Education

M.S, Industrial Hygiene, Temple University, Philadelphia, 1985
B.S., Biochemistry, University of Scranton, Pennsylvania, 1984

Certifications and Registrations

American Board of Industrial Hygiene, Certified in Comprehensive Practice of Industrial Hygiene (CIH) #4781

Professional Experience

Ms. Fontes is a Certified Industrial Hygienist with more than 40 years of experience in comprehensive industrial hygiene services. She has worked for a variety of consulting firms and private industry throughout her career and this experience has given Ms. Fontes a comprehensive understanding of the field of environmental Industrial Hygiene and Safety.

Ms. Fontes’ environmental health and safety experience focused on supporting engineers, scientists, geologists, archaeologists, and other staff with respect to their environmental, health, and safety needs. Ms. Fontes supports clients by developing safe work procedures and health & safety plans that are designed for employee use in the field. These are developed to assist in preventing injury or illness on the job site. Ms. Fontes has supported a variety of projects including Superfund sites, archaeological projects, construction and restoration, landfill work, compliance assessments, assessment and removal of underground storage tanks, a border fence project, and a variety of projects on military bases.

Ms. Fontes has conducted complex industrial hygiene exposure assessments to evaluate chemical, physical, and biological hazards in a variety of workplace and community settings; mold assessments, developed hazard communication programs and injury and illness prevention plans.

Ms. Fontes has been actively involved in professional associations throughout her career, providing leadership on local and regional levels. Ms. Fontes is also a member of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (National and Sacramento Chapter), American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, American Society for Safety Professionals, and the American Chemical Society.

Professional Affiliations and Honors

  • American Industrial Hygiene Association: Member: 1985-Present
    • AIHA Connect, Conference Program Committee, 2025 – 2028
    • American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) Cannabis Health and Safety Committee – Vice Chairman, Chairman, Past-Chairman, 2021-2024
    • Communication and Training Methods Committee, 1990-1993
  • American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), Sacramento California Section:
    • Secretary, 2013 and 2014
    • President, 2007 and 2008
    • Secretary 2005 and 2006
  • American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), Sacramento California Section:
    • Secretary, 2013 and 2014
    • President, 2007 and 2008
    • Secretary 2005 and 2006
  • American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), Southern California Section: Government Affairs Director 1994 and 1995
  • California Industrial Hygiene Council
    • Conference Communication / Public Relations Lead, 2009 and 2011
    • Director 1995-1996 and 2007
  • American Chemical Society member 1984-Present
  • American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists member 1985-Present

Short Courses/Symposiums

  • Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA); surface mining certification
  • OSHA Outreach Trainer; 10- and 30-Hour OSHA Construction Safety, OSHA Training Institute Education Center Chabot-Las Positas community College District
  • OSHA Outreach Trainer; 10 and 30 Hour OSHA General Industry Safety, OSHA Training Institute Education Center Chabot-Las Positas community College District

Presentations

  • ASSP, 2025 Central Valley Safety Summit, Visalia, “Quantifying Worker Exposure To Chemicals In The Workplace”, May 28, 2025
  • Health and Safety in the Cannabis Industry, California Industrial Hygiene Council, 33rd Annual Professional Development Seminar, December 5, 2024
  • Respiratory Protection, Selection, Limitations, and Fit Testing, Bullard/FACS Webinar, September 25, 2024
  • PPE in Industrial Environments, Bullard/FACS Webinar, February 13, 2024
  • Environmental Monitoring, PARMA Sacramento Chapter Symposium, August 30, 2023.
  • Brave New World – Emerging Standards for Safety and Health in the Cannabis Industry, Perrin Conference, April 25, 2023, via webinar
  • Health Hazards in Construction, Construction Health and Safety Conference, January 2023
  • An Overview of Health and Safety in the Cannabis Industry, IAQA Chapter Meeting, Grand Rapids Michigan, October 2022.
  • Cultivating a Culture of Health and Safety Within the Cannabis Industry – AIHce 2022 – 8 hr Professional Development Course.
  • After the Wildfires: The Massive Undertaking to Cleanup Each Property, AIHce 2022
  • “An Overview of Health and Safety in the Cannabis Industry”, 2022 Arizona Health & Safety Summit, April 2022.
  • “Engage Afterburners: Assessing Wildfire Impacts…It’s More than the Heat. Arizona ASSP/AIHA Summit, March 2021
  • “Surface Preparation and Concrete: Compliance with the Silica Standard”, The Society of Protective Coatings (SSPC), February 2019
  • “EHS Compliance in the Lead Based Coatings Industry”, American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), 2018
  • “Cutting Edge?…EH&S Compliance, Controls and Best Practices”, SSPC January 2018
  • “Corrosion is Wide Awake…Dreams or Nightmares for Industrial Hygiene?” National Association of Corrosion Engineers, Western Regional Conference, November 2017
  • “Controlling Worker Exposure during Coating and Corrosion Control Projects – Here’s How.” National Association of Corrosion Engineers, Western Regional Conference, December 2016
  • “Careers in Environmental Health and Safety”, STARBASE Academy, Sacramento, California, February 2016
  • “Careers in Science”, University of California at Merced, Merced, California, February 2016
  • “Sitting Disease,” ASSE Summit; Sacramento, California, October 2015
  • “Sitting Disease,” American Industrial Hygiene Association; Sacramento Valley Section, Sacramento, California, March 2015
  • “Health and Safety in Challenging Environments – Afghanistan and Kuwait,” California Industrial Hygiene Council 24th Annual Conference, San Diego, California, December 2014
  • “Health and Safety in a Variety of Challenging Locations,” Del Oro High School, Loomis, California, February 2014
  • “Health and Safety in Challenging Environments”. The American Industrial Hygiene Association, Sacramento Valley Section; Sacramento, California, October 2013
  • “Health and Safety in the Environmental Field,” Del Oro High School, Loomis, California, February 2013:
  • “Ergonomics in the Laboratory,” California Water Environment Association Conference and Exposition, 2000
  • “Ergonomics,” California Water Environment Association Conference and Exposition, 1999
  • “Roundtable on Effective Communication and Training Methods,” American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition, 1994

PUBLICATIONS

  • “How to Decide Which Supplied-Air Respirator Is Best”, CoatingsPro Magazine, November 2024 (author)