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Expert Prevention Through Design Services

Hixson helps manufacturers, laboratories, and workplace clients reduce risk before construction begins by integrating safety, compliance, maintainability, and operational reliability into facility design. Our Prevention Through Design Services connect architecture, process engineering, EH&S, controls, utilities, and building systems expertise so hazards are identified early, engineered out where possible, and documented for safer long-term operations.

Engineers reviewing facility safety design plans

Our Prevention Through Design Services

Integrated safety, compliance, and engineering services that address hazards before construction, commissioning, or operation.

OSHA Compliance

Engineering support for machine guarding, lockout/tagout, confined space, fall protection, electrical safety, walking surfaces, and OSHA 1910.119 requirements integrated into facility and process design.

Hazard Analysis

Structured PSM, HAZOP, LOPA, PHA, What-If, and checklist studies for operations involving flammables, ammonia refrigeration, combustible dust, cryogenic gases, and highly hazardous chemicals.

EH&S Permitting

Environmental, health, and safety compliance support covering air, water, stormwater, hazardous materials, combustible dust, OSHA safety, and process safety requirements during design.

Combustible Dust

Dust hazard analysis and engineering aligned with NFPA 652, 61, 654, and OSHA guidance, including explosion protection, housekeeping improvements, and safer handling system design.

Sanitary Design

Hygienic facility planning for food, beverage, and cGMP operations, including zoning, segregation, cleanable finishes, slope-to-drain design, sanitary piping, and CIP-ability review.

Building Systems

Integrated mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, structural, and civil engineering that supports process loads, utility reliability, code compliance, and safer facility operation.

Engineering team coordinating hazard controls

Our Prevention Through Design Process

Define Facility Risks and Objectives

Hixson begins by clarifying operations, materials, utilities, process flows, regulatory drivers, and business goals. This creates a shared risk framework before drawings advance, helping stakeholders align safety expectations early.

Identify Hazards Across Disciplines

Engineer Controls Into the Design

Validate Compliance and Operability

Document Decisions for Execution

Trusted By Leaders

Proven Client Impact

Hixson supports complex facilities for recognized food, beverage, science, technology, and workplace clients.

"Very cool place with nice employees."

RaiderGreg
RaiderGreg

"Love it."

Zachary Waas
Zachary Waas

"Great Group of people. Thank You for supporting Special Olympics!"

Rebekah Travis
Rebekah Travis

"Very cool place with nice employees."

RaiderGreg
RaiderGreg

"Love it."

Zachary Waas
Zachary Waas

"Great Group of people. Thank You for supporting Special Olympics!"

Rebekah Travis
Rebekah Travis

"Very cool place with nice employees."

RaiderGreg
RaiderGreg

"Love it."

Zachary Waas
Zachary Waas

"Great Group of people. Thank You for supporting Special Olympics!"

Rebekah Travis
Rebekah Travis
The Hixson Difference

Why Choose Hixson?

Hixson brings integrated architecture and engineering depth to safety-focused facility decisions.

75+ Years

Deep facility experience informs safer design decisions across demanding manufacturing and technical environments.

Integrated Disciplines

Twenty in-house technical disciplines collaborate daily to identify cross-functional risks early.

Sector Expertise

Specialized teams support Food & Beverage, Pharma & Biotech, Laboratory, and Workplace projects.

Project Control

In-house project management, cost estimating, and construction administration support safer execution.

Meet Hixson Safety Leaders

Experienced engineering leaders guide safer facility design decisions.

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John Brockmeier P.E.

Manager, Plumbing Systems & Fire Protection Engineering

John oversees the department responsible for the design and engineering of plumbing systems and fire protection engineering for a variety of project types, including new construction, building utility upgrades, utility capacity analyses, and process line additions. John and his team work with a range of systems, including domestic water, process water, hot water production, direct contact water heaters, high pressure/rinse water, compressed air, natural gas, sanitary drainage, process drainage, central sanitation systems, fire pumps, and fire sprinkler systems.

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Craig Cheevers

Manager, Controls & Automation Engineering

As the Manager of Hixson's Controls & Automation department, Craig guides the team responsible for designing, implementing, and commissioning advanced control systems and automation solutions. His responsibilities include overseeing the development of automation strategies that streamline manufacturing processes, enhance operational efficiency, and ensure seamless integration of new and existing systems.

Warren Green P.E. professional headshot

Warren Green, P.E.

Manager, Process Engineering

Warren leads the team providing processing design services, process optimization studies, and process commissioning and FAT, SAT, and IQ activities. He advises on waste, energy, and GHG emissions reductions, and conducts safety and dust evaluations, including PSM/HAZOP. His expertise spans all food and beverage sectors including fluid, dried and cultured dairy products, processed meat, flavors, and prepared foods. Warren is also on the IDFA Food Safety Committee and actively participates in the 3A, SSI steering committee, and work groups.

