VOL8/NO4/AUTUMN 2021 ARE YOU READY? MASS SHOOTINGS ARE WORKPLACE VIOLENCE THE EMPLOYEE AGAINST THE DOG ACTIVE SHOOTER AND HOSTILE EVENTS WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PREVENTION THE ACTIVE SHOOTER DRILL TRAINING IS NOT PREVENTION, IT’S MITIGATION
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CONTENTS VOL 8 | NO 4 | AUTUMN 2021 FEATURES 16 12 30 Workplace Violence: Are Active Shooter and You Ready? Hostile Events By Dr. Steve Webb By Brian Bennett, PhD, CSP 16 36 Mass Shootings ARE Workplace Violence Workplace Violence Prevention By Phil La Duke By Adele L. Abrams, Esq., CMSP, President, Law Office of 26 Adele L. Abrams, P.C. The Employee Against 40 the Dog Workplace Violence By Mitzi Robinson, President/ The Active Shooter Drill Founder, Bulli Ray Occupational Training Is Not Prevention, Dog Bite Safety It’s Mitigation By Frank King, The Mental Health Comedian 26 COLUMNS vpppa.org 6 Message from the Chairperson 8 Women in Safety SECTIONS 44 Membership Corner 53 Infographic Corner 54 Ad Index Leader—Autumn 2021 5
A Message From the VPPPA Chairperson I wholeheartedly believe Hello my fellow VPPPA members, that we will continue to look back on this year’s F irst and foremost, I want to begin by sharing how great it was to interact (both in- Symposium as a reminder person and virtually) with everyone at this year’s National Safety+ Symposium. For of the resilience and the first time in almost two years, we were able to come together and execute the dedication held by those a conference that we all know and love, despite circumstances surrounding the pandemic. part of VPPPA. To those who joined us face-to-face in Nashville, I’d like to express a great thanks for complying with COVID-19 protocols that were set in place; your collective effort helped ensure the safety and health of those in attendance, and ultimately played a large part in making this year’s Symposium a smashing success. While there are countless moments worth highlighting from this year’s event— statements made by our keynote speakers, Jim Frederick from OSHA, and Jimmy Hart from the AFL-CIO, warrant mention. Both Frederick and Hart stressed the importance of increasing collaboration with VPP participants, this, along with seeing OSHA and Labor assure all of us they support VPP and will in the foreseeable future was great to hear. Additionally, each workshop speaker went above and beyond delivering their expertise. Meanwhile, the exhibit hall contained a great deal of new world-class safety products, many of which I had not heard of or seen before, from an amazing group of vendors! On top of this, the networking events were an absolute hit, as being able to connect safely in-person, with faces both new and familiar, reaffirmed my appreciation and commitment to this Association. Given all of these wonderful highlights, I wholeheartedly believe that we will continue to look back on this year’s Symposium as a reminder of the resilience and dedication held by those a part of VPPPA. While the Symposium has come and passed, we want to ensure everyone that the VPPPA has not stopped working to provide you with the best member benefits. Our fantastic staff at VPPPA’s National Office continues to demonstrate why the VPPPA is the premier safety and health organization. We are expanding our online education services and free member webinars, so please be sure to regularly visit our newly revamped website to find more information on our upcoming virtual education events. Additionally, I am excited to share that you will soon be receiving information on our virtual conference occurring early next year! Also, we expect to have our electronic annual self-evaluation completed by the end of this year – those who complete the annual evaluation process will notice changes that help organize and streamline this task. Lastly, we are expanding our membership department, because of this we kindly request that when you receive the membership benefit survey, please fill it out to ensure we are providing relevant benefits to our membership. I am beyond honored to work with such a remarkable group of passionate individuals in our National and Regional Board, as well as our National Office staff. We are excited about the future of the VPP program and the many ways the VPPPA will continue to support it. I thank each of you for unwavering support, and for being such an important part of this journey going forward. —T erry Schulte, Chairman—National VPPPA Board of Directors We are better together! 6 Leader—Autumn 2021 vpppa.org
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Women in Safety Guest Author: Dianne Grote Adams, MS, CIH, CSP, CPEA, FAIHA President and Founder of Safex, Inc., Westerville, Ohio Improving Communication Skills to Influence Safety Culture VPPPA Presents… A s health, safety the negative, so we all thought to know our audience, Women in Safety and environmental of elephants. I’m using his including those who we must (HSE) professionals, advice by avoiding the words influence, and discover what VPPPA is excited to we recognize that “no” or “don’t do that” when motivates them. introduce a new column safety is good business. While observing unsafe behaviors. for the Leader magazine: we’ve spent years honing Instead, I’m practicing Not everyone naturally Women in Safety. While our technical skills, we often verbalizing what the desired shares the HSE professionals’ the safety industry is still a don’t spend time developing behavior should be. This also commitments to mitigating male-dominated industry, our business acumen and works at home with children! risk, so we may have to the number of women is communication and leadership identify other motivating increasing each year. It’s skills. I consistently assess One thing I’ve learned over factors to get their support. important to identify and my journey as an HSE leader time is that building a culture Our coworkers often have communicate the issues and look for opportunities to of safety requires us to sell competing motivations or that women face. improve my effectiveness. our ideas before we can lead don’t recognize the risk that is change. Influence and trust obvious to us. Ultimately, it is Each issue of the Leader, When I sat down years ago to are necessary fundamentals to our responsibility to educate we will be including an assess my strengths using the relationships which are built them on the risk and get their article from a prominent Clifton Strengths assessment, upon communication. Effective support by appealing to their woman working in the I learned that my biggest one communication requires us interests and motivations. safety and health industry. is being a learner. This means I If you, or someone you have a great desire to learn and know, would like to write for want to continuously improve. this column, please contact I am continually reading VPPPA at communications@ and listening to podcasts to vpppa.org. develop my soft skills. John C. Maxwell, Marcus Buckingham, 8 Leader—Autumn 2021 Gallup and Simon Sinek are my primary resources, so far. I discovered having a strong business understanding and improving my leadership and communication skills has enhanced my effectiveness as an HSE leader. Plus, I just love the process of learning about new concepts. Recently, I listened to Simon Sinek’s “How to Stop Holding Yourself Back.” It was a great refresher on the inability for the brain to comprehend the negative. Sinek illustrated this point by telling the audience to not think of an elephant. And guess what, you, me and the audience couldn’t comprehend vpppa.org
That requires us to learn beneficial. You’ll learn how about different styles of others perceive your approach communication, and how we and identify opportunities for can address our audiences in a you to share information in a variety of methods. way that those with different motivators can respond Communication is key positively to your message. A quick Google search will For example, I’m an turn up many ways to assess analytical and logical your communication style communicator and some of and find what motivates my coworkers don’t respond you. My company recently to my bulleted approach to used True Colors® to speaking and writing. They assess our personalities want more information, more and communication styles background, as well as more to improve our team’s personal connection. While I effectiveness. In an ideal don’t naturally communicate world, there’s a huge benefit in their preferred way, I have in conducting a company- learned to add context and wide communication and stories to my bullets to get personality assessment, but if them to engage. So, when I that’s not possible, assessing have an important message to your own personality and share, I must take a little extra communication style is very time to prepare the message considering the various vpppa.org Leader—Autumn 2021 9
Understanding where our business performance, such as return Leader Within You”, the leaders come from is crucial for on investment (ROI) and the author, John C. Maxwell, effectively communicating the value wise use of resources and explains that influence is a of a safety culture. meeting objectives. They must skill that can be developed. see the ROI and value in what He goes on to explain that communication styles at my is being proposed to respond once we are beyond the first company. In some cases, I have positively. Once I understood level of leadership, a level he a short, bulleted version and that, I discovered that I must refers to as positional leaders, a long version with context explain the HSE needs in we become more influential. to appeal to employees with these terms. Some executives’ To grow as a leader, we must different communication motivators are different than develop relationships. As you styles. Understanding different mine, not wrong or right, just develop relationships, people communication styles and different. I began to explain begin to follow because they how people respond is worth accident costs in terms of want to and because of what the time. product produced. Using you have accomplished for the the profit of our product, I organization. That is when Speak in their calculated the costs and then change towards a culture of language visually shared pictures of safety can occur. the amount of product we put Understanding where our in the dumpster to pay for And in the book “First business leaders come from the costs of an incident. That Among Equals”1, the authors is crucial for effectively visual helped our production make it clear that our communicating the value team recognize the value in effectiveness depends more of a safety culture. Business risk mitigation because they on our people skills than our leaders are measured and knew how many resources it technical skills. I’m sure you motivated by financial took to make that product. have heard “People don't care It was no longer just about how much you know until they people getting hurt because we know how much you care”2, our appealed to their production challenge, as HSE professionals, and financial focus. is to continue to develop our people skills. Business leaders also want to see a plan for implementation. Not long ago, I received Most business leaders’ plates the ultimate compliment are very full, and they don’t from a large client. He said, appreciate a problem being “Thanks for your leadership presented without a proposed and commitment to our resolution. I realized it’s organization. Your passion and my job to communicate ability to effectively summarize the ROI and value of a HSE is a gift.” It was apparent that investment, as well as the continuing to hone my soft plan to implement the skills and understand their request, including the required business operations provides resources. Once I learned an opportunity to influence to present requests in that their journey to a culture manner, I found decisions of safety. That’s what HSE came more quickly. leadership is all about. Hone the power Dianne Grote Adams, MS, CIH, of influence CSP, CPEA, FAIHA, is the President and Founder of Safex, Inc., an As HSE professionals, we must occupational health, safety and influence the behaviors of our environmental firm in Westerville, teams to reduce risk. Influence Ohio. Her passion is mentoring is an outcome of effective leaders to positively influence leadership. Since most HSE their safety culture. professionals influence beyond their direct reports, they have REFERENCES: the obligation to be effective 1 First Among Equals, Patrick J. leaders. In “Developing the McKenna and David H. Maister 2 Theodore Roosevelt 10 Leader—Autumn 2021 vpppa.org
