Biography
DENISE M. BROOKS, M.A.
Senior Human Factors Engineer
Ms. Brooks has extensive experience in basic and applied research and
development related to human factors engineering, physiology, and psychology.
She has a diverse background in applied industrial ergonomics. Some of
her endeavors include work for: the utility industry (particularly, the
nuclear industry), postal workers, the Department of Justice, the automotive,
rubber and plastics, paper, textiles, electronics, aeronautical and food
processing industries as well as numerous other commercial, manufacturing,
and government agencies.
Ms. Brooks is the founder and owner of Integrated Workplace Solutions
(IWS). Her work has included human factors support for nuclear and fossil
utilities, human-interface with artificial intelligence and neural network
systems, and ergonomic solutions for a wide-range of industries. She has
participated in a number of leading edge and advanced technology endeavors.
Ms. Brooks supported Ohio governmental agencies with compliance with House
Bill 308 and a number of companies with OSHA and ADA compliance. Some
of her most recent endeavors included providing "turn key" safety
programs for construction and other small companies. She has developed
an innovative approach to solving workplace problems that integrates ergonomics
with total quality concepts, industrial safety and training, worker wellbeing,
plant automation, and regulatory understanding.
Currently, she is the human factors lead for the vitrification plant proposed by BNFL Inc. to the Department of Energy. The plant, which in essence is comprised of 5 physical facilities, is in the early design process and she supports this work through the development of pertinent human factors and ergonomics design guides and implementation plans. She participates with project groups such as operations, engineering, control and instrumentation through taking part in Integrated Safety Management (ISM) processes and control strategy development. Evaluation of human interfaces, particularly operations and maintenance, is an ongoing and iterative process through the evolutions of design development. Her goal is to reduce the possibility of human error through the implementation of good human factors practice while ensuring regulatory compliance.
Most recently, she was responsible for the human factors aspects of the design of the control rooms for two new nuclear reactors for Taiwan Power Company as a Senior Human Factors Engineer assigned to General Electric Nuclear Energy. She was involved in Graphical User Interface (GUI) and usability studies. She served as the lead engineer on the control room drawings, verification of implementation plans, served on Six Sigma committees and also, contributed to the mock-up upgrades in addition to being responsible for the Remote Shutdown Panels.
She has made contributions to efforts conducted by the Air Force Medical Research Laboratories, which included studying the effects of G forces, transcutaneous blood gas analysis, spinal dynamics, basic mechanisms of attention and learning, as well as vision research.
She has authored many presentations and publications. She has written and presented numerous training programs. She is recognized for her work related to workplace issues such as workplace violence, shift-work, and cumulative trauma disorders.
She is a nationally and regionally known speaker and has made many talks related to solving workplace issues related to productivity, quality, and ergonomics.
She has served in the Air National Guard as an Aeromedical Specialist and as an officer in the Air Force Reserves. She has performed additional duty serving the Civil Air Patrol. Currently she is a member of the United States Power Squadron (USPS) and participates in the “National Geodetic Survey’s Cooperative Station Recovery Program.”
She is active in the community and her participation with a number of
organizations have included:
Environmental Restoration Advisory Board Wright Patterson AFB - (Chairperson);
Engineers' Club (Barn Gang: Business Program Chair and Associates Board
Member);
National Safety Council's
ANSI Z365 Standard Committee - Upper Extremity Disorders
Ergonomic Standing Committee;
Rubber and Plastics Section (National Program Chairperson)
Trades and Services Section (General Chairperson);
Celebration Dayton '96 (Business/Economic Division - Speaker’s Bureau);
Dayton Rotary - Environmental Committee;
San Jose West Rotary - Club Secretary;
Rotary District 5170 Seniors’ Coordinator;
Women in Nuclear;
American Cancer Society (Board of Directors & Residential Crusade
Chairperson);
Ohio Quality and Productivity Forum;
American Society of Training and Development (ASTD);
United States Power Squadron (USPS);
Disabled Consumers Network;
Women in Marketing (Honorary Executive Director);
Miami Valley Safety Council;
Multiple Sclerosis Society - Board of Directors; and the
Downtown Dayton Partnership.
Her professional affiliations include the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society and the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE). Certified as Sacramento I Wastewater Treatment Operator.
Ms. Brooks has 19 years of experience in a wide range of major industries, government, and commercial ventures. These include automotive, rubber and plastics, textiles, food processing, electronics, utilities (particularly nuclear), construction, aeronautical, and public services. Some of the organizations and agencies she supported include:
Air Force Aerospace Medical Research Labs
American Electric Power
American Postal Workers Union
American Society of Safety Engineers
Apollo Career Center
Asplundh Tree Experts
Aster Corporation
B.F. Goodrich Aerospace Division
BNFL Inc. (British Nuclear Fuels)
Bridgestone/Firestone
Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation
Children's Museum of Indianapolis
Commonwealth Edison
Dayton City Schools
Dayton Metropolitan Housing Authority
Flexicore Incorporated
Ford Motor Company
Gencorp Automotive
General Electric Nuclear
General Motors
General Tire
Hand Tool Institute
Hewitt Soap
Honda of America
Illinois Bell
Illinois Safety Council
Institute of Nuclear Power Operations
Marion Utilities
Miami Valley Rapid Transit Authority
Megacity Incorporated
National Safety Council
Otis Elevator
Payne Fabrics
Pepsi Corporation
Sonoco Products Company
Speco Corporation
Stouffer Foods
University of Dayton
Westinghouse
These industries were supported through the following representative types
of tasks:
Human Factors Engineering
Program Management
Program Development
Process and Systems Analysis
Needs Assessment
Usability Studies
Graphical User Interface (GUI)
Ergonomics
Basic and Applied Research and Development Job and Task Analysis
Dispute Resolution
Integration of Leading Edge Technology
Implementation Support
Supervision and Management
Customer Service
Team Development
Generally these projects resulted in the successful resolution of concerns and situations that had historically resisted conclusion.
