The Leader Autumn 2017 - Animals & Safety

VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4, AUTUMN 2017

ership Memb er Corn pg. 22

SAFETY, HEALTH & ANIMALS Pets Helping People: Service and Support Dogs

LEADER THE

VOL 4. ISSUE 4 AUTUMN 2017

cover

8

CONTENTS

Pets Helping People: Service and Support Dogs

We consider pets to be a part of the family, but there is a special spot for those who have service dogs. Not only are they beloved members of their “pack,” they’re also an indispensable part of helping their humans navigate the world—whether that is as a guide dog, an emotional support dog or service dog.

features

10

The U.S. Navy’s Combat Dolphins Are Serious Military Assets Canines aren’t the only animals who can land jobs in the military. The U.S. has trained bottlenose dolphins to carry out a range of military tasks, from locating underwater mines to flagging the presence of enemy swimmers for harbor defense. The program first started in 1960 when the Navy studied Notty, a female Pacific white-sided dolphin.

The Navy hoped to study the dolphin’s biomechanics and then use its findings for developing faster torpedoes.

4

THE LEADER / AUTUMN 2017

vpppa.org

www.vpppa.org

features continued

16

VPPPA National Board of Directors Chairperson Mike Guillory, SGE, The Brock Group

To Pet or Not to Pet

Vice Chairperson Rob Henson, LyondellBasell Treasurer Chris Adolfson, Idaho National Laboratory

Dogs are the most popular office animal, but pet-friendly workplaces are not limited to Fido. Cats, fish, birds and even bunnies get in on the nine-to-five.

Particularly with events like National Take Your Dog to Work Day on June 24, there seems to be a shift toward pet-friendly offices occurring across the country. Of course, many factors need to be considered before allowing furry companions into the workplace.

Secretary Terry Schulte, NuStar Energy, LP Director from a Site With a Collective Bargaining Agent Don Johnson, Phillips 66 Director from a Site Without a Collective Bargaining Agent Richard McConnell, Austin Industrial at LyondellBasell Director from a DOE-VPP Site Stacy Thursby, AECOM Director from a VPP Contractor/ Construction Site Jamie Robey, CSP, SGE, The Brock Group

20

Creating Safety Through Control: Dog Training Tips As dog owners, our job is to keep our dogs happy and safe. One of the most important aspects of safety is control.

Throughout our day-to-day lives, there are a variety of safety precautions to address with our pets. Whether at home, out in public, on leash or off leash, it is necessary that we have control over our dogs for the safety of themselves and others.

Director-at-Large J.A. Rodriguez, Jr., CSP, SGE , Raytheon Technical Services Company LLC Director-at-Large Kristyn Grow, CSP, CHMM, SGE Cintas Corporation Director-at-Large Kimberly Watson, Southwire Director-at-Large Carey West, The Mundy Companies Director-at-Large Jack Griffith, CH2M Hill Plateau Remediation Company Director-at-Large Dan Lazorcak, CSP, Honeywell International Editor Kerri Carpenter, VPPPA, Inc. Associate Editor Jamie Mitchell, VPPPA, Inc.

sections MEMBERSHIP CORNER

22

FEATURED PRODUCTS

26

WASHINGTON UPDATE

29

M embership

Editorial Mission The Leader (ISSN 1081-261X) is published quarterly for VPPPA members. The Leader delivers articles from members for members, safety and health best practices, developments in the field of occupational safety and health, association activities, educational and networking opportunities and the latest VPP approvals.

Subscriptions are available for members as part of their membership benefits and at a 50 percent discount beyond the complimentary allotment.

The nonmember subscription rate is $25 a year.

STATE-PLAN MONITOR

30

H ealth

Ideas and opinions expressed within The Leader represent the independent views of the authors.

GLOBAL SAFETY AND HEALTH WATCH

6

Look for these topics highlighted in the top right corner of each section.

G overnment

VPPPA REGIONAL ROUND-UPS 33

Business

INFOGRAPHIC CORNER

38

Outreach

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

39

vpppa.org

Postmaster >> Please send address changes to: VPPPA, Inc. • 7600-E Leesburg Pike • Ste. 100 Falls Church, VA 22043-2004 VPPPA, Inc., the premier global safety and health organization, is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization that promotes advances in worker safety and health excellence through best practices and cooperative efforts among workers, employers, the government and communities.

THE LEADER / AUTUMN 2017

5

global safety and health watch

The Canary is Still in the “Coal Mine”

BY JAMIE MITCHELL, COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR, VPPPA, INC.

T

he phrase “canary in the coal mine” serves as a warning metaphor for incoming danger, and many are familiar with the origin story behind it. However, fewer realize that canaries, as well as other birds, are instrumental in the safety and health of humans, even in contemporary times. The use of canaries in coal mines to detect carbon monoxide, and other toxic gases, dates back to 1911. Similarly, in the last ten years, birds have been used to measure the radiation levels in Fukushima, Japan.

John Scott Haldane is credited for the idea of using canaries to detect toxic gases. Like many birds, canaries are good early detectors of carbon monoxide because they are vulnerable to airborne poisons. They need large quantities of oxygen to enable them to fly to altitudes that would make humans sick, and their anatomy allows them to get a dose of oxygen when they inhale and another dose when they exhale, while they hold air in extra sacs. Since these birds are more sensitive to gases, and are getting a double dose of the potentially poisonous air, the miners would have an advanced warning of danger if the bird fell ill or died, and know to evacuate the area.

Britain originally implemented the use of canaries in coal mines, but the United States and Canada both followed suit.

6

THE LEADER / AUTUMN 2017

In 1986, the tradition of using canaries in coal mines ended and the birds were replaced with the more humane, “electronic nose,” a detector with a digital reading. Yet, using the birds was such a large part of coal mining culture that miners had mixed feelings about switching to a digital tool.

For example, miners were reported to whistle to the birds and treat them as pets. Miners are often shown in pictures holding the birds (sometimes in special cages intended to resuscitate them after exposure) when returning from the scene of an explosion. Countless lives were saved by canaries employed in coal mines, and these birds are only one of many examples of animals that assist in the safety and health of humans.

In March of 2011, off the east coast of Japan, one of Earth’s tectonic plates thrust under another—creating a violent earthquake and setting off a tsunami with waves reaching heights over 20 feet. Seawater flooding the site of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant triggered a nuclear crisis, including hydrogen explosions and the release of radioactive material. This event was the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl in 1986.

Professor of Biological Sciences, Timothy Mousseau, first visited Fukushima to count birds in July of 2011—only four months after the nuclear event. Radiation levels in the regions he visited were 1,000 times as high as usual.

Mousseau and his team wanted to determine the levels of damage on local wildlife, and the best method was to survey bird populations in 400 sites around the area.

In an article from Smithsonian.com, author Ben Mirin notes, “Mousseau’s team conducted almost 2,400 bird counts in total and gathered data on 57 species, each of which showed specific sensitivity to background radiation. Thirty of the species showed population declines during the study period, the team reported in the March issue of the Journal of Ornithology. Among these, resident birds such as the carrion crow and the Eurasian tree sparrow demonstrated higher susceptibility than migratory species, which didn’t arrive in the region until a few weeks after the partial meltdown in early March.”

Mousseau and his team also began capturing birds in Fukushima with patches of bleach-white

feathers. He had seen this occur previously while collecting birds in Chernobyl in 2000. His team believes these white patches are the result of radiation-induced oxidative stress. In addition, in Chernobyl, the birds with these patches of white feathers also suffered from other symptoms of radiation exposure—cataracts, tumors, smaller brain size, and more. Mousseau presents these findings as evidence for radiation’s prolonged effects on wildlife at different stages post-nuclear disaster. However, not all scientists are convinced by his findings, since they are not working with any data from before the incident and there are other explanations for birds’ feathers to change colors (one example being age).

Regardless of how you interpret Mousseau’s data, he asserts that more experimentation needs to be done to understand these declines in bird populations. Fukushima was once home to 300,000 people who had to evacuate the eastern coast of the area, and understanding the effects of radiation on birds and other wildlife is a step toward an even further knowledge of those same effects on humans.