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WORKPLACE A R EVIOLENCE YO U READY Workplace violence has become one, if not THE primary concern of the 21st century workforce. And because of this, vpppa.org incorporating workplace violence prevention and preparedness initiatives into employee training has proved essential, now more than ever. Oftentimes, we mistakenly think that acts of violence will never happen at our place of work, to our families, or to us personally. However, after years of researching mass shootings and visiting organizations and communities that have experienced extreme violence, I have found that the reality of encountering violence at work is not a matter of if, but when. By Dr. Steve Webb 12 Leader—Autumn 2021
W orkplace violence respond accordingly. Although According to the affects all his fellow workers reportedly FBI, workplace occupations and all saw him distressed and violence is individuals who go displaying suspicious behavior recognized as to work every single day. It has on the day of his disciplinary its own category become so prevalent that on meeting, their minds refused to of violent crime January 10, 2017, OSHA issued believe that the threats he had that calls for a directive on Enforcement made were real, and in turn, distinct responses Procedures and Scheduling none of them responded to the from employers for Occupational Exposure obvious indicators. Ultimately, as well as law to Workplace Violence (CPL five lives were lost and enforcement. 02-01-058) that mandates countless others remain forever businesses provide training on affected—simply because this the prevention of workplace worksite provided its employees violence and mandates that with poor training. organizations address “any act or threat of physical violence, The same has happened in harassment, intimidation or a multitude of mass shootings other threatening disruptive throughout history, particularly behavior that occurs at in schools where obvious the worksite.” warning signs were ignored because the people most at Let me be crystal clear, risk of being the recipient of a any person connected to violent act, were never included an individual, whether by in the real-life, present-day proximity or relationship, prevention training that would may threaten, harass, or have helped them identify injure employees while they those signs and ultimately, are on the job. According to save their lives. Prior to this the FBI, workplace violence is Aurora event, there was little recognized as its own category research that existed in relation of violent crime that calls to businesses, and the research for distinct responses from that was out there focused employers as well as mainly on acts such as patient law enforcement. On February 15, 2019, a mass shooting took place at Henry Pratt Company in Aurora, Illinois—my home state. Six people, including the perpetrator Gary Martin, died and six others were injured. The five victims fatally shot were employees at the plant including a human resources manager, a plant manager, a mold operator, a stock room attendant, a forklift operator, and a 21-year-old Northern Illinois University student on his first day as a human resources intern. A sixth plant employee sustained gunshot wounds during the shooting, but survived. What was so important about this event? The perpetrator told his fellow workers he was going to do it—he was going to kill them all if he got fired—and they didn’t vpppa.org Leader—Autumn 2021 13
Within the assaults in healthcare and the armed, well-trained security So, what is a threat? OSHA workplace we find high risks facing taxi and Uber at a facility, it didn’t stop the defines a threat as “any act bullying, physical or Lyft drivers and banks, and loss of life at Columbine High or threat of physical violence, attacks, degrading certainly convenience store School. It didn’t deter the harassment, intimidation or comments, clerks. The ramifications of a attack in Parkland, FL, and it other threatening disruptive intimidation, and wrongful death situation can didn’t stop one of my friend’s behavior that occurs at the harassments. destroy a business and the days children from taking a bullet worksite.” Within the workplace Any of these of playing the blame game are to the neck at Marshall County we find bullying, physical threats can have over. The training, or better High School in Benton, KY. attacks, degrading comments, a negative impact said the quality of training, rests There were armed officers at intimidation, and harassments. on well-being of solely with management. So, all of those institutions and Any of these threats can have a the workers. where do you start? You stop when you are dealing with a negative impact on well-being ignoring the fact that the world mentally unstable, most likely of the workers and according has changed—the workforce suicidal individual—they are to recent research, the 21st has changed—and you need to counting on not leaving the Century workforce has named change with it to identify the scene anyway. “personal safety” as their risks of a new world. A world primary concern. If these where technology changes While saying that armed behaviors are not addressed so rapidly that the flow of security is a mitigation technique and allowed to continue, the information is endless—and so is true, it certainly cannot be work environment can often is the anxiety that comes with it. the only, or even the primary form a contagious downward mitigation tactic. In fact, proper spiral hostile culture that Now, let’s look at the risks. training in workplace violence could lead to a loss of OSHA’s directive focuses on mitigation has been fairly production and possibly, two primary questions to defined in the courts as they are exposure to liability. Failure determine whether you are consistently finding that proper to promptly address these liable: 1. “Did the employer training includes instruction and behaviors can certainly have recognize potential hazards practice. Simply showing a video financial consequences within in the workplace?” and 2. or lecturing is not enough. In the courts and settlements. “Were there feasible means other words, gone are the days of preventing or minimizing when you can just show a video So, what makes us liable? such hazards?” Many schools and certify that you are trained The Bureau of Labor Statistics over the years, believed that for paperwork purposes. Gone has listed three main ways having a police officer on are the days where violence only the courts look at liability. campus equated to a quality occurs in large metropolitan Employers may be held liable prevention plan. While there are areas as it is finding its way to if they: 1. negligently hired definitely more positives than rural America—finding its way an employee; 2. negligently negatives regarding having to you. supervised an employee; or 3. negligently trained an employee. Approximately two million employees have endured some type of workplace violence on an annual basis and approximately 25% of workplace violence goes unreported. So, possibly a quarter of a million people each year are affected by this violence but still yet, most businesses believe that some type of ‘run, hide, fight’ training will suffice as a proper training. If you have to run, hide OR fight, it is too late. The damage is done, and the lawsuits will begin. The negative view of your business will most certainly affect you and those you love. Wouldn’t it be more productive, more 14 Leader—Autumn 2021 vpppa.org
cost-effective, and certainly will the narrative be that it person—not just the employee The good news is make more sense to prevent the was completely unexpected and that is what our nation’s that good training violence from occurring? and another sad (nationally best workers are looking for. will not only televised of course) interview, They want someone who help you in the Time and time again, we as this time with one of your cares about them at work and workplace, it helps humans have proven that we employees who say “I can’t at home. Does your training you stay safe do have common sense and believe it happened here!” provide that? when you go to the we do strive to improve—but mall, to Wal-Mart, research confirms that what There are countless aspects Dr. Steve Webb is a to the park to let we really want is routine. to quality violence prevention Certified Workplace your children play, Why? Because it is safe—it training. Wouldn’t it make Violence and Threat or wherever you is orderly. What we are sense to understand the Assessment Specialist, may go. discussing in this article is working conditions which may a nationally recognized safety the day it is no longer routine. increase the risk of workplace expert and author of the best- The day may have started violence? How about victim selling book Education in a as usual, but it is about to characteristics as well as Violent World. He is an award- become deadly. Ask yourself perpetrator characteristics so winning educator, police officer this…when the investigation you and your employees can and founder of Safe Secure is over—when the proverbial self-evaluate and ultimately, Systems. He was awarded dust has settled on the learn how to conduct threat by the National School Public event—what will the FBI and assessments yourself? The Relations Association with the local authorities say about you good news is that good “Distinguished Service Award and how you were doing your training will not only help you of Excellence” and named very best to prevent this? Will in the workplace, it helps you a “Leader Among Us” by the they tell reporters that due to stay safe when you go to the Southern Business Journal. Dr. your extensive training, there mall, to Wal-Mart, to the park Webb is an A.L.I.C.E. Active Shooter were no loss of lives today and to let your children play, or Response Trainer & R.A.I.D.E.R. Solo you should be commended? wherever you may go. Good, Engagement Instructor. Disaster was averted? Or, consistent training helps the www.drstevewebb.com WE’VE GOT OPTIONS A GLOVE CLIP FOR EVERY USER Featuring interlocking teeth and ex resistant plastic they’re sure to keep your gloves safe and secure so that you’re never caught barehanded again. UTILITY GUARD® CLIP HANDI KLIP® CLIP 888.660.6133 GLOVE GUARD® CLIP GLOVEGUARD.COM [email protected] vpppa.org Leader—Autumn 2021 15
