Christopher S. Hinson, MA, CIH, CSP, CHMM
Senior EHS Specialist
Merck & Co., Inc.
Chris has 14 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. He graduated from Campbell University, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in 2007 with a B.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences. He entered the industry as an analytical chemist, focusing primarily on dissolution and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In March 2010, he was asked by his employer to assume the role of chemical hygiene officer and hazardous waste manager; from there his passion for our profession was unlocked. After finding his calling as an EHS professional, he continued his studies to develop as a professional obtaining the Certified Hazardous Material Manager (CHMM) credential in 2014, the Certified Safety Professional (CSP) credential in 2015, and earned the right to be called a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) in 2017. He is also an ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 Lead Auditor and a Process Hazard Analysis (PHA) Leader. Chris completed his M.A. in Executive Leadership from Liberty University, Overton School of Business in December 2020, earning highest honors and was inducted into the Sigma Beta Delta National Honor Society of Business School Graduates.
Chris has been with Merck & Co., Inc. for five years and is the Lead Industrial Hygienist and Biosafety Officer for the Hilleman Center for Vaccine Manufacturing in Durham, NC. He is currently assigned as the EHS Lead for a new $350 million facility to increase the manufacturing capacity for the Tice BCG Vaccine used to prevent tuberculosis and to treat non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. He has also served as the EHS Lead for the high risk work programs and contractor management program at the Durham site.
Chris has been a member of the American Society of Safety Professionals since 2014. He has held numerous positions within chapter and regional leadership, including serving as chapter President for the remainder of the 2016-2017 chapter year and again for the 2017-2018 chapter year, leading the chapter to their first ever back to back Platinum level awards. He is currently the Assistant Regional Vice President, Secretary for Region VI. He was named by 3M Personal Safety Division as a 2018 Emerging Leader in Safety and was recognized by the North Carolina chapter as the 2018 Safety Professional of the year. In 2019, he was named as one of only nine Regional Safety Professionals of the Year for ASSP. Chris credits his peers within ASSP for being outstanding mentors and providing the guidance and leadership necessary to help him achieve each of his goals. He states, “The cumulative leadership of the executive committee members of the North Carolina chapter has been invaluable to me; they saw potential and helped to mold me into a better professional and a better person. The leadership and knowledge gained from being involved with ASSP has helped to shape my career and would be highly valuable to any safety professional, especially a young professional looking to grow within our industry.”