309/681-6644 309/681-6683 fax
ralph.jesse@ars.usda.gov

Ralph, as the Area Environmental Protection Specialist, is the advisor and coordinator to twelve regional facilities regarding chemical, physical and biological workplace health and environmental hazards and applicable regulatory compliance. Ralph also advises Locations regarding physical security. 

As an environmental consultant prior to working for ARS, he developed & completed air sampling & analytical protocols for industrial hygiene & indoor air quality investigations of industrial, commercial & residential settings. He has knowledge of federal, state & local occupational safety health & environmental protection regulations. Ralph is competent in using a myriad of environmental monitoring instruments.  

Ralph has been the manager of an AIHA & NVLAP (ISO17025 & ISO9002) accredited laboratory. He performed lead analysis using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (FLAAS), asbestos identification & asbestos in air analyses using polarized light microscopy (PLM) & phase contrast microscopy (PCM). He was the Laboratory Chemical Hygiene Officer, Sampling & Evaluation of Airborne Asbestos Dust (NIOSH 582 equivalent) course administrator & instructor.  

Ralph was Industrial Hygienist / Lieutenant Commander for the US Navy Medical Service Corps from 1992-1999. In this position he was the industrial hygiene advisor to thirty regional facilities including, but not limited to, USS Theodore Roosevelt, USS Harpers Ferry, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) El Toro, MCAS Tustin, Naval Training Center Great Lakes, Naval Medical Research Institute Toxicology Detachment, protecting the health of Armed Forces members.

Ralph possesses a BS in Biology with a Minor in Industrial Technology from Illinois State University.  

Continuing Education:

OSHA Safety Assessment
First Aid / CPR
Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response
Laboratory Safety Management
Confined Space Safety
Z Project - Winning the Safety and Health Game
Mosquitoes
Motorcycle Safety
Farmers Lung
Hazardous Waste Satellite Accumulation Areas
Environmental Management Systems
Low Impact Development
Pesticides
Hazmat Incident Command System
Latex Allergy
Toxicology
Asbestos Project Designer
International Environmental Protection Regulations
Shipboard Fire Fighting
Asbestos Emergency Response
Respiratory Protection Program Management
Hazard Assessment of Lead Based Paint
Navy Medical Department Intermediate Leader Development
Statistical Analysis & Interpretation of Industrial Hygiene Sampling Data
Microscopical Identification of Asbestos
Industrial Hygiene Techniques / Workplace Monitor
Improving Healthcare Quality Senior Manager