39,000 AMERICANS DIE FROM GUN VIOLENCE EVERY YEAR— AN AVERAGE OF 100 PER DAY MASS SH OTINGS By Phil La Duke Nobody likes to think or talk about mass shootings or workplace violence, so it‘s no wonder that it seldom occurs to people that mass shootings are in fact a leading cause of workplace violence. People work at schools, hospitals, concerts, movie theaters, and virtually every place a mass shooting has occurred was somebody’s workplace. I wrote Lone Gunman: Rewriting go in for that sort of stuff”. My that not many people want to the Handbook on Workplace publicist was appalled—she talk about workplace violence Violence Prevention as a guide said he was chuckling when he or mass shootings. Despite the for people who wanted better said it; then, that very weekend, fact that 39,000 Americans die advice than “run, hide, and two women were murdered from gun violence every year.1 fight back” when dealing with by their estranged “intimate” a mad-dog killer. Following partners (a term I learned in Why is it so hard to talk a successful book signing my research—a blanket word about mass shootings and in Metro Detroit I tried to that covers everything from workplace violence? Well, piggy-back on a speech I was domestic partners to boy/ for starters there is no slated to make on Workplace girlfriend, to husband or wife) consistent definition or Violence Prevention at a VPPPA while at their workplaces universal definition of a “mass conference in New Orleans. I along with several innocent shooting.” Obviously, it’s decided to have my publicist bystanders were also killed. tough to get good statistics on reach out to the national I thought that this type of a practice with no universal bookstore chain’s New Orleans attitude toward workplace criteria, but many experts location. The manager told my violence prevention would be define a mass shooting as an publicist in a patronizing tone an outlier, but as I probed the event where an armed person that “no, our customers don’t subject a bit further, I found (almost always a man) uses a firearm to injure or kill three 16 Leader—Autumn 2021 vpppa.org
ARE WORKPLACE VI LENCE vpppa.org Leader—Autumn 2021 17
54% Non-public incidents Public incident MORE THAN HALF 30 Incidents OF MASS 20 SHOOTINGS 10 ARE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE- RELATED. Everytown for Gun Safety. \"Mass Shootings in the United States, 2009–2019 0 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016 or more people. You might be incredibly remote, yet I still wrote a pragmatic and useful surprised how many people buy lottery tickets. When it (so others seem to think) will push back that nearly comes to mass shootings guide to workplace violence all mass shootings occur people just shrug and say prevention while soft pedaling in someone’s workplace. “what can I do?” Well the the gun debate. Rather than Consider the places where answer to that is plenty. shy away from that debate some of the more notable mass I explore the connection shootings have occurred: a When it comes to between mass shootings and movie theater? Movie theaters mass shootings workplace violence in my next have employees. A concert people just shrug book. More than half of single venue? Concert venues have and say “what shooter events (a polite way employees. A school? A park? can I do?” Well the of saying mass murders) have A college campus? All of these answer to that a specific target identified, locations have employees is plenty. and while we can’t ignore that and therefore constitute 46% of these events have no workplaces. Whether a location I have to admit, I was a known target, we cannot rule has one worker or 10 thousand coward when I wrote Lone that out either. it is a workplace. Gunman. I didn’t want the readers to get so bogged down Despite the fact that there is Besides the lack of in a gun debate that they lost no unified definition of what consistent language regarding sight of the issue of workplace exactly constitutes a mass mass shootings and workplace violence, but we will get back shooting, another common violence, the odds are you to that a bit later. Suffice thread in almost all of the won’t die at your job, and to say I chickened out and many definitions agree that it’s even more of a longshot there are differences in the that if you die at work, it will events that take place in a be the result of a homicide, private setting than that take especially a mass shooting. place in a public setting. In a But the chances of me winning private setting, (the home or a a multi-state lottery are also workplace not easily accessible 18 Leader—Autumn 2021 vpppa.org
Percentage of Women and Men Killed by Type of Assailant Relative or domestic 20% 42% 2% 33% 18% Robber 15% Women Men Coworker or work 10% 11% 31% Student, patient Inmate or detainee 2% 8% Other or unspecified 8% to the public) there is almost Gender Disparity in world) an employee’s death The majority of women always a specific target or Mass Shootings and during the work commute murdered in the workplace targets, whereas in a public Workplace Violence is not considered a work- are killed by a relative or a setting the primary driving related injury. domestic partner (42%) force is a high body count with Homicide is the number one while another 10% are no known specific target (or cause of death for women who A primary motivation murdered by students or even target groups). In short, die in the workplace and many for workplace violence is patients, and 18% are killed no one really knows what of the people I have talked to a domestic dispute. This is by a coworker. drives someone to commit the have argued that this statistic understandable since many mass murder of strangers and is misleading, because, victims of domestic abuse Only 2% of men on the other experts don’t agree on much... according to them, men take refuge in the presumed hand are only killed by except that the problem is are doing more of the most safety of the workplace. intimate contacts. Coworkers getting worse. The chart above hazardous jobs. But this claim Unfortunately, many and students are within 4% (https://www.rand.org/research/ doesn’t hold up to scrutiny. employers choose to turn a points between the genders gun-policy/analysis/essays/ blind eye toward the threat a troubling 31% are killed mass-shootings.html) seems Jobs that involve working of workplace violence and the by unknown assailants. It to show a flattening trend, with the public and handling target of the violence becomes is difficult to defend the however, experts now believe money are extremely easy to locate, isolate, and kill. contention that homicide is that the true metric should be dangerous as compared with the leading cause of death the length of time between the many industries, and while A comparison of these two in the workplace for women previous mass shooting and it is true that automobile charts (based on information because other things are the subsequent mass shooting, accidents will kill far more from the Bureau of Labor killing men when women are and this number is increasingly people than a workplace Statistics) demonstrate the 21 times more likely to be getting shorter. violence event, it is also true stark difference between the murdered in the workplace that in the United States type of person who attacks than men. (unlike many parts of the women versus those who attack men: Leader—Autumn 2021 19 vpppa.org
Top Tips for preventing • Constantly checking in with Robbery-Related workplace violence their partner or repeated Deaths by Despite the hand wringing and phone calls from their partner Occupation fretting about the helplessness that employers feel over • Not having cash or credit First-line supervisors 34% preventing workplace violence there are many things an cards with them Cashiers 24% employer can do BEFORE an armed man intent on murder • Skipping out on work, school, Police 23% arrives at the workplace: or social outings for no clear Taxi Drivers 19% Employees likely to reason or because their become victims (triggering partner “is waiting for them.” Perhaps it would be a workplace attack): enlightening to consider the • Wearing clothes that don’t top jobs who are likely to die The single largest cause of as a result of robbery related workplace violence is domestic fit the weather, particularly violence. As this chart indicates violence that overflows into long-sleeves or turtlenecks cashiers (a disproportionately the workplace. Victims of in summer. female occupation) are killed domestic abuse are often in robberies just a little bit ashamed, blame themselves, • Working long hours (coming more frequently than police (a and embarrassed that they male dominated occupation) are in the situation in which in early, working late) even and yet the occupation most they find themselves. When when their workload does not frequently killed during victims leave their abusers, it justify it. robberies are first-line is highly likely that they will supervisors. The fourth largest alert their friends and families • Overly quiet or atypically group of victims of robbery and even casual acquaintances homicides are taxi drivers— that they might be in danger, nonassertive. vulnerable and frequently but they seldom alert their carrying sizable sums of cash. employers. Even if victims • A change in personality. It seems counter intuitive that file restraining orders that • An increase in drug or the two occupations that hire INCLUDE their workplaces, it the most women would be the is not uncommon for them to alcohol use. most likely victims of homicide tell their employers that their unless there is some other abusers are not allowed on the When victims factor driving the killings. In premises (including parking leave their other words, the contention lots). It is important that abusers, it is highly that more women are murdered no one blames the victim of likely that they will in the workplace because men domestic abuse for triggering alert their friends are far more likely to be doing an attack. A mass shooting is a and families jobs that may be at risk for a deliberate, calculated assault and even casual fatality but at relatively low on multiple targets. The key to acquaintances risk for a homicide just doesn’t identifying potential victims is that they might be add up. to look at changes in behavior in danger, but they or routine, including: seldom alert their employers. • Bruises, scars, or other Employees likely to signs that the individual has become unhinged been assaulted (triggering a workplace attack): • Pinch scars (small red Single shooter events are the bruises typically on the arm last-ditch attempt to create caused by a person violently change; it is the act of someone grabbing another and tightly who is typically very controlling holding) the arm or neck and who feels that he or she is out of options. His or her • Excuses for injuries life is likely spiraling out of • Personality changes, like low control. The single shooter in the workplace is trying to exert self-esteem in someone who the control he or she feels he or was always confident 20 Leader—Autumn 2021 vpppa.org
she has lost. Workplace violence What employees are most trigger a violent episode A mass shooting is also typically carried out likely to come unhinged? often exhibit paradoxical is a deliberate, by individuals who are heavy changes in their behavior, calculated assault alcohol or drug users (at least Of course, there are no perfect particularly from friendly on multiple at the time of the attack)—they predictors of a workplace lone and sociable to sullen targets. The key to may have been teetotalers gunman, and as I have stated and antisocial, or from identifying potential before their lives took an ugly at length, you shouldn’t jump quiet and reserved to loud victims is to look at turn. These individuals have to any rash judgments about and bold. This change in changes in behavior been given every chance and an individual just because of behavior can also indicate or routine. typically are out of any sort of a couple of suspicious or odd drug use, which in itself options. They carry a grudge for behaviors. That having been is also an indicator. an injustice—real or imagined— said, some of the warning On the other hand, and feel like they have no other signs that an individual is someone who is a potential alternative; they are cashing becoming unstable (and these target for violence may in their proverbial chips and warning signs can apply become withdrawn, quiet, going out in a blaze of glory to both perpetrators and and antisocial. and gore. Workplace violence is targets) include: typically not motivated by hate, ° Lethargy or apathy. rather they are motivated by • Behavioral changes desperation, defeat and fueled When a person feels that by alcohol or drugs. Single ° A marked change in they are running out of shooter events are the one last options, this feeling of act to demonstrate that the personality. One of the malaise can manifest in shooter still has some modicum first and most notable lethargy or apathy. The of control over his or her life changes that something individual stops caring and the lives of his victims. is amiss in a person’s life about the consequences is a sudden and marked and the day-to-day change in attitude. mundanity of the job. This Someone suffering from can apply to either the outside stimuli that could ® • 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—Autumn 2021 21
