aims to inform everyone at NNSY that taking the time to ensure proper ventilation or the correct safety gear isn’t a roadblock to production—it is a lifeline for a lifetime. For the Health Branch, success is not measured by the number of safety violations written, but by ensuring that every shipbuilder on the waterfront goes home safe today and enjoys a healthy, illness-free retirement tomorrow.

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