The Leader - Spring 2020: Safety Stories

VOL7/NO2/SPRING 2020 Stories.

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CONTENTS VOL 7 | NO 2 | SPRING 2020 FEATURES 12 22 How Early Intervention Safety—It’s about Leads to Improved Worker the Little Things Safety: 3 Success Stories By Joe Roberts By Rebecca Lee, Director of Injury Prevention and Treatment 26 at HealthFitness The Days We 14 Will Remember Saving Lives and Limbs By Ricky Rollins Through Safety Leadership 30 By Lee Shelby From Magician to 18 Safety Professional The Jeff Walters Story By John Drebinger Written by Jeff Walters, edited by 34 Jenn Shuffler and Martin Brabham An Interview With Senator Mike Enzi COLUMNS 7 A Message from the VPPPA Chairperson SECTIONS 8 Global Safety and Health Watch 10 COVID-19: VPPPA Members Making A Difference 37 Infographic Corner 40 Membership Corner 42 State-Plan Monitor 44 Regional Round-Ups 46 Ad Index vpppa.org Leader—Spring 2020 5



www.vpppa.org A Message From the VPPPA Chairperson VPPPA National Board of Directors W elcome to the Spring issue of Health Support\" icon to help protect Chairperson our award-winning magazine, everyone, everywhere. Please download J.A. Rodriguez, Jr., CSP, SGE, Raytheon the Leader. In this issue, we this timely informational resource from Company, LLC are focused on personal safety stories and any app store. lessons learned. We all have them, those Vice Chairperson unforgettable experiences that caused injury, • We have continuously updated the VPPPA Terry Schulte, NuStar Energy, LP illness and sometimes death. If you have worked longer than a few years, you have Blog with a variety of resources, from tips to Treasurer seen or experienced an unfortunate event at working safely from home, to a behavioral Vacant least once. Those flashes of an instant that health question and answer monthly column change the lives of many, not just the injured that addresses mental health concerns, to the Secretary employee. As you reflect on these stories and article titled: “Personal Protective Clothing Dan Lazorcak, CSP, Honeywell International your own experiences, consider how they can & Equipment Crucial for Coronavirus” be turned into something positive, something which was posted back in early February. Director from a Site With a Collective useful and something that can prevent future Bargaining Unit unplanned events from ever occurring again. • We shared a webinar held by Jackson Jack Griffith, CH2M Hill Plateau Remediation Company The world is at the onset of recovering from Lewis, P.C. to assist employers affected COVID-19. This pandemic is a reminder that it by COVID-19, which addresses the legal Director from a Site Without a Collective takes all of us to be successful, that thinking of risks and best practices related to the Bargaining Agent others is the best defense and that together we coronavirus from the perspectives of Johnathan “JD” Dyer, Shermco Industries can share resources, prioritize and brainstorm employment law, health and safety, data solutions to the most difficult challenges. We privacy and discrimination/human rights Director from a DOE-VPP Site will never be the same. Our approach to work, in the U.S., Europe and China. Stacy Thursby, Navarro—DOE Legacy social interaction and response to a similar Management Support outbreak is on a new level. • We offered a topical webinar on mental Director from a VPP Contractor/ These are unprecedented times and many health while working from home. Construction Site of us are feeling anxious and isolated. But I am Brad Gibson, S&B Engineers & Constructors here to tell you that you are not alone. You are That is not all. Many of our VPPPA members part of a powerful and giving community and are working hard to contribute positively to Director-at-Large our community takes care of its own. We are their local and global communities during Kristyn Grow, CSP, CHMM, SGE VPPPA strong! these challenging times. Our member sites Cintas Corporation are donating PPE, such as the much-needed Here are some of the actions we have taken protective gloves, masks and Tyvek suits. Director-at-Large during this historic pandemic: Members are providing resources, articles, Sean D. Horne, Valero Energy webinars and guides. Members are even • We are continuously updating our VPPPA supplying gas cards for people to get out Director-at-Large and donate blood. We are very proud of the Vacant Body of Knowledge app with the latest contributions by our member sites. COVID-19 information under the \"Global Director-at-Large We are here for you. Please reach out with Shelly Ettel, PCAPP any questions, comments, or suggestions. What else can we do to help? Director-at-Large Bill Linneweh, CSP, Hendrickson International On behalf of the VPPPA National Board of Directors, Regional Boards, and National Director-at-Large Office Staff, we thank you for your support Andy Youpel, SGE, Brandenburg Industrial and humanitarian work during this time Service Company of urgent need. Please continue to share additional resources and positive stories Editor with us for distribution on our multimedia Kerri Carpenter, VPPPA, Inc. channels. Count on us to be your COVID-19 informational resource. Together, we can Associate Editor make a big difference. Jamie Mitchell, VPPPA, Inc. From all of us here at VPPPA, thank you EDITORIAL MISSION and please stay safe! The Leader (ISSN 1081-261X) is published quarterly for VPPPA members. The Leader delivers articles We are truly transforming tomorrow from members for members, safety and health best together. practices, developments in the field of occupational safety and health, association activities, educational —J.A. Rodriguez Jr., CSP, SGE and networking opportunities and the latest VPP approvals. Subscriptions are available for members as part of their membership benefits and at a 50 percent discount beyond the complimentary allotment. The nonmember subscription rate is $25 a year. Ideas and opinions expressed within The Leader represent the independent views of the authors. Postmaster >> Please send address changes to: VPPPA, Inc. • 7600 Leesburg Pike, East Building, Suite 100 • Falls Church, VA 22043-2004 VPPPA, Inc., the premier global safety and health organization, is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization that promotes advances in worker safety and health excellence through best practices and cooperative efforts among workers, employers, the government and communities. vpppa.org Leader—Spring 2020 7

Global Safety and Health Watch By Jamie Mitchell Communications Coordinator, VPPPA, Inc. Unmasking the Details: The History of These Small but Mighty Devices Respiratory Distress Masks & Plagues Chinese Imperial Court brought and companies were mass- in a doctor named Lien-teh Wu producing similar models. The Respiratory distress is a severe Humankind has faced plagues to head its efforts against the American Red Cross also stepped complication of COVID-19, also throughout history. The use plague. This is thought to be the up to create masks. Volunteers known as the coronavirus. While of protective masks began first ever recorded collaboration had been producing surgical most cases (around 80 percent) centuries ago with the original between scientists and the dressings for servicemen in WWI result in mild symptoms, intent to block smells rather government to control and but switched to making gauze other patients develop acute than contagion. Before scientists contain a large plague in China. masks to protect healthcare respiratory distress syndrome learned the facts about germ The widespread belief was that workers caring for flu patients. (ARDS). According to the Mayo theory, general beliefs were that this illness was being spread by Five hundred and thirty-seven Clinic, severe shortness of plagues came from gases that fleas, but after Wu’s autopsy volunteers worked for 17 days breath, labored breathing and emanated from the ground, or of a victim, he determined it in a row to produce 83,606 low blood pressure are the from the stench of those infected was being spread through the masks for hospitals, homes typical signs of ARDS. The causes (they thought the “corrupt” air air. In Mark Wilson’s article and other organizations. vary from illnesses like sepsis, contained the disease). for Fast Company, he explains, pneumonia or coronavirus, “Expanding upon the surgery Industrial Uses major injuries directly damaging According to the U.S. National masks he’d seen in the West, Wu the lungs or brain, and the Library of Medicine—National developed a heartier mask from On March 11, 2020, the World inhalation of harmful substances Institutes of Health, “The gauze and cotton, which wrapped Health Organization declared like smoke or chemicals. use of surgical face masks for securely around one’s face and the COVID-19 pandemic. prevention of contamination added several layers of cloth to Resulting in an increased COVID-19 is currently at the during surgical procedures filter inhalations. His invention demand for the N95 respirator: top of everyone’s mind, and was first advocated in 1897 by was a breakthrough, but some a piece of personal protective the tools we use to prevent the Mikulicz, a German physician.” doctors still doubted its efficacy.” equipment (PPE) designed to spread have a long history in This was to block droplets from The theory that the plague was give the wearer a very close both the industrial and medical a doctor’s potential cough or an airborne contagion was not fit over the mouth and nose. fields. As the year 2020 ticks sneeze from getting into wounds widely accepted at the time. For It blocks at least 95 percent of by, and we reflect on the last during surgery. example, Gerald Mesny, a French airborne particles—making it century of safety and health, it doctor, did not agree with Wu. To very effective in preventing the is interesting to learn how our In 1910, a devastating plague prove Wu wrong, Mesny tended spread of COVID-19. Healthcare modern tools got their start. swept across Northeastern to patients in a plague hospital workers especially need these How much further will we China. This illness typically killed without wearing Wu’s mask. He single-use, disposable devices advance in the next 100 years? the infected within 24 to 48 died two days later. right now; however, N95 hours of initial symptoms. The respirators are more commonly The 1918 influenza pandemic used in industrial jobs that “Former workers with occupational (also known as the Spanish Flu) expose workers to dust and lung diseases are at an increased risk of was a respiratory virus that killed other small particles, like contracting the disease, potentially due to millions of people. By this time, construction. In fact, many the compromised immune systems and scientists knew containing the construction companies are state of their health. ” spread was the best prevention donating their N95 respirators method—and highly advised to their local hospitals. wearing masks. Wu’s design was rather well-known by this time OSHA even released a memorandum on April 6, about 8 Leader—Spring 2020 vpppa.org