Workplace violence perpetrator or the target they should be considered to him” or other ominous is typically not as both are in a horrible another red flag. idioms. This defiance motivated by environment from which of authority may take hate, rather they they can see no way out. ° Persecution complexes the form of pushing the are motivated by limits to test the extent to desperation, defeat ° Becoming overly and delusional thoughts. which the authority figure and fueled by A worker who fails to will allow them to behave alcohol or drugs. and inappropriately acknowledge his or her dysfunctionally. What’s emotional. What, you drop in performance, and worse is this defiance 22 Leader—Autumn 2021 may ask, constitutes blames others or claims without consequence “inappropriate” behavior that everyone is out to serves to embolden the or becoming “overly get them may be prone behavior inviting even emotional”? Crying over to violence—although greater demonstrations the loss of a parent is generally speaking this of defiance. appropriately emotional, is just a personality crying over the loss of a type and it’s important ° Recklessness. The blue pen is not. To some to recognize that a extent overly emotional is possibility of violent lone gunman has in the eye of the beholder. behavior is not the same given up and honestly But when you view the as a propensity for violent doesn’t consider or fear behavior through the lens behavior which is not the consequences, long before of workplace violence same as a predictor or this manifests in an you need to concentrate violent behavior. These actual violent episode it on dramatic changes people will blame others will likely show itself in in behavior and subtle for their mistakes and recklessness, from taking shifts. Often the feelings make repeated excuses. business extreme risks of hopelessness and loss They may accuse their (like calling a customer of control that precede superiors of playing obscene names) to theft a single shooter event, favorites or being “out or destruction of company result in emotional to get them”. They will property. In these outbursts that are out tend to look for reasons extreme cases it’s almost of character particularly to take offense and will as if the individual is angry outbursts, crying often take things very inviting a trigger whether jags, or pouting. personally. These people he knows it or not. This will deflect criticism by behavior coupled with the ° Joking about or claiming that “everyone” other behavioral changes is doing it and may is an observable prelude threatening violence. actually believe that they to a violent outburst. Joking about violence are being singled out means that consciously for punishment. ° Obsession with violent or unconsciously the person telling the joke is ° Defiance of authority. films or imagery. Not thinking about violence. everyone who is a fan Thinking about violence is The typical person who of A Clockwork Orange not the same as planning perpetrates workplace is a seething sociopath violence, but it is another violence can hold waiting to explode, checkmark on our list of grudges—especially but the person who is indicators of workplace against his or her obsessed, and I chose violence. Threatening supervisor—like a that term carefully, with violence, even in a non- junkyard dog with a violence is more likely threatening tone, is far fresh bone. He or she to perpetrate violence more serious and should will likely become openly than someone who is not. be dealt with swiftly defiant and voice his or Here again, the people and decisively. These her lack of respect for the obsessed with violence threats can be spoken or company, the supervisor, and gore who act on this made through emails, in and the executives. They are statistical outliers—if conversation, or subtle often will talk about every immature man or innuendo. Someone who the bad things that will adolescent boy who was jokes about violence more happen to the person extremely interested often than not is not against whom he or she in violence when on someone who will commit has the grudge by saying murderous rampages the acts about which he things like, “don’t worry, there wouldn’t be jokes, but then again, he’ll get what’s coming anyone left to kill. I am vpppa.org
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Perhaps most repeating this so often talk about Fight Club”, ° Complaints about a important is that it’s getting on my you’re not IN fight club, to encourage OWN nerves, but one or you are in a position of vague feeling of illness everyone in the two indicators does not a authority, and you have a or tiredness. High levels organization murderous-maniac make. responsibility to talk about of stress can manifest as that if they what physical changes you vague aches and pains, see something ° Hostility toward women. have observed. Be sure lack of energy, or other suspicious, to that you don’t interrogate vague illnesses. Too often say something A disproportionate the worker, but express in our society, we dismiss to a person in number of violent men in compassionate terms an overly stressed worker authority, and do have a deep-seated your concern for their as a hypochondriac or a something like hostility toward women, well- being. Indications of crybaby. These symptoms getting to safety particularly women in fighting can be indicative are not imaginary and or monitoring the positions of authority. of either an abuser or acting in a way that tells situation until Most women hating an abused worker and in the worker that you don’t help arrives. men are savvy enough either case it should not sympathize can be another to keep their opinions to be ignored. building block in the road 24 Leader—Autumn 2021 themselves, but they’re to an explosion. Also, a still out there and they are ° Watery eyes and blotchy victim of domestic violence potentially dangerous. may exhibit these same skin. Watery eyes and symptoms. Intervening • Physical changes blotchy skin can indicate early can save lives. a change in diet, physical ° Poor hygiene, wearing illness or abuse, or Perhaps most important drug/alcohol abuse. is to encourage everyone in dirty clothing. It’s one Together with these the organization that if they thing if someone has body other indicators, they see something suspicious, to odor from the day you can add up to an unstable say something to a person in hired them (and why for individual, or simply an authority, and do something the love of all that’s holy insomniac. Either way, like getting to safety or did you hire stinky?) and there is nothing wrong monitoring the situation quite another if the body with a show of genuine until help arrives. There is no odor develops suddenly concern, like asking, “do reason to create a workplace of and is in conjunction with you feel okay?” chronic unease. other physical changes. Tread lightly here. You Phil La Duke is a popular speaker & writer with more are within your rights to than 2,500 works in print. He has contributed to Authority, confront a worker about Buzzfeed, Entrepreneur, Monster, Thrive Global, and poor hygiene, but you many more magazines and is published on all inhabited cannot pry about physical continents. He is the author of three books and a contributor to one conditions that might be more. His first book is a visceral, no-holds-barred look at worker causing said odors. Here safety, I Know My Shoes Are Untied! Mind Your Own Business. An again, there is a gulf of Iconoclast’s View of Workers’ Safety. His second book Lone Gunman: difference between Jimmy Rewriting the Handbook On Workplace Violence Prevention which in the mailroom who deals with workplace violence, particularly directed at women, is listed likes to skip his morning as #16 on Pretty Progressive magazine’s list of 49 books that powerful shower and throw on women study in detail. His third book, Blood In My Pockets Is Blood On yesterday’s shirt, so Your Hands was recently released and will be followed by Work-Home he can get an extra 10 Life Imbalance: The Location Of The Workplace Has Changed But minutes of sleep, and Joe The Potential For Violence Remains due to be released in December. the normally fastidiously La Duke also contributed a chapter of 1% Safer, a not-for-profit book dressed salesman who written by the “top game-changers and global thought leaders.” Phil is starts coming in one listed in the top 20 experts in the Future of Work by Expert File. day looking like a mud Follow Phil on Twitter @philladuke, on Facebook at www.facebook. wrestler and smelling like com/Phil-La-Duke-320996002174991 or read his weekly blog a honey dipper. In both www.philladuke.wordpress.com In addition to his extensive writing, cases, friendly, non- La Duke is currently employed as a COVID Compliance and Production adversarial coaching Safety Consultant for the film and television industry. is appropriate. REFERENCE ° Bruising, cuts, or other 1 www.giffords.org/lawcenter/gun-violence-statistics indications of fighting. While the first rule of “Fight Club'' is you don’t vpppa.org
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I’ve been training THE company employees EMPLOYEE Occupational Dog Bite Safety for over 28 years. Many employees have been both brave and gracious enough to share their personal experiences. We use these accounts to help other employees stay safe. The story I’m about to share is one that I will never forget. Unfortunately, I have heard too many of them. By Mitzi Robinson, President/Founder, Bulli Ray Occupational Dog Bite Safety 26 Leader—Autumn 2021 vpppa.org
THE DOGS J oyce, a meter reader with 20 years of field experience, was on her regular route. Leader—Autumn 2021 27 She came to a home that usually had no dogs. However, on this particular day, as she approached she noticed there stood four pit bull type dogs. Joyce immediately recognized the danger associated with approaching multiple dogs and counted herself lucky. Had the dogs been in the home, rather than in plain sight, they may have been released after she entered the yard. When finishing her route, she returned to her service center and spoke to her manager, he instructed her not to enter until someone went out to speak with the customer. After speaking to the customer, they agreed to build an enclosure to hold their dogs when the meter reader needed to enter the yard. Two months later Joyce returned to find the dogs were locked in a wooden enclosure. The customer had caged the dogs as promised. However, she still felt unsafe. She had promised her manager she would go into the yard and read the meter. She entered the yard walking toward the meter side of the house. In doing so, it was necessary to walk vpppa.org