As aforementioned, canaries were once used in coal mines to warn workers of impending danger.

Correspondingly, the birds of Fukushima, Japan, can help us to understand the damage nuclear accidents can create, and how to best approach these incidents in the future.

Resources:

1. www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/theunclear-fate-of-nuclear-power-75454599 2. www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/storyreal-canary-coal-mine-180961570/ 3. arlweb.msha.gov/century/canary/canary.asp 4. www.businessinsider.com/these-9-photosshow-how-navy-trains-dolphins-detectmines-2017-5 5. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC4091013/ 6. grammarist.com/usage/canary-in-thecoalmine/ 7. www.somas.stonybrook.edu/2016/03/31/ the-effects-of-chernobyl-and-fukushimawith-tim-mousseau/ 8. www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/ article-3041695/No-birdsong-FukishimaDramatic-decline-birds-linked-radiation2011-disaster.html

vpppa.org

PETS HELPING PEOPLE

Service and Support Dogs 8

THE LEADER / AUTUMN 2017

vpppa.org

BY ROB JACKSON We consider pets to be a part of the family, but there is a special spot for those who have service dogs. Not only are they beloved members of their “pack,” they’re also an indispensable part of helping their humans navigate the world—whether that is as a guide dog, an emotional support dog or service dog.

P

er service dog education group Please Don’t Pet Me, “Differentiating between service dogs, therapy dogs and emotional support animals is not a matter of splitting hairs or political correctness.

Each of these dogs has a very different job from the others and the terms are not interchangeable.”

The term “service dog” is a legally recognized term for a pup who assists people with challenges such as hearing or visual impairment, autism, seizures and epilepsy, diabetes and more. They can be trained to perform an array of tasks including leading their human across busy streets, retrieving objects, opening and closing doors and even calling for help. They can wear a service dog vest, but it’s not a requirement.

The dogs are exposed to all kinds of situations as they undergo extensive training, and many handlers will train their own service animals. Beginning with dogs as puppies, the in-training pooch will be placed in a volunteer’s home in order to adequately socialize and acclimate the pups to sights, sounds, smells and distractions. Then, the puppy is professionally trained in obedience, retrieval and handling.

The cost can run anywhere from $15,000 to $50,000. It can be deducted from taxes, and there are a few other ways to defray costs.

Furthermore, service dogs are unique in their own way; for example, the blind have very different assistance needs than those with epilepsy, or those with emotional needs or mobility restrictions. Even diabetic alert dogs are specially trained for their cause. Certain types of service dogs work with those who have autism and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), to help reduce anxiety and depression. New studies report that pets are particularly helpful to veterans suffering from PTSD and children with autism have improved social behavior and interaction.

The health benefits of dogs don’t stop there.

The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) explored the effect of dogs on families

vpppa.org

with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and discovered that dogs alleviate the stress of the whole family, and increase a feeling of security and independence. Multiple accounts from handlers across the nation report the same—their service dogs give them a sense of independence, relieve stress, and are a crucial part of their physical and emotional livelihood. Research also shows that pet parents across the board can gain health benefits from pets, including lower blood pressure and cholesterol as well as improved mental health, stress levels and depression. So even if most of our pets are not service dogs, they are still good for our health.

The rule of paw for working dogs: If you see a service dog, whether they are wearing vests, backpacks or harnesses, or if you spot a working dog, simply ignore the dog. Do not whistle, pet, or interact with a dog on the job.

And if you don’t know if the dog is in service, err on the side of caution and simply move along. It can be a dangerous distraction for service dogs and their humans.

Want to find out more about how pets help people? Healthy Paws Pet Insurance has joined forces with the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) to further research initiatives about the vital role of companion animals in the health and well-being of all of us. You can visit HealthyPaws.com to discover more about protecting pets with pet insurance, as well as their charitable initiatives through the Healthy Paws Foundation.

Rob Jackson is the co-founder and chief pet protector of Healthy Paws Pet Insurance. Rob and co-founder Steve Siadek met through a local, no-kill animal shelter. As pet parents, they envisioned a business that respected pets as family, as well as the development of a foundation to help homeless dogs and cats. Over his 30-year career, Rob has been an entrepreneur, insurance executive and nonprofit devotee.

THE LEADER / AUTUMN 2017

9

COMBAT D

10

THE LEADER / AUTUMN 2017

vpppa.org

BY PIERRE BIENAIMÉ *Originally published on March 12, 2015 at www.businessinsider.com/the-us-navys-combatdolphins-are-serious-military-assets-2015-3.

THE U.S. NAVY’S

T DOLPHINS ARE SERIOUS MILITARY ASSETS Photo on opposite page: Central Command Area of Responsibility (Mar. 18, 2003)—K-Dog, a Bottle Nose Dolphin belonging to Commander Task Unit (CTU) 55.4.3, leaps out of the water in front Sgt. Andrew Garrett while training near the USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) in the Arabian Gulf. Attached to the dolphins pectoral fin is a pinger device that allows the handler to keep track of the dolphin when out of sight. CTU-55.4.3 is a multi-national team consisting of Naval Special Clearance Team-One, Fleet Diving Unit Three from the United Kingdom, Clearance Dive Team from Australia, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Units Six and Eight (EODMU-6 and -8). These units are conducting deep/shallow water mine countermeasure operations to clear shipping lanes for humanitarian relief. CTU-55.4.3 and USS Gunston Hall are currently forward deployed conducting missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the multinational coalition effort to liberate the Iraqi people, eliminate Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction, and end the regime of Saddam Hussein. U.S. Navy photo by Photographers Mate 1st Class Brien Aho. (RELEASED)

vpppa.org

THE LEADER / AUTUMN 2017

11

Above Left: Central Command Area of Responsibility (Mar. 18, 2003)—Staff Sgt. Justin Roberts escorts K-Dog a Bottle Nose Dolphin belonging to Commander Task Unit (CTU) 55.4.3 in a Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) back to the well deck and holding areas aboard the USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) in the Arabian Gulf. CTU-55.4.3 is a multinational team consisting of Naval Special Clearance Team One, Fleet Diving Unit Three from the United Kingdom, Clearance Dive Team from Australia, and the U.S. Navy’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Units Six and Eight (EODMU-6 and -8). These units are conducting deep/ shallow water mine countermeasure operations to clear shipping lanes for humanitarian relief. CTU-55.4.3 and USS Gunston Hall are currently forward deployed conducting missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the multinational coalition effort to liberate the Iraqi people, eliminate Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction, and end the regime of Saddam Hussein. U.S. Navy photo by Photographers Mate 1st Class Brien Aho. (RELEASED) Above Right: San Diego (March 2, 2006)— Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Russell Barnhill works with his dolphin team member, K-Dog. K-Dog is part of Marine Mammals Systems Platoon of Naval Special Clearance Team one. K-Dog and other dolphins based at Naval Base Point Loma, primary mission is to help locate mines. U.S. Navy photo by Journalist 1st Class Kristina Brockman (RELEASED)

12

THE LEADER / AUTUMN 2017

C

anines aren’t the only animals who can land jobs in the military.

The U.S. has trained bottlenose dolphins to carry out a range of military tasks, from locating underwater mines to flagging the presence of enemy swimmers for harbor defense.

The Navy Marine Mammal Program at the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (or SPAWAR) in San Diego, California trains 85 dolphins and 50 sea lions, according to SPAWAR spokesman Jim Fallin.

NBC reported in 2002 that the program got $14 million in funding a year, and that it has the Pentagon’s financial backing through the year 2020.

The program first started in 1960 when the Navy studied Notty, a female Pacific whitesided dolphin. The Navy hoped to study the dolphin’s biomechanics and then use its findings for developing faster torpedoes. “But quickly the focus changed to covert training,” according to NBC. Military researchers soon realized that the dolphins themselves could become a battlefield asset. “It was soon after discovered that they had excellent biological sonar, so they definitely did a lot of research on that as well,” Ed Budzyna, a spokesman for SPAWAR Systems Center Pacific, told Business Insider.

