Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight safeguards Scott Published April 1, 2010 By 375th Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- "Are gas mask fit tests all you do?" This is the question bioenvironmental engineering technicians often hear when fitting Airmen for their gas masks, but the 375th Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight does much more than that. The flight specializes in preventative measures to ensure a safe working environment in areas of occupational and environmental health. The 375th BEF also responds to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, explosive and hazardous material situations, providing on-site health risk assessments and recommendations to the incident commander. The flight, made up of 14 enlisted technicians and three officer engineers, is the first line of defense against operational health risk. "The essence of bioenvironmental engineering is implementing controls to protect the health of those who serve at Scott Air Force Base," said Lt. Col. Patrick Castle, flight commander. "These controls are often designed in response to concerns identified during health risk assessments. This ensures workers are protected from a wide range of hazards including noise, chemical exposure and radioactive materials." A substantial amount of time is spent performing shop visits, where 375th BEF consults with shop supervisors to ensure that occupational health programs are being followed and control measures are adequate to protect the workforce from hazards. When conducting shop evaluations, the flight may collect samples for analysis. In doing so, the 375th BEF is able to ensure that Air Force activities remain in compliance with existing local, state and federal regulations, such as those set by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. BEF also does a health risk assessment and recommends steps for correcting deficiencies. "One of the best things about this career field is that every day is different, as each shop requires a unique approach for assessment" said Staff Sgt. Saw Chim, a bioenvironmental engineering technician. "Also, due to advances in technology, there are always a variety of new things to learn as well, which consistently keeps the job interesting." The vast array of shops under the scope of the 375th BEF demands the technician to be proficient on a multitude of skills needed to properly assess a working environment or hazardous material response. A typical day can include water and air sampling, noise and radiation analysis, ventilation air flow measurements, respiratory protection, and yes--gas mask fit tests. "Our overall mission is to make sure our personnel are safe, healthy and fit to fight," said Senior Airman Nyron Haynes, a bioenvironmental engineering technician. "And this also plays a big part in the readiness role. In the event of an incident, we respond to keep our people healthy to complete the mission." In the event of a chemical spill or hazardous situation, the 375th BEF serves as emergency responders to detect and identify biological, radiological and chemical contaminants and warfare agents while also providing emergency response expertise and protective measures for any exposed individuals. Furthermore, the 375th BEF may provide recommendations concerning proper decontamination procedures for working with contaminated materials and environments. Bioenvironmental Engineering is a very diverse career field. Aside from learning a wide array of skills, being on the front lines of preventative medicine is both rewarding and fulfilling. Scott can literally breathe easier with these professionals on duty because the 375th BEF exemplifies their motto, "all day long, all day strong!"