past the wooden structure or the combination of genes since they did not have collars. dogs, everyone had evacuated containing the aggressive dogs. or drives they possess. This Only weighing 125-pounds, the premises, including the She saw that the dogs were situation will shift the dogs into Joyce was able to lift the dogs. It was determined that enraged with her presence. their predatory drive. attacking dogs off the ground. this residence had been coined Barking, growling, hitting the Walking both dogs towards as a drug house, and the dogs enclosure as hard as they could. The dogs were able to the gate. Thankfully, she left served as protection for the Joyce was trying to hurry to get squeeze between the bushes, the gate unlatched and was dealers inside. in and out of the yard as quickly biting Joyce in the face and able to push it open. Normally, as she could. She was standing neck. Joyce tried using her she would have shut the gate Lessons learned from in front of the meter, she heard arms to keep her face covered. completely but since the dogs Joyce’s attack: wood breaking behind her. As The dogs were too strong, they were in an enclosure, she felt she turned toward the noise, pushed her hands and arms it was OK to leave it unlatched. 1. Listen to your inner voice! the first dog hit her in the face, away, biting her several times She pushed the gate open, still We know that you want to taking her to the ground. She in the face and neck. At that holding the dogs in front of do your job, however no fell into the bushes beneath the point, Joyce hears the back door her getting bit on the hands matter who you promised, meter. The bushes did protect to house open thinking help and arms. Her only thought never enter a yard if parts of her body. The dogs was on the way. She screamed is to get into her company everything in your being were forced to run on top of her “HELP ME”, “HELP ME!” truck to her radio. Now she is telling you “DO NOT and across her body. Joyce did Never dreaming the person will need to throw the dogs ENTER.” Many employees what her and so many others would say “I CAN’T HELP YOU, away from the truck door to have saved themselves were told to do should you ever SORRY!” The owner then slams avoid getting bit or possibly after listening to their inner be knocked down by dog: to the door closed. taken to the ground again. She voice. Men and Woman! stay on the ground and to cover throws them over the hood of your head. Joyce now realizes no one the vehicle. Once safely in the 2. Adrenaline can be a key is coming to help and realizes truck she calls for help. The factor in survival, as it was Dogs are a combination of she needs do whatever she can ambulance, police along with for Joyce. Her adrenaline five drives. Prey, Play, Defense, to survive. She starts violently her manager come to gave her the strength to Food and Sex. Each individual kicking the dogs. The weakest her rescue. carry two dogs weighing drive will be different. Some dog backs up and does not over 100-pounds! have more play drive, while return. She aggressively grabs In the hospital, her daughter others have more defense. one dog between her legs. came out to update her family 3. Self-defense classes can be Every dog is different. This dog was also stunned and co-workers. She tells them beneficial to the control of and wanted to get away from she had to stop counting stiches your adrenaline. Joyce was being attacked by her. This left the two most at eight hundred. Unfortunately, a pack of dogs. All breeds in dominate aggressive dogs. In a by the time the police and 4. Make sure you know this situation will be in their heightened sense of adrenalin, animal control got back to the your exits before entering a predatory drive. No matter she grabs the two dogs by residence to confiscate the property or residence. what task they were created for, their loose skin on their necks 5. Carry something to put between you and the attacking dog. 6. Remember: A dog will bite the first thing it comes to. As far as the dog is concerned whatever you carry smells like you, so it is you. 7. If you are caught with nothing, look for something around you to put between you and the attacking dog. 8. Don’t ever expect others to come to your rescue. Assume you are going to save yourself! 9. Don’t say, “I could never do what Joyce did!” What other choice would you have? Mitzi Robinson is the President/Founder, Bulli Ray Occupational Dog Bite Safety. 28 Leader—Autumn 2021 vpppa.org
DOG BITE 46 STATISTICS U.S. dog bite-related DogsBite.org recorded 46 fatal dog attacks in 2020. Pit bulls contributed to 72% (33) of fatalities occurred in 2020. these deaths, over 16 times higher than any other dog breed. During this pandemic year, Despite being regulated in media reports of fatal dog mauling’s fell by 45%. In response, our nonprofit sent out 30 Military Housing areas and FOIAs to various offices and uncovered 6 unreported deaths in 2020. The last time the over 900 U.S. cities, pit bulls CDC collected breed data about dogs involved in fatal human attacks was 1998. contributed to 72% (33) of Pit bulls have killed over 440 Americans since. these deaths. Pit bulls make up about 6.2% of the total U.S. dog population. 67% Pit bulls (380 deaths) 16 YEAR In 2020, the 25% Not involving pit bulls U.S. DOG BITE combination of pit bulls or rottweilers (142 deaths FATALITIES (33), additional bull breeds involved 37 different breeds) 2005–2020 (4) and mastiff-type guard 9% Rottweiler dogs and war dogs (3)—the (51 deaths) During the 16-year types used to create \"baiting\" period of 2005 to 2020, bull breeds and fighting See full report, canines killed breeds—accounted for 2020 U.S. Dog Bite 87% (40) of all dog bite- Fatality Statistics, 568 at DogsBite.org related deaths. Americans. Two dog breeds, pit bulls (380) and rottweilers (51), contributed to 76% (431) of these deaths. 37 different dog breeds were involved in the remaining fatal dog mauling’s. vpppa.org Leader—Autumn 2021 29
18 Businesses Open to Pedestrian Traffic 96 10 Businesses Closed to Pedestrian Traffic Malls By Brian Bennett, PhD, CSP EVENTS SHOOTER& Figure 1: Location of Active Shooter Incidents, 2000-20191Institutes of Higher 41 30 Leader—Autumn 2021 Education Pre-K-12 Schools Government 44 Properties 21 vpppa.org
Do you work in a manufacturing facility, an office building, a warehouse, or a school? Do you travel by train or subway? In your off hours, do you enjoy going to a shopping center, a concert, a ball game, or a parade? Do you enjoy going out to eat at a restaurant or staying in a nice hotel? How about a vacation on a cruise ship or perhaps just a little quiet time in a church? hat do all these venues have in common? They are all soft targets and they all have been the location of acts of violence. Soft targets are those venues that are typically privately owned, usually lack robust security measures, or are difficult to protect and defend because they are not perceived as an attractive target to an adversary and are open to the public by their very design. Security is not a primary concern at a soft target. Therefore, an adversary would generally have largely unimpeded access to large concentrations of people in a relatively confined area at a soft target. Figure 1 is a compilation of active shooter events from 2000-2019 and illustrates the preference for adversaries to strike soft targets. 50 Military Properties Health FCaarcileities Houses of Worship Open Spaces Residences Other Locations 15 15 13 9 1 vpppa.org Leader—Autumn 2021 31
Figure 2 is a summary breakdown of 333 active shooter incidents between 2000 and 20191 Incidents 6 Number of Shooter Gender 80 Shooters 333 Male: 332 Female: 13 1,703 345 (in 43 states and (16 wore the District of 10 body armor) Columbia) 29 1,023 Casualties 119 Shooters Committed 2,851 (excluding the Suicide shooters) 6 Female 113 Men 135 incidents met Civilian \"mass killing\" Law Enforcement Other Shooter Security Outcomes definition (3 or more killings in a single 1,062 killed, including 29 law 150 Shooters apprehended incident) enforcement officers and 10 by police security guards. 1,789 wounded, including 80 law enforcement 67 Shooters killed by police officers and 6 security guards. 5 Shooters at large 4 Shooters killed by citizens Current Tactics 91 Harvest Music Festival butcher knife. 13 people were of Terror in Las Vegas on October 1, hospitalized with injuries. 2017. This attack resulted in Adversaries continue to develop 58 people being killed, and • Improvised Explosive Devices, new ways to cause terror 851 injured. Figure 2 is a and casualties in response to breakdown of active shooter such as the bombing at the preventive measures taken by events from 2000-2019. Boston Marathon where both the public and private pressure cookers were used sector. Although this article • Active Assailants (using edged to contain explosives, on will focus on an active shooter April 15, 2013, which killed 3 event, in today’s world, violent weapons), such as the attack and injured several hundred. hostile events can come in at the Columbus campus of many forms: the Ohio State University on • Mass Casualty Incident, such as November 28, 2016, where an • Active Shooting, such as assailant drove his car into a the attack where an assailant crowd of people, then started used a pickup truck to run the shooting at the Route to attack others with a down pedestrians in New York City on October 31, 2017, killing 8 and injuring eleven. 32 Leader—Autumn 2021 vpppa.org
The principles discussed in with independent agendas who targeting a supervisor Most victims die this article are applicable to any assault innocent people. or manager) within 30 minutes type of attack. of injuries that The Truth About The Truth About the require simple What to Expect After Active Shooters Victims Injuries interventions. an Attack Based on previous attacks, In a shooting event, a high Regardless of the type of there are some common percentage of victims will have attack, one can expect carnage, characteristics about active head wounds. 