enforcing respiratory protection In addition, by the 1950s, are at an increased risk of “We’re always improving standards. It stated, “Due scientists realized the harm contracting the disease, the technology. We have to the impact on workplace of inhaling asbestos. Lung potentially due to the thousands of scientists at conditions caused by limited cancer and mesothelioma compromised immune systems 3M working on it.” supplies of N95 FFRs (filtering can develop from asbestos and state of their health. Thus, facepiece respirators), all exposure. According to the they need to be well-informed In addition to advancing employers should reassess their CDC, “The events of World about the precautions and technologies, VPPPA members engineering controls, work War II and the boom of resources to protect their (like 3M, Honeywell, and more) practices, and administrative industry on the home front health.” Respiratory distress, are repeatedly stepping up controls to identify any changes exhibited a need for improved whether stemming from a during these difficult months. they can make to decrease respiratory protection in virus or exposures at work, is a From mass-producing life- the need for N95 respirators. industry. Americans on the serious concern. Proper PPE is saving tools to donating gloves Employers should, for example, home front went to work on crucial for both healthcare and and masks, companies are consider whether it is possible the production lines to aid industrial workers alike. The working extremely hard to do to increase the use of wet the war effort, ushering in a N95 is constantly changing to their part during the methods or portable local booming era of industry and better serve workers around COVID-19 pandemic. exhaust systems or to move manufacturing. However, those the globe. Nikki McCullough, an operations outdoors. In some workers inhaled high amounts occupational health and *You can read more about instances, an employer may of asbestos due to poorly safety leader at 3M, stated, VPPPA members making a also consider taking steps to regulated working conditions.” difference during the COVID-19 temporarily suspend certain An even more heavy-duty pandemic on page 10. non-essential operations.” respirator must be worn when Some flexibility has been dealing with asbestos, lead or SOURCES: given to workers who must other chemicals on the job. continue to work in risky www.osha.gov/memos/2020-04-03/enforcement-guidance-use- respiratory situations. Since The aforementioned respiratory-protection-equipment-certified-under?fbclid= the N95 respirators are not as respirator masks with fiberglass IwAR0LezwgtIiUXAV-O-aKpS3Vk1exwlZGNDLbTYvjd4OajVR7lfXSaZVjaNI readily available, some sites filters were bulky and hot, so are permitted to use other many workers preferred not ohsonline.com/Articles/2020/03/24/COVID19-Outbreak-Are- respirators that are certified to wear them. Luckily by the the-Former-Industrial-Workers-with-Respiratory-Illness. under standards from other 1970s, the Bureau of Mines aspx?admgarea=news&Page=4 countries or jurisdictions. and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2020-03-25/3m-doubled- Respirators and masks have Health joined forces to create production-of-n95-face-masks-to-fight-coronavirus been used for many years in recommendations for what they these industrial settings. For called “single-use respirators.” www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2862338/ example, both humans and The company 3M developed horses utilized gas masks the first N95 dust respirator in www.fda.gov/medical-devices/personal-protective-equipment- during World Wars I and II— 1972. These respirators were infection-control/n95-respirators-and-surgical-masks-face-masks and similar masks, featuring descendants of Wu’s design, and fiberglass filters, started have continued to evolve into www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ards/symptoms-causes/syc- emerging for use in the mining the model we use today. In the 20355576 industry to protect workers 1990s, medical professionals from black lung. The American started wearing N95 respirators prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2018/10/22/wear-a-mask-and-save-your- Lung Association tells us that to stop the airborne spread of life-the-1918-flu-pandemic/ around 16 percent of coal drug-resistant tuberculosis. miners are affected by black Another well-known use of these www.fastcompany.com/90479846/the-untold-origin-story-of-the- lung disease, and that number is respirators is protecting people n95-mask on the rise. The illness develops in Beijing from air pollution. when coal dust, which is made blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2020/03/16/n95-preparedness/ up of dangerous carbon- Conclusions containing particles, is inhaled blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2020/02/14/vday2020/ over a long period of time. Gregory A. Cade pointed Miners can also be exposed to out in his article for OH&S blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2020/01/30/wra/ extremely hazardous, silica- that, “Former workers with containing dust. occupational lung diseases www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/respirators/ www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/default.html www.cdc.gov/niosh/respiratory/default.html www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1319562X20300206 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3725301/ clb.org.hk/content/work-safety www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/lungs_dust.html www.lung.org/lung-health-and-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/ pneumoconiosis/learn-about-pneumoconiosis.html www.optimumsafetymanagement.com/blog/workplace-injury- prevention-respiratory-hazards/ www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1771269/ vpppa.org Leader—Spring 2020 9

VPPPA Members Making A Difference COVID-19 C OVID-19, also Cardinal Insulating strategic stockpile of masks in providing a $100,000 donation known as the Glass Industries safe storage for the day they to help acquire, transport coronavirus, has would be needed. and set-up equipment (beds, been at the forefront On March 20, VPPPA members, machinery, etc.) for the central of everyone’s mind over the Cardinal IG in Greenfield, Iowa, Unfortunately, that day is collection centers. Valero is also last few months. We weren’t donated 38 boxes of Nitrile here. Richter is in the process providing $25,000 in $10 gas surprised when we learned Gloves to their local hospital, of coordinating the delivery cards to help incentivize healthy that VPPPA member sites were Adair County Memorial of 40,000 surgical masks people to give blood. doing amazing things to help Hospital. Way to make a to hospitals in New York their communities, and the difference, Cardinal IG! City, Houston, Philadelphia, “The health and the safety world at large. Albuquerque, Colton, CA and of our employees, our families Veolia North America Montreal. Veolia became keenly and our communities are Honeywell aware of the need for masks critically important,” said Veolia North America is from several hospitals and Joe Gorder, Valero Chairman We are so proud to note that donating 40,000 masks to nonprofit organizations caring and Chief Executive Officer. VPPPA member, Honeywell, hospitals! Having the right for the sick and elderly. “We are blessed to be able prioritized the supply of N95 personal protective equipment to continue supporting our masks to the most affected (PPE) can mean the difference “The need for surgical masks community partners as we all areas of the world to support between being infected with is so great at the present time work together to overcome this the protection needs of frontline the virus or not. Veolia North that we’re seeing press reports extraordinary situation.” workers. Honeywell has been America's Vice President of of seamstresses, dry cleaners monitoring and responding to Corporate Health and Safety and quilters sewing masks using VelocityEHS the COVID-19 pandemic since Mike Richter, a 32-year fabric remnants. We’re glad we the beginning of February. employee with a master’s can do our part to provide this VelocityEHS recently launched degree in public health, crucial PPE to support patients a free COVID-19 Resource Site To address the growing understands that and is making and medical professionals who to provide employers with demand of masks during the sure that the company's need it most,” said Richter. the information necessary outbreak of the coronavirus, stockpile of surgical masks is to keep their workforce safe Honeywell quickly ramped up donated to hospitals that need Valero Energy and healthy from the global production to make millions them to keep patients and virus pandemic. The extensive of the N95 masks in the United healthcare workers safe. The Valero Energy Foundation repository contains articles, States. They are expanding has committed $1.8 million webinars and other helpful manufacturing operations in About 12 years ago, when a to support organizations on guides from VelocityEHS’ team a factory in Smithfield, Rhode bird flu virus spread across Asia, the front lines helping people of industrial hygiene, chemical Island, which also produces North Africa and the Middle most in need, primarily in cities management and ergonomics UVEX safety glasses. Those N95 East, Veolia Water decided it where the company operates. experts. Visit www.ehs.com/ face masks will be delivered to would be a good idea to stock resources/covid-info/ to access the U.S. Department of Health up on masks. After all, Veolia Valero also recognized the site. and Human Services for use provides essential services to a potential blood supply to support health, safety and customers, such as producing shortage at the San Antonio “In response to the growing emergency response workers. drinking water and safely Blood and Tissue Center in confusion surrounding disposing of hazardous and their hometown. Sixty percent the virus and rampant Honeywell expects the infectious wastes. So, for the of blood supply comes from misinformation available, new mask production line in past decade, Veolia has kept a bloodmobiles, which have been we’ve created a central location Smithfield will create at least closed due to social distancing. for EHS professionals to access 500 jobs. Recruiting, hiring and Valero Energy Foundation is resources they need to keep training manufacturing workers their workforces safe and began earlier this year. 10 Leader—Spring 2020 vpppa.org

\"We’re glad we can do our part to provide this crucial PPE to support patients and medical professionals who need it most.\" healthy,” said Glenn Trout, CEO do what we need to do to get PCAPP Administrative Assisant, Beverly Magoon, is sewing medical of VelocityEHS. “Our experts through this.” masks using scraps of leftover material. are working around the clock and in conjunction with other Magoon plans to send 100 Raytheon Southwest Generation agencies to provide the public homemade masks to nurses with ongoing information and aides at the care center in On March 31, Raytheon received Southwest Generation necessary to prepare, prevent Minnesota where her mother, a call for help from the New donated 25 boxes of food to and protect workers during this who recently died, lived. The York City Police Department. the Kingsburg Community challenging time. It’s just our masks take only 10 minutes to Their police officers needed Assistance Program in way to lend a helping hand to make and the fabrics feature protective equipment in their Kingsburg, CA. They will those at the frontline of this designs like dinosaurs, candy battle against COVID-19, and continue to donate 25 boxes rapidly evolving situation.” pieces, puzzles and sporting they needed it quickly. First per week for following weeks. themes. Her recent Facebook responders needed full-body In addition, Valencia Power Cintas posting of a mask fielded protective suits. LLC in Belen, NM, (who have requests from friends in the been recommended for Zia Star Cintas has been working to medical industry in Pueblo Raytheon maintains personal under the New Mexico VPP) provide their customers with as well. “I think it lightens protective equipment (PPE) donated 106 laptop computers requested sanitation products to the mood to see an aide with for normal operations and to Belen Highschool. A help minimize contamination, M&Ms across their face,” for contingencies, so the significant number of students including dispensers, hand Magoon said. Operations and Logistics teams were unable to participate fully soap, toilet paper and EPA- swung into action. in distance learning, since they approved cleaning chemicals. Nationally, Providence had outdated equipment or Hospitals, a healthcare In less than 24 hours, none at all. Pueblo Chemical network serving seven states, Raytheon teams in New Mexico Agent-Destruction as stated on their website, and Texas gathered 2,000 Tyvek Pilot Plant launched the “100 Million suits, loaded them on a plane Mask Challenge,” asking for bound for New York, and safely With left-over fabric from an donations or volunteers to delivered them where they were earlier project and a pattern sew medical-grade masks to needed most. taken from the internet, address severe shortages. The Pueblo Chemical Agent- request was later updated, Destruction Pilot Plant asking for donations when (PCAPP) Administrative area manufacturing companies Assistant, Beverly Magoon, stepped in to build a supply began sewing medical masks of personal protective after learning of shortages due equipment.” to the COVID-19 outbreak. While not medical-grade, “We are all in this together,” Magoon’s masks help. “I got Magoon said. “We have to the idea when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said if worse came to worse, to use a bandanna,” she said. Magoon said she plans to continue using scrap fabric to construct masks for family and acquaintances. “It’s fun and it helps to pass the time. I can only clean my house for so long,” she said. vpppa.org Leader—Spring 2020 11

How Early Intervention Leads to Improved Worker Safety: B y now, we all By Rebecca Lee, understand: Worker Director of Injury safety is a big deal. Prevention and According to recent Treatment at data, the total cost of worker HealthFitness injuries is now $161.5 billion. From a business perspective, 1. that equates to $1,100 per worker, or $39,000 per Manufacturing Firm Leaders Use “POET” to Address New Hire Fit medically consulted injury. Those numbers can add up fast. Repetitive motion injuries are common in many different work environments, especially those that require long periods of standing and heavy lifting. One appliance manufacturing firm was seeing Business leaders are a disturbing trend: an increasing number of injuries among employees in their first year with the certainly aware of this issue, organization. That’s scary, from a leadership perspective, because one of your primary goals is to and the impact on business. protect your employees and to make them feel safe on the job. And, they are definitely taking steps to address worker The root cause of this particular issue? Newly-hired employees were being placed at tasks on the safety. But, they’re constantly manufacturing line with limited time to learn and acclimate to the work techniques necessary to seeking creative solutions, too. complete their jobs. New hires were “deconditioned” and using less-than-optimal work techniques. Solutions that help prevent the injury before it occurs. To address this issue, leaders at this company took a new approach by offering post-offer employment testing (POET). This tool assesses a new hire’s abilities to do the essential physical I’m seeing more companies demands of the job. This afforded the company the ability to minimize the risk of injury and take this approach every day— maximize employee success. Win, win, right? because it works. Company leaders are starting to believe By employing POET, in conjunction with other early intervention strategies like work in early intervention and conditioning and line-side coaching, the company has already seen big returns—$2.3 million in working to prevent worker cost avoidance, a decrease in the number of OSHA recordables by more than 50% in the first year, injuries before they occur, and a decreased need for continued care and associated costs. instead of just helping treat injuries after they happen. Here vpppa.org are three recent instances of early intervention based on my interactions with clients and colleagues that bring this important issue to life: 12 Leader—Spring 2020