Dolphins have seen occasional use during war. In 1970 and 1971, five of the

cetaceans guarded an Army ammunition pier in Vietnam’s Cam Ranh Bay, providing surveillance to thwart enemy swimmers.

Dolphins were also deployed from Bahrain during the Tanker War, a late phase of the Iran-Iraq war in which the warring neighbors targeted one another’s oil vessels (the U.S. got involved in 1987, to protect Kuwaiti oil exports). The dolphins were deployed “to protect the Third Fleet flagship anchored in Manama Harbor” in Bahrain, according to a SPAWAR document shared with Business Insider.

The animals even helped provide security for the Republican National Convention of 1996, which took place at the waterside San Diego Convention Center less than a month after a bombing at the summer Olympics in Atlanta.

Dolphins returned to the Persian Gulf in 2003, to clear mines ahead of coalition vessels during the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

The sea mammals make attractive military assets because of their intelligence and trainability—as well as their speed in the water, and an echolocation ability that far outperforms the best electronic competitors.

“The reason they’re used is that they have abilities that are unmatched still by anything man-made,” Budzyna said.

Dolphins emit vocalizations and then closely listen for how the sounds bounce back.

That gives them an idea of their surroundings, and even lets them figure out what kind of metal they might be swimming near, vpppa.org

according to a program spokesperson speaking with National Geographic News. This makes dolphins especially useful for identifying underwater mines.

When a dolphin finds one, the animals swim back to their trainers, who might give them a transponder to drop near the mine in order to flag its location.

But dolphins can also be trained to kill, according to one persistent rumor surrounding the Navy’s Marine Mammal Program.

In his memoir on life as a Navy SEAL, Brandon Webb writes about a training exercise in San Diego to evade enemy military dolphins. Trainers used the mammals “to track down enemy divers, outfitting them with a device strapped onto the head that contains a [simulated] compressed gas needle,” Webb writes. “Once the dolphin has tracked you down, it butts you; the needle shoots out and pokes you, creating an embolism.”

An air or gas bubble injected into a vein or artery can quickly travel into the organs, something that’s potentially lethal. Webb sums it up: “Within moments, you’re dead.”

SPAWAR’s frequently asked questions page emphatically denies ever training dolphins “to harm or injure humans in any fashion or to carry weapons to destroy ships.” And in an email to Business Insider, Fallin reiterated that the “Navy has NEVER trained marine mammals to harm humans, period!”

But Webb writes that he spoke with a fellow Navy SEAL, who remains anonymous while describing how dolphins would “ram us in the chest cavity to simulate the [CO2] injection.”

For Webb’s own training exercise the animals were equipped with harmless versions of the mechanism.

And in 1990, the New York Times reported that former Navy trainers had told them dolphins were being taught “to kill enemy divers with nose-mounted guns and explosives,” a charge denied by a Navy spokesman.

The year before, the Times spoke with Richard O’Barry, an activist and former Navy officer—and critic of the service’s mammal program—who trained dolphins for the 1960s TV series Flipper (O’Barry also took center stage in The Cove, a 2009 documentary on dolphin hunting in Japan).

O’Barry said he had been approached by the CIA more than 20 years prior to his speaking with the Times and that he turned down their request to train dolphins to plant explosives on ships. vpppa.org

KEY WEST, Fla. (April 26, 2017) A trainer assigned to the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program works with the dolphin Puanani during training at Naval Air Station Key West’s Truman Harbor. The program maintains the mobility of its expeditionary Marine Mammal System to detect and mark the location of mine-like objects on the ocean bottom. (U.S. Navy Photo by Trice Denny/Released)

THE LEADER / AUTUMN 2017

13

KEY WEST, Fla. (April 26, 2017) A trainer with the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program works with Constellation, an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, during training in Truman Harbor at Naval Air Station Key West. The program is in Key West to maintain the mobility of its expeditionary Marine Mammal System to detect and mark the location of mine-like objects on the ocean bottom. NAS Key West is a state-of-the-art facility for air-to-air combat fighter aircraft of all military services and provides world-class pierside support to U.S. and foreign naval vessels. (U.S. Navy photo by Trice Denny/Released)

And in 2000, the BBC reported that Soviet-trained dolphins were meant “to attack enemy frogmen with harpoons attached to their backs, or to drag them to the surface to be taken into captivity.

“They could also undertake kamikaze strikes against enemy shipping carrying mines that would explode a ship on contact with its hull.”

In the case of the U.S. Navy, the dolphin weaponization efforts may have just been speculative research rather than a fast-tracked program meant for actual use.

Clayton Swansen, a dolphin handler who worked with the program between 2003 and 2005, told Business Insider that “The Navy will try out a million different things, they’ll consider this and that, and then they’ll discard whatever seems like a bad idea for whatever reasons.”

The U.S. isn’t alone in training military dolphins. Starting in 1965, the Soviet Union tried to develop its own dolphin force at a Black Sea port near Sevastopol, in Crimea.

When the USSR collapsed, “ownership was transferred to Ukraine, where it was kept afloat by switching to civilian tasks like working with disabled children,” according to a Russian news agency cited by Wired (incidentally, the collapse of the Soviet

14

THE LEADER / AUTUMN 2017

Union also led to the U.S.’s downsizing its own program).

Just a few years ago, Ukraine restarted training the animals for military purposes, though it may have been close to phasing it back out just before Russia’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula last year. In any case, Russia helped itself to Ukraine’s stable of combat dolphins after Moscow took over Crimea. And four Ukrainian military dolphins had actually been sold to Iran and transported by air in 2000, according to the BBC. The dolphins’ transportation and treatment is cause for concern for animal rights groups.

In the late 1980s, environmentalists and animal rights activists forced the Navy to drop its use of surveillance dolphins at a submarine base hosting a huge stockpile of nuclear warheads near Seattle, Washington. One concern, according to a PBS Frontline chronology on military dolphins, was that the dolphins could be harmed by working in waters much colder than in their native environment.

After a three-and-a-half year process, the Navy was cleared in 2009 to send dolphins to Washington state, which it did starting in May 2010, according to Navy spokesman Chris Haley.

Dolphins are still used there now as “part of our security force,” Haley told Business Insider.

One dolphin died in the Persian Gulf in October 1987, of a bronchial pneumonia brought on by a bacterial infection. But overall, the SPAWAR document states that “the Navy’s dolphin survival rate for more than 10 years has been 95–97 percent, and during one period some years ago the Navy maintained an unprecedented 100 percent survival rate for its 140 marine mammals for more than a year and a half.”

Future wars waged in the world’s oceans and seas could require an expanded role for military dolphins. But Budzyna also believes that robotics could eventually replace the animals, once the technology can match a trained dolphin’s natural abilities. He says that antimine robotics have “come along very rapidly,” meaning that there might not be much use for military dolphins in the future.

“So as soon as the robotics are good enough to replace the program, the program probably will be phased out,” he said.

In an email to Business Insider, Fallin wrote that “Nothing will ever beat a dolphin’s sonar, but technology is improving, and today engineers at SPAWAR Systems Center Pacific have developed unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) that are capable of conducting certain mission sets.”

vpppa.org

T Pet N tt

BY KERRI CARPENTER COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER, VPPPA, INC.

16

THE LEADER / AUTUMN 2017

vpppa.org

r

t Pet vpppa.org

THE LEADER / AUTUMN 2017

17

According to a 2006 Gallup poll, approximately 60 percent of Americans own a pet. Since most Americans also spend the majority of their waking hours at work, it follows that workplaces are becoming more pet-friendly.

Some notable businesses that allow animals include: • Google • Amazon • Ben & Jerry’s • Build-A-Bear Workshop • Etsy • Proctor & Gamble Dogs are the most popular office animal, but pet-friendly workplaces are not limited to Fido. Cats, fish, birds and even bunnies get in on the nine-to-five. Particularly with events like National Take Your Dog to Work Day on June 24, there seems to be a shift toward pet-friendly offices occurring across the country.