90 percent of complete chaos, noise, and shooters: the deaths occurred prior to confusion with frightened definitive care: people running and hiding, and • Attackers may be foreign perhaps unwilling or unable to • 40% immediately respond to instructions due to or domestic • 26% within 5 minutes injuries or shock. • 16% within 5-30 minutes • Attackers may be lone wolves • 8-10% with 30-60 minutes Active Shooter Defined or involved in a subversive Most victims die within 30 An active shooter can be organization minutes of injuries that require defined as an assailant who simple interventions. is actively engaging in killing • Attacks are rarely impulsive or attempting to kill people The Truth About Active in a confined, populated acts Shooter Events area. The threat is generally not contained as most active • Planning often begins weeks, • The average active shooter shooters are mobile, moving from point to point, and there months and years in advance incident lasts 12 minutes is an immediate risk of injury with 69% of these incidents or death. These situations • Attackers often begin ending within 5 minutes are very dynamic and evolve or less very quickly. planning well in advance of an attack, sometimes years in • 60% of events are over The Active Shooter’s advance Mentality before law enforcement • Attackers often talk about arrives Unfortunately, there is no typical profile of an active their plans • 98% of active shooter events shooter. An active shooter has a strong desire to seriously • Attackers are often are committed by a single injure or kill without concern shooter for their own safety or encouraged to act by others threat of capture. The active • 96% of shooters are male shooter will accept targets of • Attackers have selected a • In 78% of active shooting opportunity, that is a target that is visible, within range location that offers a target incidents there is a of the weapon, and was not rich environment connection between the previously identified as a shooter and at least one of primary target. Active shooters • Attackers may have chosen the victims will not stop until their goals have been achieved or one or more targets initially • 40% of active shooter events they have been neutralized. but will likely fire randomly Most active shooters do before stopping end in suicide not flee upon arrival of law enforcement officers as their Who May be Targeted? • 46% end through mindset is not escape. At many active shooter events applied force Are active shooters the victims are attacked at terrorists? Not necessarily. random and are injured or To Do List to Protect Radicalized lone wolf killed simply because they Your Facility and assailants are not the only ones were in the wrong place at the Personnel carrying out acts of violence; wrong time. However, at times, Preparedness Steps there are deranged individuals a specific person or persons may be the target of assailant, There are some basic tasks that such as: can be performed in advance of a hostile event to prepare • Being involved in a quarrel facilities and their personnel. between people involved 1. Perform a Screening in a relationship (domestic Assessment related) The purpose of a screening • Being involved in a assessment is to make a determination if your facility disagreement between people or personnel would make (grievance related) • Being present at an entity that embodies a perceived injustice (such as a governmental agency) • To retaliate against a perceived injustice (such as vpppa.org Leader—Autumn 2021 33
It is imperative 4. Develop Pre-Incident/ and what they must do. Training • Inform officer of location that the plans Pre-emergency Plans should include basic hostile be shared and event awareness and how to of adversary coordinated Using the results of the implement individual protective with external vulnerability and risk measures such as “Run-Hide- • Avoid pointing, screaming, emergency assessments, pre-incident/ Fight” or “Stop the Bleed”. responders to pre-emergency plans should or yelling ensure everyone be developed to serve as a 4. Exercises is familiar with guideline for facility personnel • Do not stop officers for help their roles and and external emergency Exercises provide an responsibilities as responders to follow should opportunity to test the or directions well as operational a violent act occur. It is protective measures that have expectations. imperative that the plans been implemented to ensure Conclusion be shared and coordinated they are effective. Exercises also an attractive target to an with external emergency test employees and external As facilities such as schools adversary. Your facility or responders to ensure everyone emergency responders to become hardened targets, personnel may be attractive is familiar with their roles validate plans, verify plans adversaries will shift their because it is a soft target, is and responsibilities as well as are coordinated, applicable focus to soft targets such as involved in a controversial operational expectations. information has been shared, manufacturing sites, retail business or service, or has a demonstrate personnel establishments, or warehousing large amount of personnel in a Preventive Measures can perform their assigned facilities. However, even relatively confined area. responsibilities completely and hardened targets should not Once the preparedness efficiently, and an effective be complacent and develop a 2. P erform a Vulnerability steps have been completed, unified incident command false sense of security. Two Assessment preventive measures should be structure was utilized. The shootings at Fort Hood, Texas developed and implemented product of an exercise should (a hardened military base) in The purpose of a vulnerability to address the identified be a critique which identifies 2009 and 2014 demonstrated assessment is to evaluate what vulnerabilities and risks. opportunities for improvement. that even hard targets can still protective measures are in place Preventive measures include: Once plans have been updated, have some vulnerabilities. and what gaps exist that could the exercise process starts over. be exploited by an adversary. 1. Hardening Remember, by failing to Response prepare you are preparing 3. P erform a Risk Hardening involves physical to fail! Assessment enhancements to a facility to There are some basic actions make it more difficult and less individuals can take to increase ENDNOTES The risk assessment evaluates attractive for an adversary their chance of survival in the 1 U.S. Department of Justice, each of the gaps identified in to perpetrate an attack. event of a hostile event: the vulnerability assessment. Hardening can be as basic as Federal Bureau of Investigation, Once the risks have been adding fencing or adding locks • Secure the immediate area Active Shooter Incidents, 20 Year identified and prioritized, to access points. Depending • Block the door Review 2000-2019, May 2021. preventive measures can be on the gaps identified in • Close windows, blinds 2 Ibid. developed and implemented. the vulnerability and risk • Silence phones, computers assessments, hardening could • Turn off the lights Brian Bennett is be very expensive. • Make yourself a small target the President of EHS • Hide out of sight and Excellence Consulting 2. Procedures LLC, a full-service behind objects safety and health consulting Procedures are administrative company that focuses on helping controls that can be • Place signs in exterior worksites gain entry into the implemented to minimize VPP. Previously he worked in vulnerabilities and risk. windows the chemical manufacturing Examples of procedures that and research and development can be implemented include a If you encounter an industry for 24 years at both the package search prior to entering Emergency Responder during a plant and corporate level. a facility or a shelter in place/ hostile event, you should: He has been involved with the evacuation plan. VPP since 1992 and has served • Remain calm and follow on the VPP Region 2 Board of 3. Training Directors since 1999, including instructions 8 years as Chair. He is a Special The implementation of Government Employee, having hardening and procedures are • Identify yourself conducted over 40 on site only effective if employees have • Put down items in your hands evaluations and was the National been trained on how they work • Raise hands and spread SGE of the Year in 2006. Dr. Bennett has also been a fingers volunteer firefighter for 38 years. During that time, he has served • Keep hands visible at as a Fire Chief for 25 years as well as the Deputy Emergency all times Management Coordinator for 6 years. • Avoid quick movements 34 Leader—Autumn 2021 vpppa.org
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As people return to the workplace, workplace violence is again in the news. In some cases, it is COVID-19-related, as retail sales personnel get assaulted for enforcing mask rules, teachers and principals are injured at school board meetings or in the school shootings that have sadly resumed, and even hospital personnel are attacked both inside and outside their facilities. But despite these headline-grabbing incidents, what remains hidden is the disparate impact of workplace violence on female workers. By Adele L. Abrams, Esq., CMSP, President, Law Office of Adele L. Abrams, P.C. WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PREVE70%ofemployerslacka 70% of non-fatal injury cases are female formal workplace violence prevention program 36 Leader—Autumn 2021 vpppa.org
OSHA defines “workplace violence” as “any act or threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation, or other threatening disruptive behavior that occurs at the worksite.” This broad definition includes physical assaults and homicide, of course, but it also encompasses threats, bullying, and verbal abuse that can result in psychological harm. In some instances, sexual or racial harassment that culminates in harm to the targeted worker can result in recordable OSHA injuries/illnesses, and legal exposure from both OSHA actions and EEOC claims. The U.S. Department of Labor found that 70 percent of employers lack a formal workplace violence prevention program. Workers who do report bullying, harassment or any injury or illness are protected under Section 11(c) of the OSH Act (whistleblower protections), and employers can also be cited under 29 CFR 1904.36 and fined up to $136,532 if they retaliate against a worker who reports being injured or who expresses safety or health concerns internally or to OSHA. Workplace violence is the number one cause of death for women in the workplace, and it is consistently among the top four causes of occupational death across all worker populations. About 15 percent of workplace deaths come at the hands of co-workers, while the remainder is attribute to members of the public (hospital patients and families, customers in stores, or third parties who randomly target a business or location) and 25 percent arises out of domestic violence that spills over into the place of employment. Because so many women have lost their jobs after notifying employers that they have obtained a protective order against a partner that includes the workplace, some states are now specifically codifying legislation making this retaliation illegal. Even non-fatal workplace violence incidents take a toll: out of approximately 17,000 such non-fatal injury cases, 70 percent of those injured were female, 67 percent were aged 25 to 54, 70 percent worked in healthcare and social assistance industries, and 21 percent required 31 or more days away from work to recover. Over 80 percent of women and 35 percent of men who have been sexually assaulted report significant short- or long-term impacts such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and when the assault occurs Over 80% of women in the workplace, this has both OSHA and worker’s compensation who have been sexually implications. Over 80 percent of the victims of workplace sexual assaulted report31% of workplace deaths significant short- orwere in the retail sector ENTIONlong-termimpacts vpppa.org Leader—Autumn 2021 37