3. 2. Proactive Approach Helps Auto Manufacturer Reduce Energy Company Employs Ergonomic Interventions to Musculoskeletal Incidents Help with RSIs An alarming increase in the number of Repetitive stress injuries (RSIs) are a common and costly concern for musculoskeletal injuries was cause for concern many employers. Musculoskeletal disorders make up roughly 30 percent recently at one auto manufacturer. Faced of all workplace injuries that result in lost workdays. And, according to the with spikes in OSHA recordable incidence Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), RSIs affect 1.8 million rates, absenteeism and short- and long- workers each year. Even more significant than the number of people affected is term disability, the company, and its leaders, the cost of these injuries—ranging from $17 to $20 billion per year. sought to take a more proactive approach by implementing an early injury prevention It’s no wonder then, that one energy company was so keen on addressing RSIs program that focused on three key areas: in its workplace. What did they do? Leadership used a creative combination of on- 1. support, site and virtual ergonomic assessments that focused on education and prevention. 2. education and 3. training. A dedicated injury prevention team of 12 full-time and four part-time associates conducted in-person or virtual workstation assessments for employees The company partnered with HealthFitness and recommended behavior changes and potential equipment modifications. to design and deliver employee-centered injury The team helped employees with discomfort coaching through education on prevention and early detection programs right correct body posture and biomechanics, self-management techniques, and on the factory floor. This included expanding practical stretching and/or exercise routines. Meanwhile, on-site occupational the safety team from one to 14 full-time therapists also screened employees and conducted individualized job-specific employees to launch a work conditioning work conditioning for employees to participate in while at work. Implementation program, line-side coaching, early intervention resulted in the resolution of 90 percent of discomfort cases. services, and integrating the program into its on-site medical services, fitness center Success and wellness programs. The holistic solution Stories included educating on specific safe work techniques, new hire follow-ups, area-specific stretches and pre-shift warm-ups, enhanced work conditioning, early intervention, injury investigations and department placement. So far, the results speak for themselves. Ninety-seven percent of new hires have not reported a musculoskeletal disorder incident within the first 90 days of employment. And, line-side coaching has saved the company more than 1,300 work hours and more than $30,000 by keeping employees on the job (vs. employees taking time during the workday to go to the onsite medical clinic). These three stories demonstrate that leaders and companies are taking new and different approaches to addressing worker safety. As you can see, early intervention is the key. Programs that address injury prevention from pre-employment and throughout, are key to creating habits that are both safe, effective and worth repeating. And, from a leadership perspective, it demonstrates these companies are putting a big focus on the wellbeing of their employees by addressing the injuries before they occur—instead of after. Rebecca Lee is the Director of Injury Prevention and Treatment at HealthFitness, where she serves as a clinical subject matter expert to Business Development and Client Strategy and Engagement teams and a resource for onsite Injury Prevention and Treatment teams. vpppa.org Leader—Spring 2020 13

ANDLLIIMVBESSTHROUGHByLeeShelby SAFETY LEADERSHIP 14 Leader—Spring 2020 vpppa.org

vpppa.org n August 12, 1991, at 28 years old, my life changed forever. I spent 23 days in the hospital, seven months in physical therapy, and I was out of work for over 10 months. I weighed 225 pounds on the day of my accident and walked out of the hospital at 180 pounds. I was physically, mentally and emotionally a different person. In 1991, I was a power lineman for a utility company in Tennessee. Part of my job was to install, repair and remove overhead distribution power lines. I loved standing on two inches of steel fifty feet off the ground. It was a dream job for me. And what a rush to hold 13,000 volts of electricity in my hands. It was exhilarating. It was a dangerous job, but that never concerned me. I grew up watching my friend's dad do linework and knew that's what I wanted to do for a living. I was a little cocky and never thought it would be me who was injured. I went to work confident that I would be safe. Leader—Spring 2020 15

Thirteen We had a large safety manual consequences can follow you is an ongoing process. It's thousand, two at the utility. I am sure it took for the rest of your life. essential that employers and hundred volts a lot of time, money and effort employees integrate practices of electricity to create it. I knew exactly I never considered the effect an that prevent potentially passed through what the protocol was for the injury would have on my family. dangerous situations. my unprotected job I was working on the day It was devastating for them when hands. It's a of my accident. The safety rule I lost my hands. My father was Becoming a miracle I'm alive. explicitly said, \"you WILL wear impacted so greatly that he asked Safety Leader your rubber gloves if you are in the surgeon if he could donate 16 Leader—Spring 2020 reaching distance of a primary one of his hands to me. That type Leadership isn't about climbing conductor.\" I walked right past of transplant was not possible at the ranks of a company. And the bin with the rubber gloves that point in the medical field, it's not about who has the most in it, and I didn't grab them on but you can see how distraught seniority. Leadership is more purpose. I didn't call for one of he was by the fact he was willing about the ability to influence my coworkers to bring them to to sacrifice one of his hands. the people around you. Anyone me either. When my son was learning to in the company can play the play baseball, I couldn’t teach role of a safety leader. The main To handle high voltage him how to wrap his fingers requirement is that the person electricity in your hands, you around the laces of a ball to can inspire their team and co- were supposed to wear the execute a pitch. I've never held workers to be safe in their job. proper Personal Protective my daughter's hand. I can never Equipment (PPE). In this case, touch my wife's face with my When I came back to work I should have been wearing fingers. These situations are the after my accident, the standards, specialized rubber gloves. reality of being injured on the job policies and procedures changed. Instead, I had put on a pair of that most people don't consider. The safety culture shifted. After ordinary leather gloves. I was 13,000 volts passed through my holding a pair of bolt cutters, Employees can become body, it was a miracle I survived. and I accidentally touched the overconfident and cut corners. My company never wanted to see back of my right hand to an That's how I put myself in the that happen to anyone again. The energized overhead conductor. situation to be injured. My ego day-to-day challenges of the job got in the way of following the were considered more carefully. Thirteen thousand, two proper procedures. My company New standards and values were hundred volts of electricity issued the PPE for my safety, instilled in the organization. passed through my unprotected but I didn't follow the rules. hands. It's a miracle I'm alive. I took a shortcut. Most of the People started looking out for Six surgeries over the next five time, people don't consider each other. They called attention days were unable to save my the long-term consequences to risky behavior and situations hands. Today, I am a bilateral of a severe injury. They focus more often. As a safety speaker, below the elbow amputee. I on making a deadline or I've had many people talk to me wear prosthetics split hooks to completing a job faster. For this about how lucky they've been in replace my hands. reason, regular safety training, a work situation when they were reminders and supervision not following safety protocols. Thank God I survived the should be a priority. Safety is not about luck. It's incident and lived to tell about about specific, intentional it. It's been almost thirty years Safety is personal to me. My actions that avoid a potentially since my accident. Today, mistake didn't only change harmful situation. my life's work has become my life; it affected my family, motivating and promoting safety friends, my coworkers and Safety culture is represented leadership in the workplace. my medical team. I accept by a company's values, attitudes responsibility for my actions, and beliefs about safety. Safety More Than Meetings and I am grateful to be able management is not one person's and Procedures to tell my story to help others job. It must be embedded in understand why occupational management systems and Safety is about more than safety is essential. processes. Each employee meetings and procedures. must do their part to motivate That's why I share my story. Today, I speak for each other to act safely. Many It's about sending people companies all over the world times, employees hold back home safely every night. teaching safety and personal from speaking up when they see Complacency, distractions responsibility. In my message, someone engaging in potentially and taking shortcuts in I educate, motivate and inspire dangerous behavior and not the workplace can change everyone to develop a culture of following safety procedures. your life in an instant. The safety. Commitment to safety They don't speak up because vpppa.org

Leadership is more about the ability to influence the people around you. Anyone in the company can play the role of a safety leader. The main requirement is that the person can inspire their team and co-workers to be safe in their job. they fear looking foolish. Calling Positive reinforcement and changing the safety culture of out an authority figure, or keeps the culture motivated companies all over the world. someone who has seniority, can to continue its efforts. It's evoke the fear of retaliation. essential to value and recognize Lee Shelby is an Being viewed as a complainer, a job well done. Safety must internationally or not wanting to alienate a be celebrated within a work recognized coworker, stops people from culture. When employees feel motivational and speaking up too. cared about, the positive safety workplace safety culture will flourish. speaker. He empowers people While these reasons may around the world through his be valid, none of them should Almost 30 years have passed interactive, educational and override the sanctity of life or since my occupational injury. I heartfelt conviction. Lee relates limb. The priority should be to can tell my story by the facts of his own occupational injury, do what is best for the greater what happened. I let go of the his recovery to work, and the good of the individual. One of emotional attachment to the challenges he has faced in such the worst feelings you could tragedy, and I replaced it with a way that will change the hearts experience is to know you could thoughts of hope and triumph. and minds of everyone who have prevented an injury or I am committed to teaching the attends. To contact Lee about life-altering event by calling importance of occupational safety speaking at your event, please attention to unsafe behavior. email [email protected]. OSHA VPP Excellence VPP Certificate Program Program Description OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) is one of the most highly Totally Online sought after and respected cooperative programs available today. The Six Courses University of Alabama at Birmingham’s OSHA VPP Excellence Certificate Program provides students with the tools and knowledge necessary to develop and maintain a safety and health program which conforms with or exceeds OSHA’s rigorous requirements to achieve VPP Certification. Program Details Peer-to-Peer Learning This certificate program is strategically aligned with the VPPPA’s mission For Working Professionals to promote the VPP Program and support member organizations who have achieved, or are in the process of preparing for, admission to the VPP Program. The program will also equip students with the leadership skills Live Lectures needed to guide transformational change within the safety culture and enable them to lead from behind or to manage from the middle. Upon completion of this certificate program, students can expect to be fully prepared to manage through the VPP process, using the knowledge gained to achieve OSHA VPP Certification or Re-certification. uab.edu/asem | 205.975.3891 | [email protected] vpppa.org Leader—Spring 2020 17