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Steve Guyer, P.E.

Manager, Civil Engineering

In his role as Manager of Civil Engineering, Steve leads the team responsible for the planning, design, and engineering of roads, stormwater hydraulics and modeling, and onsite utilities. On project work, Steve is responsible for civil site project design, specifications, technical design, and project coordination with the client, government regulatory bodies, outside consultants, and contractors. As a senior staff member with our firm, Steve also serves as a mentor to newer associates.

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Chris Jarc, P.E., PMP, LEED AP

Vice President & Director, Project Management Services

Chris, a Hixson officer and member of the Board of Directors, oversees Hixson’s Project Management, Cost Estimating, and Construction Administration departments. Chris also serves in a project management role, leading teams consisting of representatives from the client, Hixson, contractors, and vendors to effective project completion. Chris assumes overall responsibility for development of project delivery strategies, coordination of all Hixson disciplines, and facilitating effective communication and management to focus resources on delivering high-quality projects on time and within budget.

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Dave Klenk

Manager, Mechanical Engineering

Dave brings more than three decades of experience to his role as the Manager of Hixson’s Mechanical Engineering Department. His work has included the design and project management of new facilities, as well as modification of existing facilities for high technology and food processing industries. At a corporate level, Dave is a member of Hixson’s Dairy and Beverage Industry team, which works to continuously improve the value Hixson offers to the dairy industry through development of our knowledge base, services and capabilities.

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Kyle McAllister

Manager, Electrical Engineering

Kyle serves as the Manager of Hixson’s Electrical Engineering department. In this role, he oversees the team responsible for the creation and delivery of electrical designs. This includes the design of high, medium, and low voltage power distribution, lighting, telecommunications, and fire alarm systems. Kyle brings more than 15 years of experience in electrical consulting and design to his role. Areas in which Kyle specializes include electrically hazardous area classification, high- and medium-voltage power distribution, protective relaying, arc flash studies, harmonics analysis, cogeneration design, emergency systems design, and complex laboratory designs.

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Scott McGlamery, P.E.

Senior Vice President, and Director, Mechanical & Electrical Engineering

Scott, an officer of the firm, leads the teams responsible for mechanical and electrical project tasks and design, specifications, technical content, consultation during equipment selection and installation and systems start-up assistance. In addition, Scott also serves as the Quality Assurance Manager, overseeing the firm’s commitment to quality. Over Scott’s more than three decades of experience, he has worked on greenfield, brownfield, and renovation projects for food & beverage plants in all sectors, labs, pharma & biotech facilities, and workplace projects.

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Scott Wever

Manager, Manufacturing Engineering

In his role as Manager of Hixson’s Manufacturing Engineering department, Scott leads the team responsible for project consulting and coordination between client, vendor, and internal disciplines within Hixson for overall manufacturing processes, functionality, equipment, and layouts. These team members develop process flow diagrams, equipment lists, and preliminary utility requirements, as well as develop equipment layouts that range from high level master planning to detailed construction documents. In addition to this role, Scott is a member of Hixson’s Meat Industry advisory team, focusing on technologies related to the meat and plant protein industry.

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Derek Wojcikowski

Director of Architecture

Derek is the Director of Hixson’s Architecture department. In this role, Derek leads the teams who design projects for our Food & Beverage, Pharma & Biotech, Laboratory, and Workplace clients. Previously, Derek served as the Manager of Hixson’s Process Layout department, where he directed the team that plays a critical coordination role in the overall development of process models and the 3D equipment model management process. Prior to these management roles, Derek, who began his career with Hixson in 2008, served as a Project Architect.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is prevention through design?

Prevention through design is the practice of identifying and reducing safety, health, and operational hazards during planning and design rather than after a facility is built. For industrial and technical facilities, it may include safer layouts, segregation, ventilation, machine guarding, maintainable equipment access, sanitation features, dust controls, fire protection, and compliance-driven system choices.

What is an example of prevention through design?

When should Prevention Through Design Services begin?

What standards can be considered during the design process?

How does prevention through design reduce project risk?

What deliverables are typically included?

Can Prevention Through Design Services support existing facilities?

Which industries does Hixson support with this service?

Need Help Reducing Design Risk?

Talk with Hixson about safer facility planning and engineering.

Certified & Recognized

Awards and Recognition

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Great Place to Work

Certified organization with strong workplace culture.

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Rising Giants List

Ranked No. 178 by Interior Design magazine.

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Top Sector Firm

Recognized in core architecture and engineering markets.

Plan Safety Into Your Next Facility

Share your project goals, operating risks, and facility needs. Hixson can help define a practical Prevention Through Design approach for safer, more compliant execution.

Contact Us Today

For immediate assistance, feel free to give us a direct call at +1 513-241-1230. You can also send us a quick email at info@hixson-inc.com.