violence are women home services or care, or work with a small business review witness) and provide a work- and weapons are used to harm where alcohol is served. OSHA panel slated for December 2021. related basis for inquiries, and or threaten victims in 20 has also issued interim guidance This could slip as confirmation do not make assumptions about percent of such violence and for specific sectors including of an OSHA assistant secretary the worker’s personal life. Make stalking cases. late-night retail establishments, is still pending in the Senate. sure your leave policies extend health care and social services. Meanwhile, H.R. 1195—the to violence victims, and provide Yet these numbers may be Workplace Violence Prevention a list of community-based just the tip of the iceberg: the The Integra case illustrates Act—passed the House of services to assist the employee U.S. Department of Defense how having programs and Representatives in April 2021 but avoid providing legal advice. estimates that only 14 percent training in place, but not (254-166 with 38 Republicans If there are immediate safety of survivors report a workplace following internal precautions, supporting the legislation), and concerns for the employee and sexual assault. About half of HR can impute knowledge of it is pending in the U.S. Senate. workplace, security, HR, legal professionals surveyed by SHRM “feasible” controls to the While OSHA’s rulemaking counsel, and union (or even law in 2019 reported that their employer and result in liability. process can move slowly, if enforcement) may be involved organization had at some point In that case, OSHRC found workplace violence remains in determining the appropriate experienced workplace violence, that workplace violence was a on the public’s radar, this course of action to ensure the and a third of surveyed workers recognized hazard for Integra legislation could force OSHA to workplace is secure and the said they did not know what based on its own work rules, expedite its rulemaking. targeted employee is protected. to do if they witnessed or were training, handbook, and involved in workplace violence. existing policies. The materials While waiting for definitive Workplace violence While it may be tempting to showed the hazard of a service regulatory action, employees prevention is everyone’s regard workplace violence coordinator being physically need to be proactive. Beyond concern, regardless of what incidents as idiosyncratic events assaulted during a meeting with the standard “active shooter” action OSHA may take in the that cannot be anticipated a member who had a history of training, what should future, because anyone can or prevented (other than the violent behavior was “clearly employers do to increase be a potential target or can be common “active shooter” recognized” by Integra. protections against workplace impacted if a family member is training that some employers violence of all sorts? High- harmed on the job. and most schools and public This does not mean, of risk businesses can consider facilities have implemented), course, that it is preferable controls including: Adele L. Abrams, Esq., OSHA disagrees. to play ostrich and avoid CMSP, is an attorney, memorializing safety protocols • Environmental Interventions: safety professional and In 2019, a unanimous and conducting drills. The trainer who is president Occupational Safety & Health takeaway is consistency: having these include interior and of the Law Office of Adele L. Abrams Review Commission affirmed recognized a hazard in the exterior lighting, entry/ P.C. in Beltsville, MD, Charleston, WV, a serious citation against specific workplace and controls exit controls, cash controls, and Denver, CO, a multi-attorney Integra Health Management Inc., that will be effective, these must surveillance and signage; firm focusing on safety, health issued under the “General Duty be maintained, and oversight and employment law nationwide. Clause” (GDC, Section 5(a)(1) provided to ensure that • Behavioral Interventions: Adele is a certified mine safety of the Occupational Safety & precautions are not lessened due professional, and she also provides Health Act of 1970) arising from to complacency or as a result of Training on appropriate consultation, safety audits and the death of an employee in a staffing or security reductions responses to workplace training services to MSHA and workplace violence incident. that may leave employees violence risk, training on use OSHA regulated companies. The GDC applies where there vulnerable or working solo. of safety equipment, training Adele is the host of “Ask the is a “recognized hazard” on dealing with aggressive, SafetyLawyer,” a podcast on the that could cause death or Although it successfully drunk or “problem” persons; Safety Justice League channel. serious injury, there is worker prosecuted its case against and, She is a regular columnist exposure, and there is a feasible Integra, GDC cases are hard for numerous magazines on method of abatement. for the agency to win, and the • Administrative legal, employment, mine and statutory provision is intended Interventions: Limiting hours occupational safety/health issues, OSHA CPL 02-01-052, as a “gap filler” and not as a of operation, heightening and is co-author of several books Enforcement Procedures for substitute for a rule where a need precautions when opening/ related to mining, construction, Investigating or Inspecting is recognized. Currently, OSHA is closing retail establishments, employment law, and Workplace Violence, states: focusing its workplace violence maintaining relations with occupational safety and health. “Workplace violence is prevention regulatory efforts local law enforcement, and She is a member of the recognized as an occupational on the health care and social implementing safety/security Maryland, DC and Pennsylvania hazard in some industries services sector, where most policies for all workers Bars, the U.S. District Courts of and environments which can of the fatalities have occurred. (including limiting access to Maryland, DC and Tennessee, the be avoided or minimized if However, it is noteworthy that 31 guns within the workplace U.S. Court of Appeals, DC, 3rd and employers take appropriate percent of workplace deaths were or on company policy, where 4th Circuits, and the United States precautions.” OSHA guidance in the retail sector—which would state law allows). Supreme Court. She is a graduate identifies as “high risk” remain unprotected under the of the George Washington workplaces those involving current rulemaking effort. If a report involves workplace University’s National Law Center, situations where workers must harassment and threats of and earned her B.S. in Journalism be alone, work at night or in high OSHA’s Spring 2021 violence or concerns about from the University of Maryland, crime areas, work with volatile or Regulatory Agenda included violence from a domestic College Park. unstable people, handle money action on its Prevention of partner, exercise due diligence or valuables, provide health or Workplace Violence in Health Care and obtain facts, rather and Social Assistance rulemaking, than relying on rumors. The employee is the best source of information, but it is critical to speak privately (with one 38 Leader—Autumn 2021 vpppa.org
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Workplace Violence The Active Shooter Drill Training Is Not Prevention, It’s Mitigation By Frank King 40 Leader—Autumn 2021 vpppa.org
vpppa.org There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they’re falling in.” —Desmond Tutu W e need to start up stream to stem the tide of workplace violence. I’m not saying that training isn’t a good idea, I’m just saying that it doesn’t prevent the problem of workplace violence, it just keeps the body count down. First, some context. According to an article published by NPR earlier this year, “workplace mass shootings are rare, but the killing of nine people by a fellow employee at a Northern California rail yard on Wednesday marks the third such rampage in under two months.”1 That could foreshadow a rise in this type of violence after the nationwide shutdown of businesses resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, says Jaclyn Schildkraut, associate professor of criminal justice at the State University of New York at Oswego. However, Schildkraut stresses that while such shootings “are increasing incrementally in frequency, they're still extremely statistically rare.”2 More recently in San Jose, authorities stated a public transit employee opened fire on co-workers at the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, fatally shooting at least nine people and then taking his own life. The suspect was identified as a 57-year-old current employee. The motive for the attack remains unclear. The attack comes on the heels of a similar shooting in Indianapolis on April 15, in which a former FedEx worker killed eight people before killing himself.2 That was reported to be the deadliest workplace massacre since a brewery employee gunned down five people at the Molson Coors campus in Milwaukee in February 2020, shortly before the pandemic shutdown.3 About a week before the Indiana shooting, a gunman killed one person and wounded five others in an ambush at a cabinet manufacturing facility in Bryan, Texas, where he worked. He survived and was arrested. Leader—Autumn 2021 41
More people are Shooters may have returning to work had time to plan A database compiled by The Another reason we may see Associated Press, USA Today more workplace attacks is that and Northeastern University potential perpetrators, who've found that between 2006 and likely been in isolation over February 2020, there had been the past year, have had time to 13 mass workplace shootings plan, Schildkraut notes. “One carried out by a current or of the things that we know former employee—that’s about shooters, especially roughly one per year.4 those who target schools or other specific public spaces, is “The reason they seem more that they don't usually wake up frequent right now is because and snap.” we haven’t had them really for the last year because of The notion that shooters COVID,” Schildkraut says. Such don’t wake up and snap leads restrictions have also served to me to my next point. Which limit opportunities for potential is that the solution is not shooters “because it reduces downstream using active the available targets for a shooter drill skills, but up person,” she says. stream, with suicide prevention and conflict resolution training, “Now that much of the and other programs suggested country is returning to work, and supported by OSHA. we’re seeing an uptick in these events in the sense that they’re So how does one start now out there because people upstream? You make suicide are back out there,” she says. prevention a health and safety Take Your Safety Knowledge to the Next Level A 3-day virtual professional development event SCAN TO REGISTER The cost to attend...just $25 USD It’s professional development for all BCSPGLS.COM May 10-12, 2022 vpppa.org 42 Leader—Autumn 2021
Simply starting the conversation on suicide has the power REFERENCES to save lives, since 8 out of 10 people who are considering 1 Romo, V. (2021, May 27). NPR. suicide are ambivalent, and 9 out of 10 will give hints in the 7 days leading to an attempt, in an effort to get someone to Retrieved from www.npr.org/ take notice, and… wait for it… start that conversation. 2021/05/27/1000745927/ why-were-seeing-a-spike-in- priority at work. Let’s put out a And simply starting the • Threat Assessment Team— workplace-shootings call to action to all workplaces conversation on suicide 2 Diaz, J., Neuman, S., & Jones, D. and professional associations— has the power to save lives, This interdisciplinary team (2021, April 16). Police ID Suspect now is the time to implement since 8 out of 10 people who will work with management And Victims In Shooting Deaths the National Guidelines for are considering suicide are to assess the potential for At FedEx Facility In Indianapolis. Workplace Suicide Prevention.5 ambivalent, and 9 out of 10 workplace violence and, as Retrieved from NPR: www.npr. will give hints in the 7 days appropriate, develop and org/2021/04/16/987929888/9- So, what are the upstream leading to an attempt, in an execute a plan to address it. killed-others-injured-in- solutions? effort to get someone to take shooting-at-fedex-warehouse- notice, and… wait for it… start • Agency Work and Family Life in-indianapolis You bring in someone, that conversation. 3 Booker, B. (2020, February like me, who does suicide Programs (such as flexiplace, 26). 6 Dead In Shooting At prevention training, who can That’s my job, and now, childcare, maxiflex, etc.)