Specifically, these included:
Management of programs geared toward regulatory compliance (NRC, OSHA,
EPA)
Integration of work practices and standards with leading edge technology
Enhanced productivity and efficiency in manufacturing processes
Increased worker well-being
Environmental Oversite
Detailed control room design reviews
Evaluated and managed budgets in excess of 17 million dollars
Supervised more than 90 people
Dealt with government agencies and legislators to ensure and preserve
program quality
Developed compliance programs and training programs
Perform task analysis leading to taxonomy development
Ensured projects were delivered on-time and within budget
Served as liaison between agencies, organizations, customers and vendors
and suppliers
Project completion resulted in:
Regulatory Compliance
Cost reduction
Improved efficiency and productivity
Enhanced communications
Reduced lost time and scrap
Improved worker well-being
Litigation avoidance
Training Topics
The following is a partial list of topics researched, documented, and presented in the form of seminars, workshops, presentations, and formal training programs. Generally, most of the topics are related to ergonomic, safety, and environmental issues.
Accident Management
Aerospace Education for Teachers
Aging Workforce
Alternative Energy Sources
Back School
Cost/Benefit Analysis
Cumulative Trauma Disorders
Economic & Environmental Impact of Energy Sources
Ergonomics for Line Workers
Ergonomics for Senior Management
Hand Tool Design
Impact of Shift Work & Crew Rotation
Introduction to Basic Ergonomics
Manual Material Handling
Occupational Stress
On-The-Job Training
OSHA Compliance for Contractors & Constructors
Selecting an Ergonomic Consultant
Train-The-Trainers
Transportation Safety
Workplace Ergonomics
Workplace Violence
Workstation Design
Formal Education
Masters of Arts Business Management McGregor School Antioch University
Bachelor of Science Experimental Psychology Wright State University
Associate of Arts Biological Sciences Community College of Beaver County
Flight Missile Medicine United States Air Force Brooks Air Force Base
School of Aerospace Medicine
Risk Management United States Air Force Air Force Institute of Technology
(AFIT)
Significant Accomplishments and Awards
Received the Secretary of the Air Force “Crystal of Excellence”
Numerous Awards & Recognitions for Public Speaking and Community Contributions
- These include organizations such as: National Safety Council, State
(Ohio and other) and Community Safety Councils, Rotary, Kiwanis, Optimists,
American Business Clubs, American Business Women Association, Arabics,
President's Club and more
Who's Who of American Junior Colleges
Outstanding Student Award
Organized a number of conferences and symposia related to safety and ergonomics
Recognized by the Bela Russians for contributions to Wright Patterson
Environmental Restoration
Participated in the United Nations Nuclear Atomic Energy Association (Austria,
Israel, Taiwan)
Contributed to the Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute (South Korea)
Only enlisted person among 2,000 evaluated to be selected as an Officer
- USAF
Serve on numerous boards and committees within the local community
Significant leadership roles in several service organizations
Named by IUE Local 755 Joint Activities Center as Consulting Ergonomist
Physics award for design and construction of a solar furnace
Personal
Her hobbies and other activities include: boating - power and sailing, camping, skiing (snow and water), certified scuba diver, volksmarching, golf, ballroom dancing, gourmet cooking, theater, jazz and blues, as well as old rock n' roll. She won the ping pong championship in undergraduate school. She is very active in the community and serves on several boards as well as volunteering for a number of charitable and nonprofit organizations and causes. For example, through her Rotary club, she volunteered at the YMCA camp where she built bunk beds and picnic tables and she also delivered “Meals On Wheels” for shut-in elderly citizens and coordinates activities (e.g., awards banquets etc.) for Partners in Reading. She also did volunteer work for the Heritage Theatre as well as the San Jose Chamber Music Society, where she was recently recognized for her contributions.
She has a 28-year-old son of whom she is inordinately proud. In addition of being an avid fish hobbyist, she adopts very large breed dogs (Great Pyrenees) and belongs to the Great Pyrenees Society. Until her recent assignment in Washington, she was a docent (Interpretative Naturalist) at California’s Ano Nuevo State Reserve introducing the public to the unique aspects of the Reserve, including: the geology, archaeology, history, marine and terrestrial wild life, especially the elephant seals as well as marine and terrestrial birds and the flora and fauna.
For the last 19 years she had traveled extensively - coast to coast and border to border, working in 32 of the United States. She has worked in 30% of the online nuclear plants in the United States. Her international travel experiences in Austria, Israel, South Korea, Taiwan Singapore, Hong Kong and Mainland China as well as Canada and Mexico – have given her a deep appreciation for cultural richness.