Washington Works

When Christian Bannick was studying biology at Central Washington University, he couldn’t have imagined that his career would someday include investigating a catastrophic petroleum refinery explosion or assisting rescue workers with safety and health issues at the World Trade Center in New York City.

“My goal was to go into medicine or marine biology, but early on I had a job as a hazardous waste technician where I saw horrendous cases of workers being exposed to hazardous chemicals. That experience triggered my interest in worker health and safety issues,” says Chris.

As a Certified Industrial Hygienist in the Mount Vernon office of the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) for the past 12 years, Chris has many challenges.

The northwest corner of Washington State is home to a number of petroleum refineries, including Equilon Enterprises, the site of a catastrophic explosion that killed six workers in November 1998. The tragic event marked the worst industrial catastrophe since L&I began enforcing the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA) more than 31 years ago.

Chris was part of a team responsible for investigating the incident and determining the causes of the explosion. The six-month investigation ended with the largest settlement agreement in Washington state history. His experience prepared him for a promotion to Process Safety Specialist, where he conducts safety audits of chemical manufacturing sites and provides technical support to other industrial hygienists around the state.

“Chris has a wealth of knowledge and experience from his years of study and work in environmental science, hazardous waste assessment and petroleum refinery safety,” said Anne Soiza, L&I senior program manager. “We’re really fortunate to have his knowledge and expertise here in state government.”

In September 2001 as rescue workers were combing through the rubble of the World Trade Center, Chris was one of the first from Washington state chosen to go to New York City to assist with on-site safety and health issues at Ground Zero.

“I feel very fortunate to have a career evaluating workplace hazards and assisting employers in meeting their obligations. It’s challenging and rewarding and I enjoy it very much,” says Chris. “Ultimately, we’re protecting workers, which has its own rewards.”

In addition to his busy job with L&I, Chris is married with three children and also feels responsible for keeping the family’s 100-year-old farmhouse from falling apart. When he has free time, he pursues outdoor sports, which includes marathon running, cycling, hiking and skiing.

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