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ince 1986, I have recognize me at this stage of the situation. Well, that’s exactly I went out on the conveyor to been a blue- disease. He could not recognize what I did. remount the limit switch. This collar worker the Giant Cement plant where should have only taken a couple in industrial facilities as an he had worked for 33 years. But December 8, 1988 was the day of minutes, and then we could Instrumentation and Electrical when we drove past the fiber my life changed forever due to a have gone home. Technician. Five days a week I board plant where my incident workplace injury. I was 22 years wake up at 5:30 a.m. and go to happened, he told me about it as old at the time. The plant had Additionally, I had several work dressed in fire-retardant if I were a stranger that he was been on a shut down for several distractions that day: clothing, Timberland steel-toe telling it to for the first time. days for maintenance repairs. 1. My wife had called me work boots, hard hat, safety We were starting up from the glasses, ear plugs, cut-resistant I grew up in a small town shut down and working very because she’d gotten some gloves and any other PPE in South Carolina. I’d been long hours, 12 to 16-hour days. copies back of my resume. needed to perform my job safely working at the fiber board It was 5 p.m. as we were getting This was 1988, so I didn’t and effectively. plant for two years. During ready to run mats of fiber into have a computer, and I What I am about to share that time, I had never worn fall the press to make boards. On the didn’t know anything about is fact, not theory, obtained protection. I had never worn other end of the press, there was resumes. Someone she through real-life experiences a safety harness. I probably a conveyor. This conveyor had to worked with was typing my gained in industrial workplaces. would not have known how. I run in order to send the boards resume and I was getting Most of my time at work has thought wearing proper safety down to the rest of the line. If ready to send them out. One been great and productive; equipment signified weakness. the conveyor would not run, the company was already asking however, some incidents have I thought you were a “wimp” if plant would shut down again. As me if I would apply for a job left me with a burning desire you had to wear fall protection. fate would have it, a limit switch there. I was excited, because to prevent workplace injuries. I That was my attitude back then. had fallen off the conveyor. At I had an opportunity that truly feel for the thousands who this point, I should have gone was going to pay me about suffer because of a loved one’s Picture in your mind a down two flights of stairs, $8,000 per year more than I injury, or even death, caused 4-year-old little boy. He may around a large press, about 30 was making at that time. by a workplace injury. I work be your son, your grandson, feet to the other side, up two 2. I had only been married diligently to prevent anyone from maybe even you just a few years more flights of stairs into an about 15 months at the time. going through what my family ago. When that little boy sees a electrical room and locked out I was excited about going has been through, and continues sofa, is there a chance that he’s the breaker. Then, I should have home to my newlywed wife. to go through every day. going to jump off that sofa? Oh proceeded back to the conveyor, 3. I wanted to get the job done. Serious workplace injuries yeah! Probably greater than re-mounted the limit switch, I didn’t want them to think have profound effects on family a 99 percent chance, and he returned to the electrical room that I was weak or scared, members. My mom can tell wants somebody to watch him. to unlock the breaker and let so I climbed out on the you exactly what happened to If you’re a dad, how many times them run the system again. conveyor. Like the 4-year- me over 30 years ago, as if it will he say “Daddy, Daddy, Unfortunately, I made a series old boy on the sofa, I sat happened yesterday, including Daddy, Daddy, Daddy,” to get of horrible decisions that led to down on the conveyor belt when the doctor told both her you to watch him jump off that my accident. and grabbed the limit switch. and my dad that I would never sofa? Because he wants you use my arm again. When my to see that he’s brave. It’s a I went to John, the I really don’t recall too dad was in the late stages of natural instinct. A vast majority operations foreman. He’d been much after that, because in Alzheimer’s, we would have of males have that instinct, as at the plant for many years and front of me was a wall. That dinner every Friday night at do a lot of females. If you take was very knowledgeable. He wall had about a 6-inch gap Sweatman’s BBQ. He did not that attitude into the workforce, knew the process much better above the belt. When the belt it can create a dangerous than I did. I told him to press started running at over 100 and hold the stop button while feet per minute, it slammed vpppa.org Leader—Spring 2020 19

me into the wall. I did not floor and landed in a sitting also received a similar phone put a pin in it. He said, “There’s know what was going on, I was position. I was lying on the call. That was traumatic for nothing to pin it to. It looks like dazed. My legs went in that floor and didn’t know if anyone both of them for a very long grains of sand.” gap between the belt and the realized I was there, especially time, all because I had made wall and everything stopped. since John didn’t know that I several bad decisions. One thing that really helped I was sitting there regaining had fallen. He thought I had me to be able to use my left my composure. I could not see not gone out onto the belt yet. The next day, when the arm today is the decisive action John, as he was behind me. I was lying on the floor and doctor came into my room, he of the first responders. They All I could see was the wall. yelling. I was trying to get up, did not have a good bedside put an air splint on my arm Two things went through my but I couldn’t because my body manner. With the pain immediately. That immobilized mind. Did John push the stop would not allow me. I physically medication I was taking, I it and kept everything in place. button and that’s why the belt could not get up and I stayed didn’t remember much, but I Probably all of you have a little stopped? Or did I stay on the there for what I thought was a remembered this part vividly. knot on top your wrist. Well, belt long enough that it stalled? long time until finally people The doctor told me both of mine is now on the bottom. Conveyor systems like that one started responding. When they my ankles and right wrist That’s where it ended up. I’m have an overload trip, where arrived, I was still dazed and were sprained. I’d broken my still able to use it, but with some if they’re in an overloaded confused. I heard them talking coccyx (tailbone). Also, I had limitations. condition for too long, they’ll about me, and what they were fractured three vertebrae in my stop and shut down. At this saying sounded a lot worse than lower back. He said I would not That was a shattered, yet point, I used my hands to push what I thought had happened. be in traction, but I would be rebuilt, part of my life story. against the wall which brought wearing a brace for a while on What can I . . . what can we, do my legs out from that gap. The One phone call that you the front of my body to keep me about it? My goal is to study belt started again. This time do not want your spouse to from bending over. The doctor the root causes of workplace it threw me against the wall. I receive is, “there’s been an then said, “What we’re really injuries by identifying and bounced off, flipped a few times accident, and your spouse concerned about is your left correcting unsafe attitudes, and fell 19 feet, to a concrete has been injured.” My wife arm. It’s shattered into a million behaviors and conditions. For received that call. My mom pieces.” I asked if they could over 20 years, I have continued to serve as a member and 20 Leader—Spring 2020 vpppa.org

chair/lead on various safety we can change. Some people plant the seeds for you to grow in I’ll despise myself committees and processes. tend to be reactive when it learning from my mistakes. if later in life, I comes to unsafe conditions. realize I had the Have you ever heard someone When an injury happens, then Author Og Mandino says, talent and ability say: “We’ve done it this way (and only then) do they say/do “I’ll despise myself if later in to do great things, for 30 years,” or “it’s the way something about it. Why can’t life, I realize I had the talent but I could not find we’ve always done it,” or “I’ve we be proactive? Let’s start and ability to do great things, the courage to try.” done this 100 times and never identifying the hazards and but I could not find the courage gotten hurt, why do we need to making changes to improve the to try.” Do you believe that a change now?” In 1992, I was conditions before the accident/ traumatic injury or incident at putting on a body harness for injury occurs. work could shatter somebody’s fall protection because I was life into a million pieces? More working about 20 feet above In this article, I did not importantly, do you believe the ground. A co-worker said to describe my experience as an that we can identify root causes me, “Man, what are you doing? EMT/first responder who faced of safety issues before they You don’t need to put that on.” the horrific rescue of my close happen? I do. And together, we I said, “Marion, have you ever friend and co-worker, Brian can shatter the unsafe attitudes, fallen from there before?” He Allen. It is yet another driving behaviors and conditions said, “No.” I said, “Well I tried force in me reaching out to instead of these things it, and you wouldn’t like it.” prevent workplace injuries. We shattering us. could expand on this, as well How about unsafe attitudes as my accident, for a very long To schedule a and behaviors? Trying to show time, but hopefully you are personal appearance, off, like I did. Taking shortcuts, already thinking about things order a video, or for like I did. Looking for the around your workplace right more info about convenient way to do the job, now that you can improve from a Jeff, go to: like I did. Those are unsafe safety perspective. My goal is to Website: jeffwalterssafety.com attitudes and behaviors that Email: [email protected] ® • Keeps extension ladders from Ladder falls – slipping on slick surfaces such as 2nd leading cause of composite decking work-related • Unique design of foam creates tiny injur ie s! * suction cups that grip the surface, even when wet * https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ nioshtic-2/20034690.html • Light weight for easy use, weighs less than 6 pounds Working Concepts, Inc. • Works on smooth surfaces, plastic, 888-456-3372 • www.softknees.com • [email protected] wood, concrete, etc., even when wet Patent Pending • Prevents marring and scratches to deck caused by ladder feet • Attaches to the bottom ladder rung, with adjustable strap, for easy movement of ladder along wall • Fits most extension ladders, up to 21” wide • Replaceable self-adhesive foam pad vpppa.org Leader—Spring 2020 21

IT’S ABOUT THE vpppa.org LITTLE THINGS 22 Leader—Spring 2020

By Joe Roberts AA dmittedly, I’m the last period of time. It was a million person in the world little things I did wrong. So you would think of how do we manage the little when considering a things? How do we get people speaker with a strong safety connected each and every day to message. For over 10 years of be mindful and safe? my life, I lived in one of the most unsafe environments in First, we need to understand the western world. In 1989, that behavior change isn’t easy I was a homeless heroin for humans. Our brains work addict living on the streets of against us and are hardwired Downtown East Vancouver. to reject any and all outputs Every day I made unsafe of energy not directly related choices that put my life and to our survival. Managing the lives of others at risk. events that seem to have no Surrounded by violence, life real significance for survival, threatening disease, overdoses bumps up against our fight and serious health concerns, I or flight mechanism which made hazardous decisions that says, “don’t waste energy should have had far deeper on nonessential activities consequences than they did, because we may need that and yet I managed to live energy to fight or run.” We through that experience to unconsciously see some safety share my story. A story that instruction as a waste of time has much to teach us about and long-term behavioral mental health, addiction and change is that much harder building safety culture. to obtain. In essence, this is why change can be difficult Safety is, and always will for people. It’s normal and be, about managing the little natural to reject what looks things. Oftentimes, working non-essential to our survival. with clients we learn that it’s Without dropping down a the slips and trips, and the brain science wormhole, we distractions, that cause a large as safety professionals need number of reported incidences. to understand that one of It’s not the big things—but the biggest reasons building the little things. It’s the same safety compliance is so when we investigate a major difficult is that you are asking accident. It wasn’t usually one your people to perform at an big mistake that caused the unnatural level. In many ways accident, but rather, it was the asking people to perform at erosion over time of little things this level is asking for peak that led to the major incident. performance, the same kind of For me I didn’t make one big elite performance you expect mistake and end up homeless from an NHL hockey players or in Canada’s worst postal code. Olympic athletes. It happened slowly over a long vpppa.org Safety is, and always will be, about managing the little things. Leader—Spring 2020 23