Of course, many factors need to be considered before allowing furry companions into the workplace. Most noticeably is medical. The Humane Society of the United States approximates that 15 percent of the population is allergic to cats and/or dogs.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) claims that three in ten people with asthma and/or allergies have allergic reactions to cats and dogs. AAFA goes on to say that, “cat allergies are about twice as common as dog allergies.”

There are legal ramifications to these health reports as well. Asthma and allergies are considered disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Not only do pets at work cause a medical problem for susceptible employees but it could also become a legal issue.

Still, many studies show that owners who bring their pets to work are happier overall. Likewise, their co-workers enjoy the benefits as well. Allowing animals at work lowers stress, increases productivity and can improve the company image.

As with most decisions, there are pros, cons and a multitude of aspects to consider before allowing pets into the workplace.

18

THE LEADER / AUTUMN 2017

Stress Relief Versus Distraction A 2012 study by the International Journal of Workplace Health Management found that, “pet ownership has been associated with a number of positive health outcomes, including increased survival one-year after a heart attack, fewer doctor visits, less loneliness and greater social support and emotional closeness and support.” Furthermore, they found that the greatest “benefit of having pets in the workplace was perceived lowering of stress, although some endorsement of improved health and organizational satisfaction were also noted.”

Pets break down barriers between employees, promoting positive interactions. Morale is often improved by having a furry visitor in the office.

However, pets also allow for a greater risk of distraction. A misbehaving pet can disrupt the entire office. A dog will more than likely need to be walked or at least let outside throughout the day, removing the owner from his work.

For those co-workers who enjoy furry visitors, there is a risk of further commotion and disruption as they are entertained by the pet.

Retaining Employees Versus Allergies/Fear A case can be made for retaining employees when their pets are allowed in the workplace.

Pet ownership can become quite costly with requirements such as daycare or dog walkers.

Services such as these are particularly necessary in cities where employees spend a significant amount of time commuting.

By allowing pets into the workplace, turnover decreases as employees see this option as an additional benefit to employment.

Employers can also expect higher employee performance. When workers don’t have to rush home to care for their pet, they often stay later and work longer hours. Yet, they are happier and less stressed to do so.

But while the pet owner may enjoy the advantages of bringing their companion to work, it is possible that other co-workers may not share this view. There are real fears and phobias where pets are concerned. Prior experiences with animals may not have been positive, and in some cases, even emotionally or physically scarring.

As previously discussed, some people are medically disinclined to enjoy pets. Having pets around can trigger allergies or asthma.

vpppa.org

Company Image Versus Legal Issues Many job searches now allow an option to search for pet-friendly workplaces. People, particularly Millennials, find the ability to work alongside furry companions a plus.

However, permitting pets into the office opens up the door to possible damage, as well as a cleanliness issue. Accidents can happen.

Before an employer agrees to pets in the office, they need to check with their building management, and in some cases, the county.

Many do not allow pets inside office buildings, except for service animals.

That was the case at The Motley Fool, an Alexandria, Virginia-based company that provides financial solutions for investors of every kind. For various reasons, animals were not permitted in their office. According to their blog, they did a little research and brought the animals as close as they could by ordering a traveling petting zoo. Employees were then given the day to interact with bunnies, chicks, a hedgehog, a guinea pig, a tumbling pigeon and a potbelly pig for two hours behind their building.

What’s the Right Answer?

When it comes to animals in the workplace, there is no right or wrong answer. Each workplace must weigh the pros and cons and make a decision that is best for all employees.

One of the best solutions overall is to create a pet policy, or guidelines. Some of the important things to include are, but not limited to: • Type/breed of pet allowed • Number of pets allowed on a given day • Consequences for misbehavior • Frequency of visits • Establishing pet-friendly areas or pet-free areas • Requiring proper paperwork such as medical records, vaccination records or county registration licenses Another option for pet fanatics when a petfriendly work environment is not a possibility are special pet-friendly days. Take advantage of Take Your Dog to Work Day. Allow allergic or non-pet-friendly employees the opportunity to work from home that day. Or have a petfriendly outing outside of the office. Volunteer at a local animal shelter or even have a picnic at a nearby park where pets are permitted.

Getting away from desks can boost morale and involving pets only ups that percentage.

vpppa.org

Pictured above is VPPPA Communications Manager, Kerri Carpenter, and her poodle mix, Harry P. Carpenter, hanging out at home. Harry was rescued from Operation Paws For Homes (ophrescue.org). He enjoys squeaky toys, snuggling, chasing squirrels and helping his mommy write articles for The Leader.

Pets break down barriers between employees, promoting positive interactions. Morale is often improved by having a furry visitor in the office. However, pets also allow for a greater risk of distraction.

THE LEADER / AUTUMN 2017

19

Creating SAFETY Through Control Dog Training Tips

BY THOMAS DAVIS AND TAYLOR VOLKMAN UPSTATE CANINE ACADEMY

20

THE LEADER / AUTUMN 2017

vpppa.org

As dog owners, our job is to keep our dogs happy and safe. One of the most important aspects of safety is control.

Throughout our day-to-day lives, there are a variety of safety precautions to address with our pets. Whether at home, out in public, on leash or off leash, it is necessary that we have control over our dogs for the safety of themselves and others. What is the best way to ensure this control? Obedience! Dogs crave leadership and direction.

M

ost dogs, especially young dogs and puppies, are extremely curious. They put everything in their mouth and do not know the difference between what they should have and what they shouldn’t.

Implementing a DROP IT command will allow us to teach the dog to release anything they have in their mouth. This is a helpful command if a dog has something they can choke on, any dangerous household items and also during play to release a toy or ball.

The front door and doorbell are conditioned triggers for dogs. Their excitement and protective instincts are in full drive when anyone is at or around the door. There are several opportunities during entry of family, friends and strangers that can trigger bad behaviors such as barking, jumping, overly excited, fear, anxiousness, possibility of escape and/or all of the above. A PLACE command is a great safety command to send the dog away from dangers and control bad behaviors that can be associated with entry. The Place command is when a dog needs to go to a targeted location, usually an elevated bed. This allows us to send the dog away from the entryway and release them once everything is calm.

Crate training is another way to ensure our dogs are safe while we are away from home. The crate should not be used as a punishment. The crate can also create a sense of comfort and safety for the dog if they feel stressed and overwhelmed. The crate eliminates any opportunity for the dog to get into anything dangerous while you are away.

Implementing the OFF command can be a great safety command to ensure there is no counter-surfing or jumping, essentially protecting the dog from food, medicine, cleaning supplies and anything else that can potentially hurt or kill the dog.

It is our responsibility as dog owners to make sure we have full control over our dogs

vpppa.org

in any public place. It is crucial to have great on leash obedience due to the uncontrollable environment. The excitement that comes with being out with your dog can sometimes lead to trouble. A LEAVE IT command is applied to a dog when they have something or want something they shouldn’t have. The dog must “leave” and ignore whatever it is.

If your dog is going to be off leash, the number one safety command is RECALL. If you cannot recall your dog 100 percent of the time, under any circumstances, you as a responsible dog owner, should not have your dog off leash for the safety of your dog and the public. An uncontrollable dog can be a liability.

The proper way to have your dog meet another dog is going for a walk in a neutral area, on leash. Be aware of their body language. A few signs of conflict can be stiffness of the body and mouth, growling and showing teeth. Not all dogs are friendly.

Always ask the owner before allowing your dogs to meet.

Just like humans, it is crucial to understand how to respond to our pets in emergency situations. Pet Tech is a company specializing in pet CPR, first aid and care for dogs and cats. It is the number one pet CPR and first aid course in the nation. The Pet Tech PetSaver class is an eight-hour course educating participants on pet first aid and information to keep pets happy and healthy.

Upon successfully completing the course, participants receive a certification. Pet Tech is a great course for pet owners, lovers and any pet professional. To find a class or instructor near you, visit pettech.net.

