Eric Burns, M.A.
About Eric Burns, M.A.
Eric Burns, M.A., serves as the Environmental, Health and Safety Manager at Berry Global, Inc., where he has worked since 2019. He has extensive experience in safety program management, compliance oversight, and leadership training within the manufacturing sector.
Work at Berry Global
Eric Burns has been employed at Berry Global, Inc. since 2019, currently serving as the Environmental, Health and Safety Manager in Charlotte, North Carolina. In this role, he oversees environmental health and safety compliance for a plastics injection-molding manufacturing facility with over 200 employees. He is responsible for ensuring adherence to federal, state, and local regulations, including OSHA, EPA, NCDEQ, RCRA, NFPA, and ANSI. Prior to his current position, he worked as an EH&S Intern at Berry Global for four months in Monroe, Louisiana, where he gained foundational experience in environmental health and safety practices.
Education and Expertise
Eric Burns holds a Master of Arts in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Louisiana Tech University, which he completed from 2018 to 2019. He also earned a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the same institution, studying from 2013 to 2017. His educational background supports his expertise in managing safety programs, including Machine Guarding, 5S/Lean Manufacturing, and Spill Containment. He is experienced in writing, implementing, and training on various EHS programs such as Lock Out Tag Out, Hazard Communication, and Emergency Action Plans.
Background in Safety Management
In his role as Environmental, Health and Safety Manager, Eric Burns has experience managing facilities ranging from 150,000 to 500,000 square feet. He has been involved in leadership training and safety team management, leading incident investigations and safety training initiatives. He plays a key role in onboarding new hires and has overseen two additional plants during an acquisition in early 2021, which included training upper-level management and onboarding other EHS Managers.
Achievements in Risk Reduction
Eric Burns has led several major risk reduction projects aimed at promoting a zero injury safety culture within the workplace. He utilizes data analytics and reporting to enhance environmental health and safety management. His proactive approach in managing safety programs and compliance has contributed to a safer working environment for employees at Berry Global.
Previous Experience
Before his tenure at Berry Global, Eric Burns worked as a Crew Member at Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers from 2010 to 2014. This early work experience provided him with foundational skills in teamwork and customer service, which are essential in his current role in safety management.