14th ftw bio

Airman 1st Class Rolando Chavez, 14th Medical Operations Squadron Bioenvironmental Technician, tests the chlorine level of the base’s water supply outside of State Village Aug. 5 at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. Too much chlorine can affect the taste of the water and cause drinkers to seek other sources of water, but not enough chlorine will allow bacteria and other microorganisms to survive causing water supplies to carry diseases. (U.S. Air Force photos/Senior Airman Kaleb Snay)

14th ftw bio

Senior Airman Kevin Morgan, 14th Medical Operations Squadron Bioenvironmental Technician, gives an Airman a gas mask fit check Aug. 5 at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. A fit check should be performed each time a tight-fitting respirator is donned to ensure the seal is adequate. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Kaleb Snay)

14th ftw bio

Airman 1st Class Rolando Chavez, 14th Medical Operations Squadron Bioenvironmental Technician, uses a chemical identification system to check for contaminate vapors Aug. 5 at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. The instrument makes it faster for users to detect and identify toxic industrial chemicals and chemical warfare agents right at the scene of an incident. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Kaleb Snay)

14th ftw bio

Senior Airman Kevin Morgan, 14th Medical Operations Squadron Bioenvironmental Technician, checks a confined area with a multi-gas reader in a Level-A response suit Aug. 5 at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. Gas detectors can be used by Airmen to detect combustible, flammable and toxic gases in the area. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Kaleb Snay)

14th ftw bio

After testing the water, Airman 1st Class Rolando Chavez, 14th Medical Operations Squadron Bioenvironmental Technician, gathers water Aug. 5 at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, to be sent to the Mississippi State Department of Health. Bioenvironmental checks the water supply on base bimonthly to ensure proper contaminate control. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Kaleb Snay)

What is the Bioenvironmental Engineering Enterprise?

Published Aug. 10, 2015
By Maj. Andrew McUmber
14th Medical Operations Squadron Bioenvironmental Element Chief

COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The Bioenvironmental Engineering Enterprise consists of officer and enlisted career fields specializing in providing operational health risk assessment expertise to decision makers at all levels, to improve the health of Airmen and the base public.

Bioenvironmental Engineers and BE Technicians proactively identify health hazards, assess health risks, and determine appropriate control measures to protect worker health.

In ensuring a healthy population of military and civilian professionals, training effectiveness and combat capabilities are optimized by preventing negative health effects and enhancing performance installation-wide.

At Columbus Air Force Base, there is sometimes confusion about the name Bioenvironmental, which does not exist outside of the Air Force. Despite popular belief, BE does not provide pest control service or clean-up of chemical spills. Throughout industry, academics and government, this vital function is actually a collection of different disciplines: industrial hygiene, health physics, industrial engineering, toxicology, bioinformatics, environmental science, safety and emergency response.

Historically, when commands began to recognize the need for this special role, each base eventually received its own BE shop. The BEE has existed in the AF since 1964, after the career merger of the Sanitary & Industrial Hygiene Engineers. The name itself derives from its membership in the Biomedical Sciences Corps, which is part of the AF Medical Service.

BE personnel must follow the rules put into law by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Department of Defense. Members of Team BLAZE might be interested to know that the BE office in 14th Medical Operations Squadron performs its routine surveys in over 30 industrial shops on base, which involve all Group Commands and many Wing Staff Agencies. This number will change if existing shops close, or if new industrial processes are created in others.

BE also provides drinking water surveillance for all areas except privatized housing, which is considered separate. Finally, BE staff operate as emergency responders; if a chemical, biological, or radiological crisis occurs, BE will be called to action.

The preventive medicine community has many players, and BE can be considered the tip of the MDG spear. Through on-scene hazard identification, data analysis and recommended controls, the workers who maintain aircraft, roads, pipes and buildings, likewise receive important guidance on staying safe in the workplace. The many-sided role of BE at Columbus AFB is the culmination of over 50 years of history. From the 1960s to the present, BE roles and responsibilities have shifted with the changing global mission.