Ulster BOCES Welcomes New Environmental Compliance Coordinator

Ulster BOCES Welcomes New Environmental Compliance Coordinator

Christy Fischer, the new environmental compliance coordinator at Ulster BOCES, is part of a team of professionals whose mission is to help school districts keep students, staff members, and visitors safe and healthy. She and her colleagues on the Ulster BOCES Risk Management team currently serve eight Ulster County school districts through the Health, Safety & Risk Management cooperative service.

Fischer, who assumed her new post on February 16, comes to Ulster BOCES with more than 11 years of experience at neighboring Orange-Ulster BOCES, where she served as a health and safety technician. “That position has given me relevant experience and skills for the environmental compliance coordinator position,” she said.

Fischer’s previous experience also includes work at an environmental consulting firm. Her duties there included carrying out gas-tank remediations and conducting soil and water sampling.

Speaking of her current position, Fischer said, “I’m looking forward to connecting with the school districts and assisting them with their health and safety needs. Keeping our students and staff healthy and safe is very important, and the needs are always evolving.” These evolving needs have been evident during the ongoing pandemic, she noted, when clients have been seeking advice about air filters, ventilation, disinfectants, and other safety measures related to COVID-19.

The Ulster BOCES team also assists school districts with tasks related to asbestos compliance, indoor air quality concerns, water testing, fire inspections, AED (automated external defibrillator) programs, and chemical inventories, to name a few.

The Ulster BOCES Health, Safety & Risk Management Cooperative Service, Fischer added, assists school districts in the development of comprehensive environmental and occupational health and safety programs. The program’s occupational health and safety professionals can help districts address potential health hazards and act as a liaison to regulatory agencies and environmental contractors.

It was Fischer’s appreciation for the natural world that inspired her to pursue a degree in Environmental Science from Messiah College and set her on a career path that ultimately brought her to Ulster BOCES. “I thought it was important to keep our natural environment clean and safe, and that led me to transition to helping to keep school and indoor environments safe,” she explained.

During her spare time, Fischer, who lives in Monroe, enjoys spending time hiking in the Hudson Valley, camping, and following the CrossFit fitness regimen.

Read more about the Ulster BOCES Health, Safety & Risk Management Service (Co-Ser 602) here.

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