For more tips and training information, visit: @AmericasCanineEducator on Facebook @thomasj_davis on Instagram www.youtube.com/AmericasCanineEd www.americascanineeducator.com

THE LEADER / AUTUMN 2017

21

MEMBERSHIP CORNER Interview With Our #HowISafety Contest Winner This summer, we hosted the #HowISafety contest. Participants sent in photos of how they practice safety on the job, and the image with the most “likes” won a free trip to Safety+.

seeing people unconcerned about safety, so I went to Brazosport College and got my CSST, NCCER instructor certification and got into the safety field. I feel good about helping and training others.

Our #HowISafety contest winner, Warren Gipson, is a Site HSE Technician with The Brock Group, and has been involved with the association for about four years.

We wanted to get to know him a little better and ask him about his experiences with VPPPA.

VPPPA: How did you get started with VPPPA and how do you feel that it has helped you?

VPPPA: Tell us about the #HowISafety contest poster you created.

Warren Gipson: I wanted everyone to be a part of safety—knowing that tomorrow is our reward for working safely today, knowing that safety is a choice. I wanted everyone to know we should never give safety a day off, that no job is too important and no service is so urgent that we cannot take the time to preform our work safely.

WG: I started with VPPPA when I was approached to learn about the training and how to keep up the VPP book entries. Being a member has helped me tremendously to use, understand and implement safety for myself, fellow employees, family and friends.

VPPPA: Who inspires you/who have you looked to for guidance over the years?

WG: Clifton Allison, Nathan Prilop, Alex Martinez, Jamie Robey, Larry McElory and Johnathan Dyer.

VPPPA: How did your career start and how did you get to where you are now?

VPPPA: What is one lesson or piece of advice you’d like to offer your peers regarding your experiences?

WG: I started as a painter’s apprentice and then I became a scaffold tracker. I was

WG: The decision to put safety first is in our hands.

#VPPPAnimals Contest Winners

First Place Winner

Runner-Up

For the #VPPPAnimals contest, members submitted pictures of their adorable pets for the chance to win a spot in the magazine, as well as a gift card. The photo with the most “likes” on Facebook won.

Thank you to everyone who submitted a photo for the contest!

Staff Favorites Name: Mac or “Mackie” Badeaux Age: 1 Favorite Toy: Stuffed dinosaur Likes: Treats, naps with mom, learning commands so I can stay safe, walks and playing fetch with dad.

Dislikes: When I cannot be with mom or dad.

Why I Love Safety: Safety is important as it aids in my overall well-being and allows me to safely enjoy family time whether we are on a walk, at a park or playing in the backyard.

22

THE LEADER / AUTUMN 2017

vpppa.org

Association Announcements Renew Your VPPPA Membership It’s membership renewal season once again!

An email containing your invoice will be sent out in December, as well as a hard copy in January. You can easily renew your dues by clicking on the “renew” tab located on the left side of VPPPA’s home page at www.vpppa. org. If you have forgotten your password, simply click on the option that allows you to reset your password and follow the directions.

Once logged in you will be able to seamlessly renew your membership with VPPPA. We would like to thank our members for their support over the past year. We encourage you to re-dedicate your support to VPPPA and renew your membership today.

With numerous benefits, VPPPA is a great resource for today’s safety professional.

If you have any questions regarding your membership or dues, contact membership@ vpppa.org or call (703) 761-1146.

Job Board Calling all employers and employees! Visit our job board on the VPPPA website.

VPPPA’s Job Board provides a vast database of professional opportunities available throughout the EHS industry. Constantly updated with new job openings, the VPPPA Job Board is a great resource for those looking to make a professional move.

Employers—do you have any jobs you would like to post? Please email communications@vpppa.org with the following: • Job title • Company name • Location • Description/requirements of the position • Expiration date for the posting • How to apply

Contest Winners “Take a Selfie with a Board Member” Contest

to win a gift card. The national office staff really appreciated your pictures and the board members thoroughly enjoyed meeting each person that they were featured in a selfie with.

Congratulations to the winners of these contests: • Thomas Wardrop from National Security Technologies in Las Vegas, NV. The winner received a gift card. We’re looking forward to seeing even more photos next year!

• We also recently picked our Safety+ survey winners. Health B., Ed S. and Alexis A. all won a $100 gift card. We would like to thank everyone who took the time to fill out the symposium survey.

Like us on Facebook & Follow us on Twitter: @VPPPA

Deliver Effective Toolbox Talks With This Free Guide

Download the guide at safestart.com/VPP10

We had an overwhelmingly positive response to our selfie contest at Safety+ this year!

Attendees simply snapped selfies with board members to enter the contest for the chance vpppa.org

THE LEADER / AUTUMN 2017

23

Thank You For Attending AN INTEGRATED SAFETY & HEALTH MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS SYMPOSIUM

PRESENTED BY VPPPA

AUGUST 29–SEPTEMBER 1, 2017

JOIN US IN NEW ORLEANS! AUGUST 29–SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 | ERNEST N. MORIAL CONVENTION CENTER | NEW ORLEANS, LA

It’s not too late to register for and attend this year’s annual event!

All workplace accidents are preventable.

Safety+ will provide you with the tools to improve safety and health at your site.

The Premier Global Safety & Health Organization EDUCATE National and regional events Webinars Access to safety and health articles Innovative safety solutions

93%

of 2016 attendees would recommend this symposium

87%

of last year’s attendees ranked the educational content of the event as “outstanding” or “very good”

COLLABORATE 24

Networking Mentoring THE LEADER / AUTUMN 2017 Industry partnerships Best Practices Directory

vpppa.org

SYMPOSIUM AGENDA MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2017

Pre-Symposium Day 7:00 AM–3:00 PM

Registration

8:00 AM–5:00 PM

Pre-Symposium Workshops

TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2017

Symposium’s Official 1st Day

10:30 AM–11:30 AM

Regional Networking Meetings

11:30 AM–1:00 PM

Lunch & Exhibit Hall Open

1:00 PM–2:00 PM

Workshops

2:00 PM–3:30 PM

Exhibit Hall Open

3:30 PM–4:30 PM

Workshops

THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2017

7:00 AM–5:00 PM

Registration

7:00 AM–8:30 AM

Labor & Management Open Forum

8:00 AM–4:00 PM

Registration

8:30 AM–9:30 AM

Workshops

8:00 AM–8:30 AM

First Timers’ Workshop

9:30 AM–11:00 AM

Exhibit Hall Open

8:30 AM–9:00 AM

Mobile App Demonstration

11:00 AM–12:00 PM Workshops

9:15 AM–10:00 AM

Annual Meeting of the Membership

10:15 AM–12:30 PM

Opening General Session Part 1

12:30 PM–1:30 PM

Lunch

2:00 PM–3:30 PM

Opening General Session Part 2

4:00 PM–5:00 PM

Workshops

5:00 PM–7:00 PM

Grand Opening of Exhibit Hall & Reception

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2017 7:00 AM–4:00 PM

Registration

8:00 AM–9:00 AM

Workshops

9:00 AM–10:15 AM

Exhibit Hall Open

12:00 PM–1:30 PM

Lunch & Exhibit Hall Open

1:30 PM–2:30 PM

Workshops

2:30 PM–3:00 PM

Afternoon Break

3:00 PM–4:00 PM

Workshops

6:00 PM–9:00 PM

Casino Night Reception (will take place at the New Orleans Marriott)

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 8:00 AM–10:00 AM Registration 8:30 AM–9:30 AM

Workshops

9:45 AM–10:45 AM

Workshops

11:00 AM–12:30 PM

Closing General Session

Pre-Symposium Workshops: VPP Application® Workshop

Industry leaders from VPP worksites and OSHA will guide you step-by-step through the process of putting together the major components of a successful application.

Inspection Techniques and Hazard Recognition

Attendees will learn the different types of inspections, inspection techniques and typical safety and health hazards.

What’s New in DOE-VPP?

This workshop, intended for employees at DOE sites, offers an overview of what’s new in the DOE-VPP program.