That’s the bad news. Roadblocks in a safer way. filthy clothes, had dirty matted Joe Roberts presenting The good news is we can What we love about the AIR hair, broken yellow teeth and a photo of himself when consistently shape and change Model is that it is behavior blackened fingernails. I pushed he was homeless. behaviors by making one modification made simple. It’s a shopping cart to collect cans simple adjustment. Connect a brilliant takeaway tool, and and bottles to support my drug vpppa.org ourselves and our people to it can be a daily reminder for dependency. I struggled with a greater sense of purpose or leaders to quickly evaluate any addiction and mental health a reason why. By connecting situation and determine what challenges. Instead of calling to something that deeply needs to be the focus. Are we out what was in front of him, resonates for us, we can bypass managing the right actions? Is Gus spoke to my potential, the survival parts in our brain each team member effectively my possibility. It was the first and get connected to drivers connected to their resonating time in my life someone other that help us access the energy, reasons for being safe today? than my parents spoke to my consistency and motivation What are the Roadblocks and potential. Gus was right. I got a needed for long-term change. challenges facing us today? second chance, entered a drug When I ask the question, “Why recovery facility, and four years do you come to work?” of Possibility Mindset later graduated with honors most teams I’ve worked with, from college. Five years after I get your typical responses. What’s also brilliant about that, I was featured on the cover But the aha moment comes looking through this lens is that of Canadian Business Magazine when I ask them, “What’s it allows us as leaders to take as a celebrated entrepreneur. the biggest thing in your life a deeper, more empathic look waiting for you after work?” at mental health and addiction Gus used empathic For some, it’s their families, issues facing today’s modern leadership, he did not see a their children, and for others workforce. As a leader, I want worthless drug addict or a it’s their friends, their Harley to do everything in my power person who was unredeemable. or the hunting/fishing trip to try and help people be their He saw potential. How good that they’re looking forward best. Sometimes it’s not just are you with seeing potential to. Regardless of what about what happened. It’s in those around you who those reasons are I want why it happened. Empathic really challenge you with their to facilitate a process that leadership is separating behaviour? It was a little thing connects my team members to behavior from the person. for Gus, but a huge thing something deeper to help them We support the person and for me. consistently stay on purpose work in collaboration with a and be safe on the job. person to change behavior. If Building safety culture we are going to build strong requires so many little things AIR Model safety and wellbeing into to come together consistently. our culture it is through this That’s why getting buy-in We created a simple safety kind of thinking we must from team members is critical model that we teach folks. We lead. We call this “Possibility to achieving organizational call it the AIR Model. Mindset.” It’s seeing possibility goals. I also feel one of the in an individual that may be biggest things missing in many A = Action hard to see at times. Great safety strategies is catching I = Inspiration, (or our why) coaches, parents and managers people doing the right thing. R = the invariable Roadblocks understand this concept well. Safety seems to be this thing that impede safe behavior. There that’s about documenting are two kinds of roadblocks: In 1989, I was sitting on a and measuring situations that park bench when a man named went wrong. That’s why a lot • Internal (psychological) Gus said to me, “there’s more of incidences go unreported. • External (situational) to you than you can see Joe.” Who wants to be the person to What stood before him in that ruin a zero-incident report? When Action meets moment was a dishevelled But what if there was more Inspiration, an individual is homeless drug addict. I wore transparency, possibly an empowered to better manage amnesty process of some kind where people could talk about Little things happen all the time. If gone things they saw or experienced unchecked they become problems. without retribution. Little things happen all the time. If gone unchecked they become problems. In the world of 24 Leader—Spring 2020

What I love about my job as a thought leader is I get to meet and have an emotional impact on people, and then send them back to their roles invigorated and excited to make change. long-term addiction, recovery My recovery began when I was night I was sitting in a school vigilance is key. Understanding first inspired and then was auditorium watching my that one slip could ruin your given tools to make positive 17-year-old daughter perform life causes you to adapt changes in my life. I think that in her first play. Beside me was and quickly learn how to be speakers/trainers with lived my beautiful wife. I reflected accountable and brutally experience have so much to and found myself feeling really honest with others. But in that offer an organization because grateful for the safe choices I context each person has the they can connect emotionally made to stay clean and sober other persons’ back. We rely with an audience, share their these past few decades, and on one another and accept the stories in an impactful way when I woke up this morning I fact that not every day is going and then point to the key was firmly connected to “why” to be perfect, so it’s important learning takeaways. I will continue to make those to be there for each other. safe and positive choices today. When things become this tight, Sometimes, being that safety culture becomes part of safety ambassador or health In the end, safety is great for an organization’s DNA. and wellness coordinator feels business but more importantly like a thankless job. But it’s it protects the most important I think most of this can not. Carrying the safety banner asset any organization has. be done internally in an and all that it represents saves Their people. And that’s not a organization with safety countless lives every year. It little thing. ambassadors and leadership. is in that spirit I honor safety What I love about my job as a professionals, for without those For more information, thought leader is I get to meet ideas they uphold, I’m not sure or to book Joe Roberts and have an emotional impact where I would be today. as a speaker, contact on people, and then send them Marie Roberts at back to their roles invigorated For me, each day is about 778-584-5202 or and excited to make change. managing those little things [email protected]. to stay safe and sober. Last vpppa.org Leader—Spring 2020 25

30DEC1995 THE DAYS WE WILL REMEMBER 120 FOR THE REST OUR LIVES By Ricky Rollins Stories are the things that I seem to be able to remember the best and get the most out of in my life. In my 36 years in the industry, I have sat in many meetings, listening to information that I am sure was important. But I can’t remember any of that information today. On the other hand, I saw Charlie Morecraft’s presentation video over 20 years ago, and I can still tell you what happened to Charlie.* Today, I am a motivational safety speaker, which means I am a storyteller. I found out four years ago that people thought my stories could make a difference if I would share them. *C harlie Morecraft survived a 20SEP refinery explosion and is now a 2005 professional safety speaker. 26 Leader—Spring 2020 vpppa.org

DECEMBER 30, 1995 OF O n December 30, 1995, I was inspecting but I didn’t give the accident much thought at a 40 foot tall combustion chamber that point. I just knew I needed to get back to 18009FEB from a manlift (that we had been work. We were building a new steel mill, and having issues with the day before). I had been hired as the Refractory Supervisor. Running the manlift that day was Dale Baldwin, No one else at that mill knew how to do my job. who had just come to work on the construction They needed me back at work, and I never gave phase of the building of a new steel mill and had the potential consequences of my actions that no prior steel mill experience. We were about 20 day much consideration. feet off the ground, when suddenly I have my left hand grasping the handrail of the manlift, About a week after the accident, Debbie and my right hand on my head—blood pouring came home from picking up our son, Grant, down my face and body. from nursery school and I could tell something was wrong. I asked her about it, and she broke Dazed and unsure of what just happened, I down crying. A stranger had asked her about stood in the basket with Dale beside me. Then the accident out at the new steel mill. Debbie I heard him make a call on the radio, “Ricky is broke down crying to this lady, telling her it was injured in the combustion chamber.” The call her husband and he was almost killed. Debbie comes back, “Does he need an ambulance?” had never shown me those tears over almost I took my hand away from my head and losing me. That’s what changed everything. I turned to Dale, his eyes lit up, “Yes he needs finally realized it was not about me, but about an ambulance!” A piece of slag (waste matter my family. I had three small children and a wife separated from metal during smelting) had been that loved and depended on me, and I almost stuck in the top of the combustion chamber, cost us everything. broken loose and hit me in the head. Thankfully I was wearing my PPE, and I am sure my hard That accident was my fault—plain and simple. hat saved my life that day. All I wanted to do was get in there and, “get er done.” I put no hazard identification into As I was getting into an ambulance, my wife what I was doing. That furnace was a complete Debbie was receiving the call that no one wants new radical design. Nothing like the ones I had to ever get, “Ricky was injured at work and they worked on in the past. I almost cost my family are bringing him to the hospital.” The EMT all the things we love while our children were saved my life that day in the hospital. Generally, growing up. The Christmases, birthdays, ball when an EMT saves a life it is at the scene of the games, dance recitals and the graduations of my accident or on the way to the hospital. But this children. When all they want is to make their instance was different. The emergency room mother and father proud of them—I almost doctor had shot my cuts up with Novocaine missed it all. and was getting ready to stitch my head up and send me home, when the EMT said, “Hey doc, But December 30, 1995, was the luckiest day his head looks a little misshapen. It just looks of my life, and not because I wasn’t killed. On off.” The doctor said, “Well sometimes guys that day, in a game of Russian Roulette of life, with bald heads look a little weird anyway.” But I pulled out the revolver, opened the cylinder, the EMT insisted, “His wife is in the emergency put a bullet in, spun it, slammed the cylinder waiting room. Let’s bring her in and see what closed, and put the gun to another man’s head. she thinks.” Dale Baldwin had no reason to question what I had told him to do, taking me in the manlift Debbie agreed that something didn’t look into that chamber. He was with Ricky Rollins, right. They took me back for testing and later a supervisor that had done this type of work the doctor emerged and said, “Mrs. Rollins, you his whole life. He put his life in my hands and were right. Your husband’s skull is crushed on I in return put the gun with a bullet in it to his the right side and a piece of his skull is pushing head, pulled the trigger and it clicked. That was against his brain.” the luckiest thing that ever happened to me in my life. If the piece of slag that almost killed me I was transferred to a hospital in Fort had hit Dale and he had died, how could I have Wayne, IN, for my surgery, which ended lived with myself? All the things that I came to up being a success. I was in the hospital for realize I had almost cost my family, I almost several days and missed several weeks of work, vpppa.org Leader—Spring 2020 27

cost another man and his HOW A 17-YEAR-OLD GIRL family those same things. Everything we do matters. It CHANGED A STEEL MILL’S matters to us and our circle SAFETY POLICY and to the person bedside us and their circle. The SEPTEMBER 20, 2005 consequences of our actions better be something we can O n September 20, 2005, I was enjoying an A man named Preston Taylor worked with Kelly live with, because I know if evening at home with my family. Back and told his family about the incident. Right away Dale Baldwin had died that then I was the department manager of Preston’s daughter, Rachel, said “Dad, why don’t day there was no way I could a steel mill melt shop. The phone rang, you wear orange like the hunters do?” For nine have lived with that fact. and it was my co-worker, Arron, telling me that years Rachel had watched her dad leave for work Please take time to evaluate our colleague, Kelly Stillberger, had been run over wearing his green flame-retardant clothes, but she the jobs we are performing with a forklift. My stomach flipped and my heart knew he would be more visible in orange. every day, and if we are not stopped. When I heard those words, I pictured a sure, don’t do it. Get some forklift running over Kelly, and I knew something A few days later, Preston Taylor and I were in help and come up with a plan like that was not survivable. I was silent for a few the furnace pulpit, when he told me what Rachel that everyone feels will be seconds and finally asked a question knowing I had pointed out to him. I told Preston that Rachel safe. did not want the answer: “How bad is it? Is it life was right—we should be wearing orange like threatening?” Arron said it wasn’t life threating, hunters. In 1995 orange flame-retardant clothing I ask everyone but Kelly’s leg was mangled. I jumped into my had just started surfacing on the market, and I had to influence car and when I got to the mill, they were putting seen some worn by a contractor at our mill, so I others and to let Kelly into an ambulance—while Kelly’s wife was knew it would be possible to switch. We changed others influence receiving the call no one ever wants. to orange jackets right away (and pants later you. They are on). However, the point of this story is not that only giving I arrived at the hospital and walked into the everyone should be wearing orange. The point of advice because room with Kelly’s family. Eventually the doctor this story is that if a 17-year-old girl can change a they care. asked us if we wanted to see Kelly. His parents, steel mill’s safety policy, what can we all improve wife and I went into the examining room. While in our lives to be safer for ourselves and the people I ask everyone to influence we were talking to both the doctor and Kelly, the we love? If Rachel Taylor, who has never seen the others and to let others doctor did something unexpected. Pulling back inside of a steel mill, can change a steel mill’s influence you. They are only the sheet covering Kelly, he showed us his leg. It safety policy, there has to be at least one thing giving advice because they was a scene that will never leave my memory and each of us can do to be a little safer each day. care. This is the brother’s I knew Kelly’s life was forever altered. Kelly was in keeper culture. For example, the hospital for two and a half weeks, and then a My final point: who among us would appreciate the doctor in the emergency rehab hospital for another two and a half weeks. He a 17-year-old telling us how to do our jobs? But it’s room during my accident. underwent five surgeries on his leg and six months what happened to me. I had 25 years in the mills, We often put doctors up on of rehab before he was released to come back to and I decided to listen to a 17-year-old. You never a pedestal; however, this work. He never complained or asked anyone to feel know where an amazing idea is going to originate. doctor put his pride, ego sorry for him. It was a life-changing time for Kelly. All Rachel wanted was for what happened to Kelly and stubbornness aside and to never happen to her own dad. listened to the EMT when he told him that my head vpppa.org didn’t look right. If he hadn’t listened to the EMT that day, chances are I would have gone home, fallen asleep and never woken up. Listen to the people in your circle, you never know when listening might change a life. 28 Leader—Spring 2020

