David Eherts Keynotes & Speakers

About David Eherts About

Dr. Eherts retired as Allergan Pharmaceuticals’ Vice President of Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) in 2021, but continues to serve as the co-chair of National Safety Council’s Executive Business Issues Forum and as the Safety Culture lead on the Advisory Safety Council for Sempra’s Southern California Gas. He also performs expert witness work in the fields of Safety, Toxicology and Industrial Hygiene and supports various clients in the Aerospace and Manufacturing industries in developing Human and Organizational Performance and New View of Safety Programs and Cultures.

Prior to retirement, David enjoyed a 40-year career in the fields of Preclinical and Environmental Toxicology, EHS, Aviation Safety, Sustainability and Occupational Health, the last half of his career as the vice president or chief executive for EHS at major US corporations (most all Fortune 100 companies).

David started his career as a toxicologist in Pre-Clinical Drug Safety Assessment at Merck Pharmaceuticals before moving over to EHS at their HQ R&D facility (where he supported teams doing Process Safety Management, Asbestos Abatement, Potent Compound Containment and Industrial Hygiene) then moved to Corporate as their Global Occupational and Environmental Toxicologist. He’s held positions of increasing responsibility in the pharmaceutical, healthcare and aviation industries including, prior to his VP role at Allergan, Vice President and Chief Safety Officer at Sikorsky Aircraft leading their EHS, Process Safety, Aviation Safety, Medical, Aviation Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF), Audit and Government and Armed Security functions. At Sikorsky, he was also responsible for the safety of Marine One, the Blackhawk fleet during overseas contingency operations in Iraq and Afghanistan in addition to their commercial and offshore gas and oil rig fleets.

As David’s career progressed, he was appointed by the US Secretary of Labor under the Obama Administration to serve on the Federal Whistleblower Protection Advisory Committee (heading the 11c Subcommittee) and was recently honored by the National Association of EHS Management (NAEM) with their Lifetime Achievement Award and as the National Safety Council’s (ORC) Innovation Award winner for 2018. Dave holds Bachelor’s degrees in Chemistry and Biology and a Masters and PhD in Environmental Toxicology from Drexel University.