First Aid/CPR/AED Training

The purpose of the American Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED program is to help participants recognize and respond appropriately to cardiac, breathing and vpppa.org

first aid emergencies.

This course is being presented by the American Red Cross.

OSHA #7115—Lockout/Tagout

This course covers the role and responsibility of the employer to develop and implement an energy control program, or lock-out/tag-out (LOTO) for the protection of workers while performing servicing and maintenance activities on machinery and equipment This course is being presented in conjunction with MidSouth OTI Education Center.

Symposium Highlights JOIN thousands of the EHS industry’s most dedicated and ambitious professionals for four days of learning and networking VISIT hundreds of safety and health exhibitors demonstrating the industry’s newest offerings BE INSPIRED by nationallyrecognized keynote speakers CHOOSE from more than 100 workshops on a variety of topics including fall protection, confined space training, lockout/tagout, improving your relationship with OSHA and more MEET others at your regional networking meeting and the receptions PARTICIPATE in multiple contests and win dozens of prizes

NEW THIS YEAR, VPPPA and the Louisiana Governor’s Safety & Health Conference are combining their events to join thousands of safety and health professionals from across the country and expose both sides to new best practices, training, safety equipment, ideas and safety and health vendors.

Get Social!

Tuesday: Grand Opening of Exhibit Hall & Reception

You will have the opportunity to meet with cutting-edge safety and health manufacturers and network with other attendees at the opening kick-off event. THE LEADER / AUTUMN 2017

Wednesday: Regional Networking Meetings

Meet the other safety and health

25

FEATURED P R O D U C T S

CONCEPT SEATING

ERGO ADVANTAGE

Jeff Greger jgreger@conceptseating.com / (800) 892-5563 www.conceptseating.com One chair to fit them all! Our versatile 3152HR with a half-ring base comfortably accommodates almost any body type. The wide seat, sturdy footrest and ergonomic adjustability supports users from 4’9”–6’5” and up to 550 pounds. Contact us to learn more!

Shannon Buchner Shannon@advantagemats.com / (519) 791-4989 www.advantagemats.com Ergonomic safety tiles specializing in non-slip, ESD and 6S initiatives with the best warranty on the market.

3152HR with Half-Ring Base

DEB USA

GUARD-SAFE GUARDING

Matt Cloward matt.cloward@debgroup.com / (704) 357-2231 www.debgroup.com/us Solopol® GFX™ has two times the cleaning power of traditional heavy duty hand cleaners and provides up to 42 percent more hand washes. No petroleum distillates or pumice means it cleans better without the pain of dry, rough and cracked hands.

Paul Korthals paul@guardsafeguarding.com / (712) 754-4838 guardsafeguarding.com Polyamide corrosion resistant Wedge-Locks make removing your guard panels as simple as snipping a zip-tie. Shank remains in place as wedge pivots & slides to securely fix guards in place. A zip-tie, bolt or padlock may be used to fasten.

Solopol® GFX™

26

Ergo Advantage Modular Tile

THE LEADER / AUTUMN 2017

Poly Wedge-Lock

vpppa.org

JLG INDUSTRIES, INC.

PS DOORS

info@jlg.com / (877) JLG-LIFT www.jlg.com The EcoLift Series features an innovative lift/lower mechanism that is simple to use, providing operators the confidence to tackle low-level tasks. EcoLifts are power-free and have no oil, batteries or hydraulics, making them an ecofriendly, non-disruptive solution for sensitive environments.

Dean Thorsen or Gavin Benjamin (Gavin was at Safety+) Dean: dthorsen@psdoors.com / (701) 795-6529 Gavin: gbenjamin@psdoors.com / (701) 795-6533 pssafetyaccess.com The safest way to keep things moving on your dock!

The OSHA-compliant Loading Dock Safety Gate reduces the danger of falls from docks, bays or exposed edges when closed.

EcoLift Series

Loading Dock Safety Gate

MAJESTIC GLOVE

ROCO RESCUE

Todd Gorrebeeck todd@majesticglove.com / (425) 407-1200 www.majesticglove.com Engineered with the world’s leading impact protection and shock absorption technology, Majestic’s Concussion glove combines the quality of traditional craftsmanship with the latest technological and material advancements for intense hand protection! Featuring D3O® protective shields for ultimate protection against impact and shock.

Teresa Wilson twilson@rocorescue.com / (800) 647-7626 www.rocorescue.com The FreeTech™ Harness allows the user to safely and easily transfer their body weight from the dorsal connector on the upper back to the front waist location of the harness to reorient the user into a seated position.

Concussion: 21472BK

vpppa.org

CMC/Roco FreeTech Harness

THE LEADER / AUTUMN 2017

27

FEATURED P R O D U C T S

SAFETY RAIL COMPANY

TICK KEY PRODUCTS, LLC

Jim Sidla jim.sidla@safetyrailcompany.com / (952) 777-1732 www.safetyrailcompany.com Passive fall protection railings and barriers such as the AccuFit Mobile Railing System shown above, afford workers the security of complete perimeter protection without the need for harnesses and anchor points. Workers have complete freedom of movement with 100 percent fall protection.

Donna Lucente donna@tickkey.com / (860) 618-3072 www.tickkey.com The easiest-to-use tick removal device on Earth. 99.9 percent effective in the removal of all sizes & types of ticks.

Field workers need a Tick Key for proper tick removal. 19 great colors. Private label available.

Accu-Fit Mobile Railing System

SUPERIOR GLOVE WORKS LTD.

VELOCITYEHS / MSDSONLINE

www.superiorglove.com/ First winter arc flash-rated glove Blend of Kevlar®/Protex® yarns for heat/cut resistance Rated heat protection up to 320 °C/608 °F Flame-resistant neoprene palm coating Level 3 arc flash rating with an Arc Thermal Performance Value (ATPV) of 25 cal/cm2.

Eric Jackson velocity@ehs.com / (800) 362-2007 www.MSDSonline.com VelocityEHS’ award-winning MSDSonline HQ RegXR Account simplifies chemical inventory management with sophisticated regulatory cross-referencing capabilities, built-in GHS workplace labeling functionality, and access to the MSDSonline SDS / Chemical Management mobile app for easier on- and offline SDSs accessibility.

#SKG/PXNE—DEXTERITY®

28

Original Tick Key

THE LEADER / AUTUMN 2017

MSDSonline HQ RegXR Account

vpppa.org

washington update

From the Hill

BY COURTNEY M. MALVEAUX, ESQ.

A

s many say in Washington, elections have consequences. That is especially true for OSHA. The installation of the new Congress and President Trump have only enhanced support for VPP in Washington. Increasingly, states are signaling their support as well.

While we await a new Assistant Secretary for OSHA, and while legal actions wind their way through the courts, some of the most impactful rules enacted by OSHA in recent years remain on hold. No less important, expect to see new approaches to guidance, rule interpretations, enforcement approaches and staffing at the agency.

The next few years promise to be eventful.

Stay tuned.

VPP Legislation The VPP Act is gaining steam in Congress.

Congressman Todd Rokita (R-IN), Congressman Gene Green (D-TX) and Congresswoman Martha Roby (R-AL) introduced H.R. 1444 to make VPP a permanent part of OSHA. The bill was referred to the Education and Workforce Committee, and it has enjoyed strong bipartisan support, with 19 republican and 15 democratic cosponsors from all over the country.

Several states that implement their own OSHA program (state-plan states) passed VPP Acts to signal their commitment to VPP. Following Indiana’s and Virginia’s lead, Maryland, Arizona and North Carolina passed VPP Acts this year. Several other states are considering similar legislation in their upcoming legislative sessions.

VPP Funding Last year, Congress and the Obama administration actively supported VPP in their proposed budgets, ensuring that OSHA dedicate at least $3.5 million each year to VPP, without any fees from participants.

This year, Congress has continued its support for VPP funding, and the Trump

vpppa.org

administration has been a big advocate. In its first proposed budget, the Administration requested a nearly $4 million increase for enhanced Compliance Assistance outreach programs like VPP, including 20 new fulltime Compliance Assistance Specialists (CAS) in OSHA’s Regional Offices. If passed, this proposal would replenish most of the Compliance Assistance employees eliminated

by OSHA since 2013, and it aims to increase the number of VPP sites by 100 in FY 2018.