FEBRUARY 18, 2009 Pictured above: Dale Baldwin, Jim Harris and Kelly Stillberger. O n February 18, 2009, Jim Harris, who was an A NEW MOTTO electrician in the melting department at the steel mill where I worked, was burned on over 40 A fter Jim’s incident we came up with the motto, “We will percent of his body and almost died. I was up on never remember how many tons we made today. What we the furnace deck when it happened and ran into the room will remember is the day someone gets seriously injured… shortly after. The image of what I saw and felt that day That will be the day we’ll remember the rest of our lives.” will never go away. Four years ago, our company’s safety summit, which included all the company’s safety personnel, was being held at my mill. This motto Walking into the hospital room, and facing Jim’s family, had never spread to the other facilities, and I told our plant safety is something I will never forget. The doctor told us that team that I wanted to get this motto out to the rest of the company’s sometimes people much less burned than Jim didn’t make sites. Banners featuring the motto were made and given to each it. I was Jim’s department manager, and everyone wanted person at the safety summit to take back to their facility. to know what had gone wrong that day. I already knew the answer, but I couldn’t tell his family until we officially At my company’s safety summit, I told the above story about completed the accident investigation. Facing his family was Jim, as well as the story of my own workplace accident. It was very one of the worst feelings I have ever had in my life. The emotional for me to tell these stories as I had never spoken about only reason Jim was in this situation was because we failed my accident or Jim’s until that day. Several people came up to me to do our jobs properly—not just once, but twice. and commented that I should be telling the stories to our entire company. I couldn’t leave my job to go to many facilities we had, so Jim was filling in for another electrician that I had given we sent out a video that our sites could share during safety meetings. three days off from work. Little did we know that two days prior, the other worker had not followed protocol. He had A couple months after I talked at our safety summit, Chad Hymas* failed to lock out a piece of equipment. Jim volunteered came to our facility to talk to us about safety. I was moved by Chad’s to fill in on that man’s job for the next two days and on presentation and started thinking maybe I could make a difference the day of the accident, Jim was called to make a repair in in the world like Chad was, by telling mine and Jim’s stories. I was our PACS room (circuit breaker for the electric arc furnace 60 years old and decided to retire from the steel industry and start transformer). Jim made the repair, came out of the room telling these stories. I now travel around the United States hoping to and was going up a flight of stairs to the furnace deck. get people to understand that all the little things they decide to do, Simultaneously, a ladle with 165 tons of 3,000-degree steel or not do, could have unbelievable consequences for themselves or was rolled out into the ladle bay, and it erupted. This sent the people around them. molten steel and slag over a wide area. Jim happened to be in that area, and his exposure time on the stairway to the *Chad Hymas is a safety speaker who was also featured in the eruption was five seconds. If the previous electrician had Spring 2019 issue of the Leader magazine. done his job by locking out the equipment two days before, he would have been the one responding to the problem in Leader—Spring 2020 29 the PACS room that day. The odds that the other electrician would have been in the five-second window of the eruption were 99.99 percent unlikely. Think of the irony of Jim being burned because of another man’s safety violation. That was the first time we did not do our jobs correctly. The reason the ladle erupted was the second time we didn’t do our jobs properly. We took a shortcut to keep production going, which caused the ladle eruption. We didn’t want to shut production down for 30 minutes that day—which almost cost Jim Harris his life, Kelly Harris her husband and Spencer, Dillon and Blake Harris their father. Neither of the two men who didn’t do their jobs properly had any idea what the result of their actions would be. All the little things we do every day have standard operating procedures (SOPs) that must be followed. The SOPs are there for a reason. This was probably not the first time we took this shortcut, but it was the first time it had consequences. Jim Harris paid the price for the shortcut taken that day, and we learned that you can never put production in front of safety. vpppa.org

30 Leader—Spring 2020 vpppa.org

SAFETY PROFESSIONAL By John Drebinger Career Beginnings Back in the fall of 1989, I was asked to do a magic vpppa.org show for the Modesto Fleet Operations of Pacific My career as a safety professional has a magical Gas and Electric for their 1990 safety kickoff event. beginning. As a boy, I was always a fan of magic Apparently, two of their safety team members had and every year when we visited Disneyland, my dad seen me perform at a local restaurant. Each year as would buy me a magic trick from the shop on Main part of their kickoff they brought in entertainment. Street. I continued to learn, and years later when I All they wanted from me specifically was to use became a District Executive for the Boy Scouts in “Safety” as the magic word. I had no idea this was Pasadena, CA, I took my hobby to a professional level. the beginning of my career as a safety speaker. I used magic shows as a way of recruiting boys and adults in Cub Scouting. I took several series of lessons I asked them to send me their safety statistics and in 1978 I auditioned and became a member of for the previous year and one of their safety the Hollywood Magic Castle. In 1982 I became a manuals. I took those resources and wrote three full-time professional magician, from private parties magic routines which taught the safety concepts to corporate events, I was very successful. I’ve even they believed in—and a new career began. performed at the old Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas. As I did more of their safety kickoffs, they started using me for their safety awards banquets. Leader—Spring 2020 31

It is important to My show was about 30 percent they would want to work safely. perspective of the audience share with people safety material and 70 percent For example: member, or individual you that how they entertainment for the award want to persuade. I measure respond when shows. I kept building more and When I deliver my communication success by the someone watches more safety content, so after a presentation, “Would You results you get. The goal is to get out for their safety short time my safety content Watch Out for My Safety?,®” I people to want to work safely. isn’t about them— was about 70 percent, and the cover five reasons why people When they have a good enough it’s about the magic was about 50 percent. would want to watch out for the answer to the question why next person. (Now I know you just realized safety of others. from their perspective, they will that added up to 120 percent— 1. Your own personal safety do what’s safe even when no 32 Leader—Spring 2020 the reason being that much of one is watching. the content was taught though awareness goes up. a combination of entertaining 2. People are distracted. Watching Out for magic tricks and stories.) Other’s Safety . . . or Not? Either because of physical Falling in Love distractions or mental The three most common with Safety distractions, they might reasons people don’t watch out not see a hazard they would for the safety of others are: I fell in love with safety and have normally been aware 1. They don’t think anything began learning more about the of. Your intervention could industry. I loved hearing stories get them home safe. bad is going to happen. from employees and leaders 3. Cognitive failure. Sometimes 2. They feel uncomfortable about how my message helped you look right at something them work safer. At that time and because your brain fails sharing safety with others. my focus was getting employees you for a moment you don’t 3. They don’t know how. This to do what the safety team see it. Someone else caring had taught them. I discovered enough to speak up prevents one is critical and is why many safety teams were great an injury. I teach several methods at teaching the technical side 4. You will never regret not to effectively share safety of safety but had left out the having said something concerns on and off the job. motivational aspect. Safety which could have prevented When people don’t know meetings were known for being an injury. Too many times specifically what to do, they boring and ineffective. With a someone is injured, and do nothing. When they have bachelor’s degree in speech, several people saw the proven techniques, they will I realized I would be able to hazard or unsafe behavior speak up. make a significant impact in the and didn’t say anything. workplace if I could teach safety After the injury they have a It is important to share with professionals and teams to guilt that doesn’t go away. people that how they respond communicate more effectively. 5. It’s the right thing to do. when someone watches out for I gave employees a reason why their safety isn’t about them— One key point I teach is it’s about the next person. If you that you must always answer show you are grateful that they the question, why? From the cared about you (and say thanks) they are more likely to help vpppa.org

the next person they see near a newspaper effect. I bring out how I want you to work. If you would like to hazard. It is the job of each of us four pages of a newspaper Safely, with nothing to repair know more about how to show our appreciation. and show all four pages to the afterwards.” to effectively get your audience. Next I explain I am employees to watch One example of this happened going to teach them how a In the years to come, I out for each other’s during one of my presentations. magician tears a newspaper joined the American Society of safety you should check out my An audience member raised and restores it. I tell them the Safety Professionals and the presentation, “Would You Watch their hand and said, “John, secret is I don’t really tear the National Safety Council. I have Out For My Safety?®.” would you like me to watch out newspaper. I only create the spoken at their conferences If you would like more for your safety?” I answered, illusion it is torn. Here is where for over 25 years. In August information call Diane Weiss “Yes.” They pointed out my I tie in safety. I point out if I of 2000, I spoke at my first at 209-745-9419 or go to my shoelace had become untied don’t really tear it, I don’t have VPPPA National Conference. website: drebinger.com/ and walked to the edge of the to repair it. In fact, safety is the Several years later Paul Villane, safety-presentations-safety- stage and tied it for me. I noted same. If someone isn’t hurt, the Executive Director of the motivational-speaker/safety-the- their name and knew they then you don’t have to have VPPPA at the time, asked team-approach/. received my email newsletter them recover from an injury. me to speak at many of the on communicating safety. When I fully tear the newspaper, local regional conferences. I I returned home, I had my for real, several times and it remember speaking in Nevada granddaughter draw a picture is reduced to a small six-inch at the Region IX meeting, and of me and her. I had her write, wads of paper. Suddenly I we all fit in one room with “Dear Laura, Thanks for keeping appear to throw it towards the under 100 people. One of my my Papa safe!” Then I scanned it audience, and it unfolds fully favorite speaking engagements and emailed it to Laura. restored. I count out the four is speaking at company VPP/ pages as the audience applauds, VPPPA celebrations and kickoffs. Using Magic to saying, “As you can see it was It is a joy working with people so Teach Safety never torn and that’s exactly committed to getting everyone home safely every day. One of my most popular opening tricks is the torn and restored trYuour sted CVoPmPPeAsBeeoouths at advisor with innovative #1317 safety solutions. Trust Dräger to grow and support your business. No matter the industry, Dräger is a proven leader in safety equipment, from our fixed fire and gas detection systems to our portable gas detection and respiratory protection lines. And after 130 years, we continue to share our expertise to meet the business goals of our family of partners. See how becoming a Dräger manufacturer’s rep or channel partner puts trusted advisors by your side for product distribution and profits. For more info, call 1-800-4DRAGER or visit us at www.draeger.com Dräger. Technology for Life® vpppa.org Leader—Spring 2020 33