— Molson Coors In Milwaukee teach everyone in the company, yours as well. An agency should identify After Employee Opens Fire. from the C-Suite on down, how and modify, if possible, Retrieved from NPR: www.npr. to spot the signs and symptoms Then follow it with three self-imposed policies and org/2020/02/26/809762360/ of depression and suicide, what things that OSHA suggests procedures which cause multiple-fatalities-in-shooting- to say, what not to say, what to and supports. negative effects on the at-molson-coors-brewing- do, what not to do, and how to workplace climate headquarters-in-milwauke find resources. • OSHA offers Alternative 4 Miller, R. W. (2020, February ). I’m not saying that active Workplace mass shootings are Even though 47,000 people Dispute Resolution (ADR)— shooter drill training shouldn’t rare. Milwaukee rampage was die by suicide every year, This program is most be taught, or isn’t useful, I’m the first of 2020. Retrieved from that’s 146 per day, one every effective in resolving just saying, to paraphrase USA Today: www.usatoday.com/ nine minutes, hardly anyone disputes when a conflict has Desmond Tutu, if you’re story/news/nation/2020/02/27/ talks about. Unless you bring been identified early and one counting shooting victims milwaukee-shooting-molson- it up. of the following techniques downstream, you need to go coors-workplace-mass- is used: ombudspersons, upstream and solve the problem shootings-rare/4890864002/ My clients often tell me, “We facilitation, mediation, that is causing them to be 5 Workplace Suicide Prevention. just brought you in to start the interest-based problem shooting victims, in the first (2021). Retrieved from Workplace conversation on suicide.” solving, and peer review. place. That’s prevention. Suicide Prevention: https:// workplacesuicideprevention.com/ Frank King, Suicide Prevention speaker and Trainer was a writer for The Tonight Show for 20 years. He’s fought a lifetime battle with Major Depressive Disorder and Chronic Suicidality, turning that long dark journey of the soul into 6 TEDx Talks and sharing his lifesaving insights on Mental Health Awareness with associations, corporations, and colleges. Depression and suicide run in his family. He’s thought about killing himself more times than he can count. A Motivational Public Speaker who uses his life lessons to start the conversation giving people permission to give voice to their feelings and experiences surrounding depression and suicide. And doing it by coming out, as it were, and standing in his truth, and doing it with humor. He believes that where there is humor there is hope, where there is laughter there is life, nobody dies laughing. The right person, at the right time, with the right information, can save a life. vpppa.org Leader—Autumn 2021 43
Membership Corner Follow us on social media! Facebook @VPPPA Congratulations to our autumn Twitter: @VPPPA Members of the Month! Instagram: @VPPPA_Inc LinkedIn: VPPPA, Inc. National SGE of the Year Award September: Congratulations to the 2021 Winner, William (Bill) Turner! Angie Mackley Denise Parke VPP & Health-Safety-Environmental, NuStar Energy, Wichita, Kansas Medicine Lancaster Medicine Lancaster During the 2020 calendar year and despite the COVID-19 General Health, Director General Health, Safety pandemic, Bill: of Safety and Emergency and Environmental Health • participated as an SGE Team Member on three (3) Management Penn Specialist on-site evaluations; Region III Region III • mentored two sites that successfully attained VPP reapproval; and • successfully led two of his own sites through VPP reapproval evaluations. Words from OSHA: “It is undeniable that Bill epitomizes and exhibits exceptional support, effort and action in VPP. Because of Bill’s hard work and contributions to both the VPP and SGE Programs, he has made SGE history by being recognized as the SGE of the Year for a second time!” October: November: Kyle Kirkpatrick Richard Finnegan Shermco Industries, Veolia North America, Executive Director of Human Regional Environmental Performance & Global Health and Safety Manager Compliance Region II Region VI Want to submit someone to be considered as a VPPPA Member of the Month? Email membership@ vpppa.org. Visit vpppa.org to read more about the current Member of the Month. 44 Leader—Autumn 2021 OSHA’s Acting Assistant Secretary, James Frederick, and National SGE of the Year Award recipient, William (Bill) Turner, NuStar Energy, Wichita, Kansas. vpppa.org
An important message from VPPPA’s Welcome! Membership & Outreach Manager, Son Nguyen We are excited to announce that the VPPPA National Office staff has I’m excited to share we have launched grown by two! Please join us in extending a warm welcome to our our new Beta version of the VPPPA new employees. Member Portal. As we look forward to a new year, our goals remain consistent: Bryan Knight to continuously build and enhance our UX Web Services Programmer framework to best serve our members. One of the best features of this upgrade is you'll see a new simplified profile view that lays out your contact and membership information. Primary Contacts who have permission to edit on behalf of your related organization will see a \"Switch Profile\" button at the top of the page, allowing you to seamlessly jump between the profiles to which you have access. Some other features include: • Pay open invoices: display the balance due for any profiles to which the member has access, with a button to go to the payment screen for more details and to pay. Payment History: views a list of all previous invoices for Lisa Silber the member, with the ability to reprint the invoice with Event Sales & Advertising Coordinator payment information. Are you • Relationships: this displays the related organization(s) ready for a of an individual profile, or if the member is viewing the Big winter? organization, the list of employees and subsidiaries for that organization. • My Events: displays past and future events for which the member is registered. • Upload Media: allows the member to upload a logo or listing photo for the online directory, and edit any existing images. • Online Member Directory: A dynamic, searchable Coming online directory that allows members to find other Soon members. To login, visit www.vpppa.org and click on Member Login on The farmer’s almanac is calling for a the Home Page. You will need to use your username (email address) and password to gain access to our private Members ’Season of shivers’ Only Area. If you ever forget your password, click the ‘Forgot your password?’ link to receive an email with a password reset link. REMEMBER: If you have any questions regarding your VPPPA “This coming winter could well be one of the longest and coldest that membership, please reach out to me by phone at 703-761- we’ve seen in years” says Janice Stillman, editor of The Old Farmer’s 6515 or by email at [email protected]. As always, we thank Almanac. The Almanac goes on to say “this winter will be punctuated by you for your unwavering efforts in striving for the continued positively bone-chilling, below-average temperatures across most of the betterment of workplace culture. United States.” ENGINEERED TOUGH FOR THE BODY AT WORK We’re your trusted source for all your high viz and winter workwear needs! Visit our website for more on what we have to keep you warm and protected from the harshness of winter: https://www.occunomix.com/warming vpppa.org Leader—Autumn 2021 45
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2021 AWARD WINNERS VPP OUTREACH AWARD Don Slaugh—Washington River Protection Solutions, LLC SAFETY AND HEALTH OUTREACH AWARD Alex Lee & Jennifer Scott—Savannah River Nuclear Solutions • Volpentest HAMMER Federal Training Center VPP INNOVATION AWARD (Clockwise from top lett) 76 Commodities Maintenance Group • Bayer U.S. Crop Science—West Fargo, ND • Central Plateau Cleanup Company (not shown) • Chevron Phillips Chemical—Cedar Bayou Plant • General Electric Healthcare—Electric Avenue • Guardair Corporation • Oak Ridge Reservation Environmental Cleanup Project—UCOR, an Amentum-led partnership with Jacobs • Hanford Tank Operations Contract—Washington River Protection Solutions, LLC 48 Leader—Autumn 2021 vpppa.org
A Message From VPPPA’s Safety+ Conference Coordinator Hello VPPPA Members, F irst, I would just like to thank all of those who attended the Safety+ National Symposium! Your attendance, be it virtual or in person, and participation was greatly appreciated. We would also love to thank our Keynote Speakers- Mr. James Frederick, Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA, Mr. James Hart, President of the Metal Trades Department AFL-CIO, & Mr. Brad Baptiste, Regional VPP Manager of Region VIII, for starting our Symposium on a fantastic note! We have all had a very interesting past 19 months and it was so amazing to have a touch of normalcy back. Being in Nashville with all the members, after two years apart, was something we all needed. It was great to see the attendees come back & further their commitment to the safety & health community. Despite COVID-19, the 2021 Safety+ National Symposium was a success! This year, the VPPPA chose to not let the current pandemic prohibit our chances for learning and networking safely. We introduced a virtual platform that allowed our attendees to engage in workshops from the safety of their home or office. We also added a hybrid registration that allows in-person attendees to have access to all workshops that were presented at Safety+. This hybrid registration eliminated having to choose which workshop you would prefer over another in the same time slot. The VPPPA Regional Networking Reception was re-introduced to allow the Regional Boards to reconnect with their attendees and to garner excitement for their 2022 Regional Conferences. VPPPA also hosted it’s first walking challenge, a health focused competition where attendees, both in-person and virtual, were encouraged to get active while boosting their engagement with other attendees, sponsors and the conference itself. We are very excited to bring the walking challenge with us to the 2022 Safety+ Symposium. On our Safety+ Post-Symposium Survey, we received comments that helped illustrate how important these conferences are to the Occupational Health & Safety Community. • “This Safety+ Symposium really assisted my SGE Team to better understand the importance of Safety and VPP.” • “It was a wonderful experience. Great sessions, and lots of enthusiasm over ways to keep our site VPP SAFE!” • “Nicely done it was a very well organized and professional event. Enjoyed seeing all friends, colleagues and meeting new ones.” • “The information I did receive was outstanding, I was very excited and appreciative that I was chosen by my organization to attend. The whole Safety event was well out together and very accommodating.” My personal favorite part of this year’s symposium was witnessing the fun competition that occurred within the Walking Challenge and the happiness that was shown of everyone seeing each other again. I know that I can speak for the entire VPPPA Staff when I say that our members are the reason why we love what we do. Seeing the new connections, best practice sharing and thirst for more knowledge makes all the hard work of planning worth it. Thank you again and we hope to see you all in Washington DC on August 23rd-25th! Stay Safe, —Natasha Cole | VPPPA’s Conference Coordinator vpppa.org Leader—Autumn 2021 49
TO EACH OF OUR 2021 SAFETY+ SPONSORS WHO HELPED MAKE OUR HYBRID EVENT POSSIBLE AND THE RETURN TO AN IN-PERSON SYMPOSIUM SAFE PREMIER www.mckeefoods.com www.nucor.com www.nustarenergy.com www.safestart.com www.valero.com www.vallen.com PLATINUM DIAMOND www.aimforsafety.com www.bcsp.org www.cintas.com www.honeywell.com www.amazon.com www.draeger.com www.magid.com GOLD www.coca-cola.com www.hunterdouglas.com www.marykay.com www.mcwane.com www.prairiestateenergycampus.com www.sbec.com BRONZE SILVER www.amentum.com www.onwardenergy.com www.brandenburg.com www.majesticglove.com www.mortonsalt.com www.rocorescue.com www.sturgeonelectric.com 50 Leader—Autumn 2021 vpppa.org
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