The budget language provides, in part: With the VPP, the infusion of CASs will increase OSHA’s capacity to perform on-site evaluations (which are needed for both new participants and renewals).

It will allow OSHA to ensure the quality and integrity of existing VPP participants through the renewal process while increasing capacity to bring in new participants, and addressing the current backlog of VPP applications.

The Trump administration also seeks to ensure the long-term sustainability of VPP through enhanced support from their Special Government Employees: In FY 2018, OSHA will continue to make effective use of its Special Government Employees (SGEs), including more of these individuals on onsite evaluation teams, which enabled the agency to complete additional VPP onsite visits with its existing resources. In FY 2018, with the continued increase in SGE activities, OSHA hopes to reduce the VPP new application backlog while continuing to improve the quality and integrity of the program through activities such as refining how to effectively monitor VPP participants subject to OSHA’s process safety management (PSM) standard.

data collection while it remains challenged in court.

The rule requires all establishments with 250 or more employees in industries covered by the recordkeeping regulation to submit to OSHA injury and illness information electronically.

The National Association of Manufacturing and other organizations have filed a legal challenge primarily over the regulation’s antiretaliation provisions.

Silica Rule Enforcement Delayed for Construction (Mostly) OSHA has delayed enforcement of its new rule reducing permissible exposure levels for crystalline silica in the construction industry from June 23, 2017, until September 23, 2017. Most State Plan states followed suit, but Virginia opted to press forward with the original enforcement date, so construction employers under Virginia Occupational Safety and Health are subject to enforcement efforts today.

Beryllium Rule On Hold Similarly, OSHA has delayed the effective date for its new Beryllium Rule until May 20, 2018, pursuant to a January White House Memorandum freezing new rules pending review by designees of the President.

As of this date, the Trump Administration has not nominated a new Assistant Secretary for OSHA. Courtney Malveaux is a regulatory, employment and government affairs attorney at Jackson Lewis, P.C. and Government Affairs Counsel for the Voluntary Protection Programs Participants’ Association. As a Labor Commissioner, an Assistant Attorney General and President of the National Association of Government Labor Officials, Malveaux has rewritten several state and federal safety

Electronic Injury and Illness Reporting Rule Delayed OSHA’s proposed to delay its compliance date for its final rule to modernize injury

and health laws and represents industrial employers on the Virginia Safety and Health Codes Board. He can be reached at (804) 3669646 or at CMalveaux@vpppa.org.

THE LEADER / AUTUMN 2017

29

state-plan monitor

COMPILED BY KATLYN PAGLIUCA, MEMBERSHIP AND OUTREACH MANAGER, VPPPA, INC.

Federal OSHA States State-Plan States Public Sector Only

Arizona The Voluntary Protection Program continues to grow in Arizona. With the addition of Old Castle Precast in Chandler as the newest Star site, Arizona also codified the VPP in April when the Governor signed SB 1478. As the second state to codify VPP, Arizona is now improving the program to onboard public entities into the program based on departments rather the entire city or county that wants to work in a collaborative effort with ADOSH. ADOSH will look to the current Public Entity Partnership Program where nine cities and counties are actively working with ADOSH Consultation Consultants to implement a safety and health management system in respective departments.

With a health growth of VPP Star sites ADOSH partnered with Region IX and the National OSHA Office to provide a Special Government Employee (SGE) class in Phoenix this past July. A total of 13 new SGE’s were sworn in by the OSHA Area Director and the ADOSH Director. These new SGE’s will help to grow the Arizona VPP Star Program at a rate greater than ADOSH completing the work alone. During this past quarter, four reapprovals took place and one new site was added. Current SGEs have helped the ADOSH Assistant Director Jessie Atencio review annual VPP submissions, VPP applications, as well as assist with the visits.

Ducommun leadership celebrated their VPP recertification in August. ICA Chairman Dale Schutz and ADOSH Assistant Director Jessie Atencio hold up the VPP flag with staff.

30

THE LEADER / AUTUMN 2017

Print Pack Leadership accept the Arizona VPP Plaque from ICA Chairman Dale Schultz and ADOSH Director Bill Warren.

Yuma Cogeneration Associates celebrates their VPP Star recertification with family and friends. ADOSH Assistant Director Jessie Atencio holds up the VPP flag with the site’s EHS professional Miguel Zamorano.

ADOSH Director Bill Warren, Assistant Director Jessie Atencio, Region IX Peter Wilsey and OSHA Area Director pose for a photo following the swearing in ceremony.

vpppa.org

California Mentoring You need a mentor if you are planning to achieve Star status in California. Please visit: dir.ca.gov/dosh/cal_vpp/cal_vpp_index.html and watch “Cal/VPP Mentoring Webinar” to learn how the mentoring program works and then fill out the mentoring survey form. By doing so the Cal/VPP office will find the best available mentor for your site.

Recently Recognized Cal/Star Sites: • Blythe Energy Inc. (Blythe) • Cintas (Stockton) • Phillips 66 Los Angeles Lubricants Plant (Los Angeles)

New Sites Working on the Action Items: • Sierra Pacific (Oroville) • Nova Group (Napa)

Phillips 66 Los Angeles Lubricants Cal/Star celebration July 21.

Upcoming Onsite Visits at New Sites: • United Airlines Inc. (San Francisco) • Monsanto (San Juan Bautista) • Broad Spectrum (Benicia)

Indiana Indiana currently has 84 sites approved in the Voluntary Protection Program and the program is growing at a healthy pace. So far in 2017, one new site has been approved at the Star level and from September to November, five new site evaluations are scheduled to take place.

Indiana’s VPP leaders are already working with several sites who will be ready for evaluations in 2018 and 2019. The goal for Indiana VPP is to have 100 sites by the end of 2019.

Three regional SGE meetings were conducted on May 11, in Hartford City, IN, at 3M; on June 6, at Worthington Generation in Worthington, and on June 8, in Indianapolis, at Cintas #388. At these meetings, the VPP Leaders educated SGEs

vpppa.org

on OSHA standards, explored the resources available at www.osha.gov and discussed how to investigate situations completely during VPP evaluations, which included a classroom workshop regarding how to ask the right questions for different scenarios.

On July 25–26, Mead Johnson in Evansville hosted the annual federal OSHA SGE training class. During this class, 12 new SGEs were trained and most of them were placed on an evaluation team. Indiana currently has a total of 122 SGEs to utilize during VPP evaluation and to mentor sites.

The next round of regional best practice meetings will be in November 2017: • November 1, NIBCO (Charlestown) • November 8, Marathon M&TE (Indianapolis) • November 16, Eaton (South Bend) For more information about regional best practice meetings, email Beth Gonzalez at bgonzalez@dol.in.gov.

Indiana’s largest safety conference, the Indiana Safety and Health Conference and Expo, will be held March 12–14, 2018. The conference is presented by the Central Indiana Chapter ASSE and Indiana Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Indiana Department of Labor.

On the morning of March 12, at the Indiana Safety and Health Conference,

an INSHARP & VPP workshop will be conducted to promote partnership programs available at the Indiana Department of Labor. Companies will be presenting best practices to help other sites improve their safety and health programs and learn more about INSHARP and VPP. There is no cost to attend the workshop.

For more information about workshops email Beth Gonzalez at bgonzalez@dol.in.gov.

Michigan There are currently 29 sites in the Michigan Voluntary Protection Program (MVPP), with 25 Star, one Rising Star (Merit), two MVPP/C (construction) and one MVPP/C Rising Star site.

The following is a quick update of Michigan OSHA (MIOSHA) MVPP activities.

Promotion Sherry Scott, MVPP manager and Doug Kimmel, MVPP specialist, recently assisted federal OSHA with a VPP reevaluation at the Defense Logistics Agency in Battle Creek.

A MVPP Star reapproval celebration, hosted

by Holly Construction, was held on July 26.