An Interview with Senator MIKE ENZI 34 Leader—Spring 2020 vpppa.org

O n February 26–27, VPPPA members gathered on Capitol Hill to educate VPPPA: members of Congress about the importance of workplace safety and health. The VPP Act (S.904) grants VPP its own line item in OSHA’s budget. VPP is a small What does S.904 mean to you? program with a big impact. Currently, the programs are funded through “Compliance Assistance—Federal,” alongside other cooperative initiatives. This legislation Senator Enzi: maintains the existing VPP process and ensures its continued success by codifying it and letting Congress control its funding directly. Safety knows no political party and it The Voluntary Protection Programs Act is vital to shine a light on successful government initiatives that promote a constructive means continuing by law a process that and productive dialogue between labor, management and regulators. works to reduce accidents, protecting the hardworking folks who risk their own well- VPPPA members had the pleasure of interviewing Senator Mike Enzi of Wyoming. being every day to keep this country going. He has been an integral force in the push to codify the VPP Act for many years. Creating and maintaining a safe workplace for all Americans has long been a priority VPPPA: VPPPA: of mine. I’m even trying to find a way for a similar program for small businesses to band You have passed more than 100 bills What is your position on workplace together with a safety professional. during your tenure. To what do you safety and why do you think workplace attribute that success? Out of all that safety is a cause worth supporting? VPPPA: legislation, what stands out as your greatest accomplishment? Senator Enzi: How does your past as a small business owner impact your decision to support Senator Enzi: We all deserve to work in a safe place. It is the VPP Act? important that workplaces stay proactive I came to Washington, D.C., because I enjoy and educate workers and employers about Senator Enzi: helping folks in Wyoming and solving best up-to-date health and safety practices. problems. I also like to legislate. Over the Workers need to watch out for hazards and I used to be a safety officer for a small oil years, I’ve developed my 80 percent tool—I each other. Supporting workplace safety well servicing company. I taught first aid believe that people can talk civilly about 80 reduces unnecessary work-related injuries and safety in enclosed spaces. I went out in percent of the issues. They can select any and illnesses that impact hardworking the field and collected saliva tests and urine of the 80 percent and probably agree on American families. Laws are not the total specimens. As a former small business owner, 80 percent of that issue. There is usually solution. There will never be enough I understand the importance of maintaining disagreement on 20 percent, 10 percent on inspectors to substitute for worker care, but a safe workplace and the work it takes to stay each side. Passing 80 percent by leaving out VPP puts a professional on site regularly. current on new health and safety practices. the contentious parts to solve later gets a lot Most accidents occur within six months of I also understand the realities of state and accomplished. I discovered this back when I hiring (not trained enough) or after five federal regulations and that they can be worked in the Wyoming State Legislature and years on the job (complacent because it’s extremely burdensome and costly. I think have used it ever since. been done safely so many times). programs like VPP show we can provide a safe workplace and minimize the burdens, The bill I am usually very proud of is one VPPPA: especially on smaller businesses. I most recently passed. One such bill is the Strengthening Career and Technical Education How long have you been involved in VPPPA: Act. This bill took years of work and was the process of codifying VPP? What has eventually passed unanimously and enacted been your role in this process? What about the VPP Act sparked into law in 2018. This is a great bill because it your interest in being a long-time makes improvements to career and technical Senator Enzi: supporter? Or what sparked your education programs for people who want interest in VPP? specific career skills to create and work with While the Voluntary Protection Programs their hands in high-wage, high-demand jobs. has always been of interest to me, I was Senator Enzi: first involved when I introduced the Safety Another bill that stands out would be my Advancement for Employees Act in 1997, The VPP caught my attention because it is a first bill ever signed into law. It was considered when I first got to the Senate. From then voluntary program that employers can choose an “impossible task” my freshman year as I on I have sponsored legislation that has to participate in—and it has been proven to heard of the problem with only 30 legislative allowed employers to continue to participate work. But I noticed that it is not a program in days left. People were expected to pay back gas in the program, like in 2015 when Senator law and can be ended by the stroke of a pen royalties because the federal government was Bennet from Colorado and I introduced by any president and possibly by a secretary declaring gas as part of coal and, therefore, legislation that would cement the VPP into of labor. Businesses are often good reflections owned by the federal government. My bill to law, which I continue to work on to this day. of people’s passions and this program works solve the problem passed unanimously in both I am also pleased that there is a bipartisan to be flexible with all types of businesses. The houses in 30 days. companion bill introduced in the U.S. House VPP has shown that it protects the health of Representatives. and safety of employees while saving the government hundreds of millions of dollars in inspections while helping to avoid injuries and illnesses more effectively. Pictured on page 34: Senator Mike Enzi (center) with VPPPA National Board Members, Terry Schulte (left) and Sean Horne (right). vpppa.org Leader—Spring 2020 35

Safety knows no VPPPA: Senator Enzi: political party and it is vital to shine a light on Why is it important to you to make VPP Throughout my career in public service, I’ve successful government codification a legacy item for you? How been a mayor, a state legislator, and now initiatives that do you see S.904 passing in Congress? a United States Senator. I very much look promote a constructive forward to doing my part in being an active and productive Senator Enzi: member of the community back in my home dialogue between state of Wyoming. I also look forward to labor, management Every day in the Senate, I work to ensure that spending more time with my grandkids and and regulators. our grandkids will be left with a better world. checking more things off my to-do list, like We are in a terrible financial situation, owing fishing in all 50 states. more than $23 trillion. The VPP saves federal money while it ensures that health and safety VPPPA: needs are maintained for our future workforce better than under any other program. It’s Any additional comments about VPP or past time to cement this program into law to workplace safety? ensure it continues to provide help for more of America’s businesses. I am hopeful that we can Senator Enzi: find a bipartisan path forward—perhaps using the 80 percent tool—to secure enactment of The Voluntary Protection Programs is a this important legislation before the end of tremendous opportunity to encourage public this Congress. and private businesses to be proactive in the prevention of workplace injuries and VPPPA: illnesses through hazard prevention and control, training and cooperation between You’ve said that after retiring from management and workers. I want to see the Senate that you will find other VPP utilized more, particularly by smaller ways to serve. Any plans you can businesses, and guaranteed to continue for share with us? big businesses. 36 Leader—Spring 2020 vpppa.org

Infographic Corner According to the The CDC states that American Burn Association, falls are the most common every year over 450,000 cause of traumatic serious burn injuries brain injuries. occur in the U.S. that require medical treatment. Electrical hazards OSHA statistics indicate cause more than that there are roughly 300 deaths 85 forklift and 4,000 fatalities injuries and 34,900 each year among the U.S. workforce. serious injuries each year. From age 25 In 2017, to about 65, 95% of the 70,067 being struck by or against an object is the U.S. drug overdose deaths occurred third most common injury, among the working age population, persons according to data from aged 15–64 years. the National Safety Council. vpppa.org Leader—Spring 2020 37

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Membership Corner Like us on Facebook & Follow us on Twitter: @VPPPA & Instagram: @VPPPA_Inc Meet the VPPPA Team Spring Members of the Month As VPPPA members, you talk to Congratulations to our Spring (March, April, May) National Office Staff members Members of the Month: Nate Brook, Ricky Lautzenheiser on the phone, chat with us via and Aaron Eddlemon. Want to submit someone to be email and sometimes see us at considered as a VPPPA Member of the Month? Email regional and national events. [email protected]. You can also check out all of the But we want our members previous Members of the Month on our website. to be able to more easily put names with faces. Check back Behavioral Health Q&A Column here in future issues to see more VPPPA National Office To continue the important conversations that were the staff member profiles. focus of the Winter 2020 issue of the Leader magazine (mental health and the workplace), VPPPA has partnered Name: Philecia Marasco with experts at MindWise Innovations to present a monthly Q&A article addressing questions that members Job Title: Registrar & might be hesitant to ask. These online columns will address Administrative Coordinator your questions about mental health, substance abuse, brain injuries, family issues and more. Keep watching the VPPPA Length of Time with VPPPA: Blog for future articles and to submit your own questions to Just hired in March the experts. We will be posting a new column on the third Thursday of each month. Favorite Parts of Working for VPPPA: I’m enjoying learning about VPPPA and how much the company cares about safety and health within the workplace. My co-workers are a great team to work with. Hometown: Eastport, NY Fun Facts About Me: I have five sons, I’ve lived in Virginia for 13 years, I have three sisters and two brothers, my favorite color is blue, I like to watch college basketball and enjoy the outdoors. Favorite Food: Pizza and Chinese Favorite Movie: Jumanji and Hunger Games Dream/Next Vacation Spot: Hawaii and Puerto Rico Favorite Musician/Band: Kane Brown, Linkin Park, Post Malone 40 Leader—Spring 2020 vpppa.org



State-Plan Monitor Compiled By Katlyn Pagliuca Membership Manager, VPPPA, Inc. IOWA MICHIGAN There are currently 43 VPP sites in Iowa. The There are two levels of recognition in the Michigan following is an update of Iowa OSHA VPP activities. Voluntary Protection Program (MVPP), the Star and Rising Star. Reapproved VPP Star Sites The Star program is designed for workplaces The following were reapproved as Iowa OSHA that have an exemplary safety and health VPP Star sites: management system with injury and illness incidence rates below the industry average for • Bayer (Grinnell) the last three years. • Collins Aerospace (Bellevue) • Bayer (Muscatine) The Rising Star program provides a • Bayer (Williamsburg) steppingstone for establishments that have the desire and potential to achieve Star status within Summer 2020 reapproved sites one to three years. Rising Star participants have a good safety and health management system and • Koehler Electric (Davenport) have incidence rates at, or below, the industry • Collins Aerospace (Decorah) average for two out of the last three years. • Zoetis (Charles City) • Cargill Corn Milling (Eddyville) There are currently 33 sites in the MVPP, with 28 Star, two Rising Star (Merit), two MVPP New VPP Sites Construction and one MVPP Construction Rising Star site. Sites that have recently been approved for participation in the program: Promotion • Duro-Last (Sigourney)—Mentored by Clow • An MVPP reevaluation onsite review was Valve Metal Casting Foundry conducted at Monsanto in Constantine Michigan. • NuStar Energy (Le Mars) • MIOSHA Consultation Education and Training • NuStar Energy (Milford) • NuStar Energy (Rock Rapids) Director Nella Davis-Ray presented a MVPP Star award to Cintas Fire Protection #D26 at a KENTUCKY ceremony in Troy, MI. The KY OSH Partnership Branch is also working Applications currently pending for with several sites pursuing VPP, with the the MVPP Construction: potential of adding several new VPP sites in this calendar year. • Glastender (Saginaw) The Star program is designed for workplaces Initial Approvals that have an exemplary safety and health management system with injury and illness Sites recently approved for participation incidence rates below the industry average for in the MVPP: the last three years. • Robert Bosch, LLC (Plymouth) Reevaluation Approvals Sites recently reapproved for continued participation in the MVPP: • Verso (Quinnesec) • Herman Miller Midwest Distribution Center (Holland) • Herman Miller Hickory (Spring Lake) • Marathon TT&R North Muskegon Terminal (North Muskegon) • Walbridge/U of M Projects (Ann Arbor) “Like” us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and subscribe to our YouTube channel. For further details on the MVPP, contact Doug Kimmel, MVPP specialist at 517-719-7296, or visit the MIOSHA website at www.michigan.gov/miosha. 42 Leader—Spring 2020 vpppa.org

