EXECUTIVE FOCUS
Meet Todd Newsome
As senior manager, environment, health and safety( EHS) of Production Chemicals & Services at Thermo Fisher Scientific, Todd Newsome oversees operational regulatory matters, EHS, and security programmes for seven chemical distribution facilities in five US states.
He acts as a third-party logistics adviser for two operations in Europe and is responsible for a safe and healthy work environment for more than 130 Thermo Fisher colleagues. With over 27 years of experience in chemical storage and distribution, Newsome is focused on deploying effective and innovative EHS strategies that support colleague, customer and sustainability requirements.
Military and more
Newsome’ s background as a chemical and biological warfare specialist in the US Navy prepared him for his role in the private sector. He learned damage control procedures, and taught crewmates how to survive fires and chemical attacks. During his naval career, he earned his degree in fire science. He went on to acquire a range of certificates and training, covering such diverse areas as hazardous materials, the US Environmental Protection Agency Resource Conservation & Recovery Act, dangerous goods shipping and many others.
Colleague safety and well-being first
Newsome’ s management approach involves clear and thoughtful prioritisation. As valued colleagues who are the lifeblood of productivity at his sites, he places colleague safety and well-being at the top of the list. Next is the need to protect Thermo Fisher’ s products, coworkers and the public by managing regulatory compliance and making sure all the necessary audits and permits are complete and up to date.
Security cannot be left out; the materials that Newsome and his teams encounter can be used in illicit drug and explosives manufacturing, and they work with the US Drug Enforcement Agency and Homeland Security officials to secure all chemicals across the sites.
Designing for sustainability
Newsome credits his military experience and other training for helping him develop innovative solutions for special projects, particularly those involving facility design. One site, for example, required more lighting to provide greater visibility for colleagues to fulfill orders.
Rather than installing rafts of additional lights, Newsome recommended using natural light that reduced the need for fixtures by 30 % and met a 50 foot-candle lighting requirement. This sunlight solution helps provide customers with correct orders, reduces energy consumption and costs, and gives colleagues a more pleasant and healthier place to work.
Core of collaboration
At the center of Newsome’ s priorities and innovative solutions is an ability to listen and collaborate with a range of people. Whether it is colleagues pointing out a way to avoid accidents or a customer request to create a miniaturised cold storage unit at his site, the input from others, combined with his perceptions and insights, fuels his decisions.
“ Through collaboration and a balanced understanding of business, colleague, customer and environmental needs,” says Newsome,“ we can continue to find new ways to help Thermo Fisher and its customers succeed and grow.”
JUL / AUG 2025 SPECCHEMONLINE. COM
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