Statement from Board Member Dr. Kristen Kulinowski as Senate Confirms Dr. Katherine Lemos to Chair of the Chemical Safety Board

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Tuesday March 24, 2020

I congratulate Dr. Katherine Lemos on her Senate confirmation as the new Chairperson and Board Member of the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB). She was confirmed by unanimous consent late last night on March 23. I look forward to working closely with her on the important work of the CSB during my remaining time on the Board. 

Dr. Lemos brings years of safety expertise and leadership to her new position. Since 2014, Dr. Lemos has worked for Northrop Grumman where she currently serves as a Director of Programs for the corporation’s Aerospace Sector.  Before joining Northrop in 2014, she worked at the Federal Aviation Administration, and prior to that at the National Transportation Safety Board. Dr. Lemos has a distinguished background in system safety, accident investigation, human factors, and advanced technology research and integration, and has broad experience across the product lifecycle in analyzing and promoting product, process and operational performance.

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Dr. Kristen Kulinowski is the Board Member Delegated Interim Executive and Administrative Authority, until the swearing in of the new CSB Chairperson.

The CSB is an independent federal agency charged with investigating industrial chemical incidents. The agency's board members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. CSB investigations look into all aspects of chemical accidents, including physical causes such as equipment failure as well as inadequacies in safety management systems.

The Board does not issue citations or fines but does make safety recommendations to plants, industry organizations, labor groups, and regulatory agencies such as OSHA and EPA. Please visit our website, www.CSB.gov.