MINNESOTA WASHINGTON A total of five reapproval visits have been conducted since the The Washington State Division of Occupational Safety and Health last edition of the Leader magazine. The following companies (DOSH) VPP currently has 33 participants. have been reapproved upon successful completion of the 90 day items: On January 7, Intermech Inc. of Richland was reapproved for continued participation at Star status. A plaque recognizing the sites • Trident Seafoods (Motley) continued participation since 2005 will be presented to them at a future • Cintas FAS (Brooklyn Park) date. On January 7, Star status was awarded to Cintas Corporation in Puyallup, WA. A certificate recognizing their status will be presented to The Minnesota OSHA (MNOSHA) Workplace Safety Consultation the site at a celebration on March 24. This is Washington state’s fourth (WSC) unit currently has 35 Star sites participating in the MNSTAR Cintas Star site. On January 24, Star status was awarded to MacDonald- program. Of the 35 Star sites, 33 are general industry locations Miller Facility Solutions in Seattle. A certificate recognizing their and two are resident contractors. One new participant successfully participation will be presented later. achieved MNSTAR status in FY 2019. In addition, four employers had reapproval visits completed. DOSH VPP has received an application and scheduled an approval onsite evaluation in April with Cintas Corporation in Yakima. We have If you would like further information about the MNSTAR Program, also received applications from Cintas Fire & Safety in Auburn, and please visit www.dli.mn.gov/business/workplace-safety-and-health/ Harris Rebar in Tacoma. Evaluations for those two will be scheduled mnosha-wsc-minnesota-star-mnstar-program or contact Marnie when time is available. Washington State VPP has nine reapproval Prochniak, MNSTAR/VPP Coordinator at marnie.prochniak@state. evaluations to complete in 2020. mn.us, or 651-478-8193. contacting each state Alaska Kentucky New Mexico Utah Christian Hendrickson Brian Black Melissa Barker Jerry Parkstone VPP Manager VPP Program Administrator VPP Coordinator VPP Coordinator [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Phone: (907) 269-4946 Phone: (502) 564-3320 Phone: (505) 222-9595 Phone: (801) 530-6901 Arizona Maryland North Carolina Vermont Jessie Atencio Allen Stump LaMont Smith Daniel Whipple Assistant Director VPP Manager Recognition Program Manager VPP Coordinator [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Phone: (520) 220-4222 Phone: (410) 527-4473 Phone: (919) 807-2909 Phone: (802) 828-5084 California Michigan Oregon Virginia Iraj Pourmehraban Sherry Scott Mark E. Hurliman, CSHM Milford Stern Cal/VPP & PSM Manager MVPP Manager VPP/SHARP Program Coordinator VPP Manager [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Phone: (510) 622-1080 Phone: (517) 322-5817 Phone: (541) 776-6016 Phone: (540) 562-3580 x 123 Hawaii Minnesota Puerto Rico Washington Nicole G. Bennett Tyrone Taylor, MBA Judith M. Cruz Concepción John Geppert OSH Program Specialist Director of Workplace Safety Puerto Rico VPP Manager VPP Manager Administrative & Consultation MN ​PR OSHA Voluntary Programs [email protected] Technical Support Manager Dept. of Labor & Industry Division Phone: (360) 902-5496 [email protected] Occupational Safety & [email protected] Phone: (808) 586-9081 Health Division Phone: (787) 754-2172 ext 3343 Wyoming [email protected] Clayton Gaunt Indiana Phone: (651) 284-5203 South Carolina VPP Manager Beth A. Gonzalez Sharon Dumit [email protected] VPP Team Leader Nevada VPP Coordinator Phone: (307) 777-7710 [email protected] Jimmy Andrews [email protected] Phone: (317) 607-6118 VPP Manager Phone: (803) 896-7788 [email protected] Iowa Phone: (702) 486-9046 Tennessee Shashi Patel David Blessman VPP Coordinator VPP Manager [email protected] [email protected] Phone: (515) 281-6369 Phone: (615) 253-6890 For additional information and up-to-date contacts, please visit www.vpppa.org/chapters/contacts.cfm vpppa.org Leader—Spring 2020 43

Regional Round-Ups Compiled by Jamie Mitchell Communications Coordinator, VPPPA, Inc. REGION I Upcoming Events read the qualifications and and more. This is a wonderful supply the needed paperwork opportunity to learn, network vppregion1.com The Region I Annual Safety & in ordered to be considered for or be a vendor. Regional Updates Health Excellence Conference & one of the scholarships. Expo has been canceled for 2020 The mentors for Region II On February 25, Region amid Coronavirus concerns. You Contributed by Karen Girardin, are now Kevin Mihalenko, VPP I held a meet and greet/ can find more information on Region I Chairperson Mentor for New Jersey, and regional meeting at Cintas in the Region I website. Richard Finnegan, VPP Mentor Chelmsford, MA. There were REGION II for New York. 22 attendees from 11 different The positions up for election companies representing this year are: Vice-Chairperson, Vppparegion2.org VPP Flag Raising both VPP sites and sites just Secretary, Hourly Rep from a Celebrations beginning their VPP journey. Site with a Collective Bargaining Region II currently has four Thank you to all who attended, Unit, and three Director- upcoming VPP evaluations with • Lockheed Martin, Owego, NY, and to Cintas for hosting the at-Large positions. Anyone spots open for SGEs. Contact event and taking the time to interested in applying can check Ms. Greta Olsson, Olsson. celebrated being a 25-year provide a tour of their facility. the Region I website. [email protected], If you are Star site. interested in volunteering for In addition to the regional Region I will also be having an any of these SGE opportunities. • Veolia, Schenectady, NY, meeting, Region I is continuing SGE Training at GE Healthcare More details on our website. to find ways to reach members in Westborough, MA, on celebrated their VPP Star on and share information. Region September 15–17, 2020. Please This year we are having a December 12. I has recently developed a keep checking the Region I combined safety conference LinkedIn account and updated website for updates. with Region III from July 20–24. Contributed by Grace Irby, their website. We’re continuing Region II Media Coordinator to look for ways to enhance the In addition, Dighton Power in The theme this year is: “who website and provide information Dighton, MA, is mentoring Kleen is your why?” and some of REGION IV that is relevant to the Region Energy in Middletown, CT. the topics for workshops and I membership. If anyone has breakout sessions include: regionivvpp.org feedback or suggestions on There are currently three OSHA 101—The Nuts and how to make improvements to scholarships available to Bolts of Safety, Hearing The 30th Annual Region IV the website, or to our outgoing workers and their families Conservation Best Practices, VPPPA Safety and Health communications, please don’t from VPP sites in Region I. The Safe Handling and Disposal Excellence Conference has been hesitate to reach out to a Region I scholarships are awarded to of Hazardous Waste, Best canceled due to the Coronavirus board member and let them know. students that meet the criteria Practices at VPP Sites, OSHA pandemic. Please visit our Any feedback is appreciated. mentioned in the scholarship 7500—Intro to Safety and website for more information. guidelines which can be Health Management, DOT found on the Region I website. Clearinghouse Guidelines, Contributed by Christopher Colburn, Applicants are encouraged to Region IV Vice-Chairperson Buckhead Meat & Seafood of Ohio, Northwood, OH, VPP celebration. Pictured from left to right: REGION V Bryan Csehi, President; Andy Hentges, Safety Specialist; Sarah Wilk, Quality Tech; Dawn Burnett, Packaging Department; Tiesha Johnson, Meat Processing; Jason Lopez, Seafood Operations and vppregionv.org Kim Nelson, Area Director, OSHA Toledo Area Office. On October 1, 2019, Region V welcomed two new sites into VPP. Oshkosh Defense, LLC, West Plant Facility, Oshkosh, WI, and Buckhead Meat & Seafood of Ohio, Northwood, OH. Region V has four applicants currently piloting the online VPP application process. They include Ecolab, Elk Grove Village, IL; VelocityEHS, Chicago, IL; Torrid, LLC, West Jefferson, OH and Cintas Chicago Rental GSC, Chicago, IL. These sites are assisting OSHA to work out glitches to improve the quality and efficiency during the online application process for VPP. Contributed by Jimmy Jacquez, Region V Director Ex Officio 44 Leader—Spring 2020 vpppa.org

At the end of the day, you’ll be... Only $25/year The Leader : VPPPA’s award-winning magazine SUBSCRIBE TODAY! STAY SAFE! Discounts available on bulk orders. Email [email protected] to learn more. [email protected] | 703-761-1146 vpppa.org

Ad Index PorBpoueadtsgutuhecresteLF3ite8soat–ictn3uh9gre.eocdnk Advertiser Website Page Access Compliance www.accesscompliance.net 4 AIM www.aimforsafety.com 6 Bolle www.bolle.com/us 48 Draeger www.draeger.com/en-us_us/Home 33 Gas Clip www.gascliptech.com/index.php 2 Glove Guard gloveguard.com 36 Impacto www.impacto.ca 41 Roco Rescue www.rocorescue.com/about-roco 3 SlipNOT www.slipnot.com 47 University of Alabama uab.edu/asem 17 Working Concepts www.softknees.com 21 VPPPA contacts To reach the VPPPA National Office, call (703) 761-1146 or visit www. vpppa.org. To reach a particular staff member, please refer to the contact information below. Sara A. Taylor, CMP Kerri Carpenter Katlyn Pagliuca Director of Operations Communications Membership Manager [email protected] & Outreach Manager [email protected] [email protected] Natasha Cole Sierra Johnson Events Coordinator Jamie Mitchell Special Projects Coordinator [email protected] Communications Coordinator [email protected] [email protected] Philecia Marasco Registrar & Administrative Coordinator Heidi Hill [email protected] Senior Event Sales & Advertising Coordinator [email protected] 46 Leader—Spring 2020 vpppa.org

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7600 Leesburg Pike, East Building, Suite 100 Falls Church, VA 22043-2004 Tel: (703) 761-1146 Fax: (703) 761-1148 www.vpppa.org VPPPA, a nonprofit 501(c) (3) charitable organization, promotes advances in worker safety and health excellence through best practices and cooperative efforts among workers, employers, the government and communities. SCAN QR CODE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT VPPPA, INC. http://bit.ly/jVQcBo PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER