Dr. Roger Jensen, Ph.D., JD, CSP, CPE, FASSP
Department of Safety, Health and Industrial Hygiene
Professor
Montana Tech Research Thrust: Computation & Modeling Systems
Roger Jensen joined the Montana Tech faculty in 1999. He teaches courses in occupational risk reduction, safety laboratory, law and ethics for OSH, and fire protection. Prior to his current position, he had 30 years of experience in occupational safety and health. Since joining Montana Tech, Dr. Jensen’s research focuses on student research projects suitable for senior projects and masters’ theses. Students have performed and published studies on attributes of warning signs, attributes of risk-reduction matrices, and measurement systems for assessing stairway uniformity. In addition to student-focused research, Dr. Jensen has worked to elevate occupational safety from a rule-based occupation to a more science-based profession.
From 1992 to 1999, Dr. Jensen consulted in occupational ergonomics and safety as an employee of a technical services company named UES, Inc. In 1991, he was a visiting lecturer at the University of New South Wales in Australia. Earlier in his career (1969–1991) he was a commissioned officer in the U. S. Public Health Service assigned to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health where he conducted applied research in occupational heat stress, injury epidemiology, and safety research. Dr. Jensen used what he learned in these positions to write a book entitled Risk-reduction Methods for Occupational Safety and Health, published by Wiley Press in 2012 (second edition in 2019). It provides an overview of the many risk-reduction methods used by professionals in occupational safety, ergonomics, and industrial hygiene.
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Curriculum Vitae
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LinkedIn Profile
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1989 Ph.D., Industrial Engineering, West Virginia University
1977 M.S.E., Industrial Engineering, University of Michigan
1974 J.D., Law, Northern Kentucky State University
1969 B.S., Industrial Engineering, University of Utah
Professional Registrations and Certifications
Certified Professional Ergonomist, by BCPE
Certified Safety Professional, by BCSP
Registered Attorney, inactive status, Ohio,1974–present
Registered Professional Engineer, Ohio, 1976–2021
2006 - Present Professor, Montana Technological University, Butte, Montana.
2002 - 2006 Associate Professor, Montana Technological University, Butte, Montana.
1999 - 2002 Assistant Professor, Montana Technological University, Butte, Montana.
6/1992 – 7/1999 Senior Ergonomist, UES, Inc.
3/1991 – 11/1991 Visiting Lecturer, University of New South Wales
6/1969 – 02/1991 U. S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps
Research Interests
Dr. Jensen’s recent research has been on the design of risk-assessment matrices. These are measurement-like tools for the occupational safety community to use for anticipating effects of changes in safety resulting from new risk-reduction tactics. These are in the form of a table with columns from differing levels of severity, the rows are categories of likelihood, and the cells contain indicators of risk. Traditionally, the design of these matrices has been a committee-based approach. Dr. Jensen advocates for a more objective, systematic approach through conducting experiments; two recent experiments have been completed and published.
A second area of interest involves modeling processes and factors leading to occupational injuries and fatalities. He provided a graphic model of the accident sequence that accounts for events before, during, and after the injury event. Dr. Jensen describes the approach in a book and teaches students the model.
Research Expertise
Dr. Jensen has developed expertise and research skills through his graduate studies and work experience.
- Conducting studies of occupational heat stress.
- Planning and conducting safety research developed while assigned to the NIOSH Division of Safety Research, 1977-1991.
- Developing epidemiology skills while Chief of the NIOSH Accident and Injury Epidemiology Branch (1977-1984). Research methods used included: retrospective analyses of workers’ compensation claim data, including back injuries, repeated motion wrist disorders, heat and cold exposure caused claims, fatalities in agriculture, and fall from vehicle injuries and fatalities.
- Developing prospective epidemiological studies: (1) an observational study to learn how thermal workplace conditions affect safety-related behavior, (2) an interventional study to determine if safety training leads to improved safety at work, and (3) effects of introducing person-handling equipment in a nursing home. These studies were contracted out.
- Jensen, R., and Gilkey, D.P. (2023). Risk-reduction research in occupational safety and ergonomics: An editorial. Inter. J. Envir. Res. and Public Health, 20, Article 5212, pp. 1–4. Doi. 10.3390/ijerph20065212
- Jensen, R.C., Bird, R.L., and Nichols, B.W. (2022). Risk assessment matrices for workplace hazards: Design for usability. Inter. J. Envir. Res. and Public Health, 19, Article 2763, pp. 1–24. Doi:10.3390/ijerph19052763
- Bunney, Z., Jensen, R.C., & Autenrieth, D. (2021). Fall-protection harness training: Donning skill improves with up to four repetitions. Safety, 7(16), Article 7010016, pp. 1–16. Doi:10.3390/safety7010016
- Jensen, R.C., and Hansen, H. (2020). Selecting appropriate words and phrases for naming the rows and columns of risk assessment matrices. Inter. J. Envir. Res. and Public Health, 17(15), Article 5521, pp. 1–17. Doi.10.3390/ijerph17155521
- Jensen, R.C., and Holland, C.J. (2020). Ladder Safety: A taxonomy of limb-movement patterns for three points of control. Inter, J. Envir. Res. and Public Health. 17(8), Article 2897. pp. 1–10. Doi.10.3390/ijerph17082897
Principal Investigator for “Combined Undergraduate and Graduate Training Program,” National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health: Training Project Grant.
- 2013-2018: $596,104, (Wrote 5-year renewal application. Shifted PI role to Julie Hart after one year).
- 2008-2013: $535,000
- 2003-2008: $300,770
- 2000-2003: $179,697
2023 Highest Honor, Fellow of American Society of Safety Professionals
2023 Distinguished Researcher Award, School of Mines and Engineering, Montana Technological University.
2020 Montana Tech Merit Award for excellence in instruction, service, and research
2017 Montana Tech Merit Award for excellence in instruction, service, and research
2014 Montana Tech Merit Award for excellence in instruction, service, and research
- Member, 1979-present
- Assoc. Newsletter Editor, Safety Technical Group, 1982-1983
- Technical Group Memberships: Safety; and Forensic Professional
- Member, 1982-present
- Advisory Group Committee of the ASSP Board of Directors, 2022–2023
- Member, Technical Publications Advisory Committee, ASSE, 2009–2017
- Chapter Delegate to National Convention, 2006-present
- Past-President, Big Sky Chapter, 2006-2008
- President, Big Sky Chapter, 2005-2006
- Chairperson, Big Sky Section, 2004-2005
- Member, 1988-2019
- Past-President, 2006-2007
- President, 2005-2006
- President-Elect, 2004-2005
- Treasurer, 2002-2004
- Executive Council Member, 2002-2007
- Newsletter Editor, 1989-1991
- Executive Council Member, 1988-1991
- Member, 2000-2015, 2017–present
- Senior Member, 1983-1992
- Member, 1975-1983
- Monongahela Chapter: Vice President for Professional Relations, 1989-1991; Board of Directors, 1985-1988; President, 1984-1985; President-Elect, 1983-1984; Secretary, 1982-1983.
I look forward to speaking with you.
Montana Tech
(406) 496-4111
Rjensen@mtech.edu