A Michigan-specific Special Government Employee training is scheduled for November 29. The session will focus on the differences THE LEADER / AUTUMN 2017

31

state-plan monitor

contacting each state >> Alaska Christian Hendrickson VPP Manager Christian.hendrickson@ alaska.gov Phone: (907) 269-4946 Arizona Jessie Atencio Assistant Director jessie.atencio@azdosh.gov Phone: (520) 220-4222 California Iraj Pourmehraban Cal/VPP & PSM Manager ipourmehraban@ hq.dir.ca.gov Phone: (510) 622-1080 Hawaii Kristin Takaba OSH Program Specialist—Compliance Assistance Specialist Kristin.a.takaba@hawaii.gov Phone: (808) 586-9090 Indiana Beth A. Gonzalez VPP Team Leader bgonzalez@dol.in.gov Phone: (317) 607-6118 Iowa Shashi Patel VPP Coordinator patel.shashi@iwd.iowa.gov Phone: (515) 281-6369 Kentucky Brian Black VPP Program Administrator brian.black@ky.gov Phone: (502) 564-3320 Maryland Allen Stump VPP Manager stump.allen@dol.gov Phone: (410) 527-4473

Michigan Sherry Scott MVPP Manager scotts1@michigan.gov Phone: (517) 322-5817

South Carolina Sharon Dumit VPP Coordinator sharon.dumit@llr.sc.gov Phone: (803) 896-7788

Minnesota Tyrone Taylor, MBA Director of Workplace Safety Consultation MN Dept. of Labor & Industry Occupational Safety & Health Division tyrone.taylor@state.mn.us Phone: (651) 284-5203

Tennessee David Blessman VPP Manager david.blessman@tn.gov Phone: (615) 253-6890

Nevada Jimmy Andrews VPP Manager jimmy.andrews@ business.nv.gov Phone: (702) 486-9046 New Mexico Melissa Barker VPP Coordinator melissa.barker@state.nm.us Phone: (505) 222-9595 North Carolina LaMont Smith Recognition Program Manager lamont.smith@labor.nc.gov Phone: (919) 807-2909 Oregon Mark E. Hurliman, CSHM VPP/SHARP Program Coordinator mark.e.hurliman@ oregon.gov Phone: (541) 776-6016

Utah Jerry Parkstone VPP Coordinator jparkstone@utah.gov Phone: (801) 530-6901 Vermont Daniel Whipple VPP Coordinator dan.whipple@vermont.gov Phone: (802) 828-5084 Virginia Milford Stern VPP Manager stern.milford@dol.gov Phone: (540) 562-3580 x 123 Washington John Geppert VPP Manager gepp.235@lni.wa.gov Phone: (360) 902-5496 Wyoming Clayton Gaunt VPP Manager clayrton.gaunt1@wyo.gov Phone: (307) 777-7710

THE LEADER / AUTUMN 2017

Reevaluation Onsite Reviews Reevaluation onsite reviews have been performed at: • Pfizer Global Supply (Kalamazoo)—PSM • Georgia-Pacific, Beaver Creek (Grayling) • Albemarle (South Haven) • Arconic (Whitehall) • Johnson Technology (Muskegon) • Johnson Technology (Norton Shores) • DTE Fermi 2 (Monroe)

New MVPP Sites Sites that have recently been approved for participation in the program: • Walbridge, Ford Dearborn Campus Transformation Project (Dearborn)— Rising Star • Eaton Aerospace, LLC (Grand Rapids)—Star “Like” us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and subscribe to our YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/MIOSHA_MI For further details on the MVPP, contact Doug Kimmel, MVPP specialist at (231) 546-2366, or visit the MIOSHA website at www.michigan.gov/miosha.

Tennessee Puerto Rico Ilza Roman Director roman.ilza@dol.gov Phone: (787) 754-2171

For additional information and up-to-date contacts, please visit www.vpppa.org/chapters/contacts.cfm

32

between the VPP and the MVPP, as well as MIOSHA safety and health standards that differ from OSHA’s. SGEs looking to participate on an MVPP review team in Michigan will need to have attended both the OSHA and MIOSHA-specific training.

The fall MVPP Advisory Group meeting is scheduled for November 28.

Applications currently pending for the MVPP include: • Marathon Pipe Line, LLC (Woodhaven) • Cintas First Aid & Safety (Kentwood) • Robert Bosch (Farmington Hills) • Cintas Fire Protection—D26 (Troy)

On June 7, TOSHA Assistant Administrator, Jim Flanagan, presented the employees of Frito-Lay in Pulaski with their Volunteer Star Award as part of the site’s fourth approval effort. The site received their first approval in 2002.

A successful onsite reevaluation was recently conducted at Tennessee Eastman in Kingsport and a successful initial certification was conducted at Valero Memphis Refinery in Memphis, bringing the total number of Volunteer Star sites to 36. vpppa.org

regional round-ups

COMPILED BY JAMIE MITCHELL, COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR, VPPPA, INC.

vpppa.org

Region I www.vppregion1.com Region I held its quarterly meeting at Safety+ in New Orleans, LA, on August 30. There were approximately 34 attendees representing approximately 18 different companies. Thank you to all who made the trip and attended the meeting. Your support is very much appreciated.

At the quarterly meeting held at Safety+, it was announced that the next Region I quarterly meeting will be held at Pfizer Pharmaceuticals in Andover, MA, on November 1. Also, the Region I Safety & Health Conference & Expo will be held May 7–9 at the Sea Crest Beach Hotel in North Falmouth, MA, in Cape Cod. More specifics about both events will be sent out soon and will be posted on the Region I website, www.vppregion1.com.

The Region I Board of Directors will be exhibiting at the Annual Maine Safety & Health Conference in Augusta, ME, on October 17–19, with the intent of heightening awareness of the benefits of VPPPA and of VPP. There are four Region I Star sites that are currently mentoring other companies.

• Coca-Cola is mentoring Harris Rebar of Deerfield, MA. • Cartamundi is mentoring Mayberry Material Handling of East Longmeadow, MA, and Cintas of Winsor, CT. • Acushnet is mentoring Chatham Village Foods of Wareham, MA. • Pratt & Whitney is mentoring Sysco Corporation of Westbrook, ME. After the formal elections that took place at the Region I conference in May 2017, there was one nomination received for the open vice chairperson position. Director-at-large, Mike Avery, of Cartamundi in East Longmeadow, MA, was appointed by the board to the vice chairperson position. Congratulations Mike!

This now leaves an open director-at-large position that needs to be filled.

There is also an open position for the hourly representative from a union site. This open position as well as the open director-at-large position will be posted on the Region I website, with all pertinent information if anyone is interested in applying to join the board.

The Region I Board of Directors would like to remind Region I sites that the region offers three $1,000 scholarships to students that might be interested and that qualify. The specifics about who is eligible, due dates and how to apply are posted on the Region I website.

The Region I Board of Directors would like to let everyone know that the region’s website holds a wealth of information including but not limited to: open board positions, scholarship information, locations of upcoming chapter meetings, locations of upcoming conferences, contact information for the board of directors, meeting minutes from previous chapter meetings and much more. If there is anything someone would like to see on the website, please let a board member know.

Contributed by Karen Girardin, Region I Chairperson

Region II www.vppparegion2.org Good news: The OSHA National Office has approved the Region II proposed 2018 Special Government Employee (SGE) class.

It will be held from April 10–12, 2018 at Curtis Lumber, Ballston Spa, NY. Please share this information with any of your colleagues interested in becoming a SGE. The SGE application deadline to attend the class is January 15, 2018. SGE applications should be submitted directly to the SGE Coordinator in the OSHA National Office.

You can find more information at www.osha.gov/dcsp/vpp/sge/sge_training.html.

Brenda Kay Wiederkehr and Kevin O’Brien accepting the recertification plaque for Access Health Systems from the OSHA VPP regional administrator at the VPPPA Region II annual conference held June 26–28 in Atlantic City.

THE LEADER / AUTUMN 2017

33

regional round-ups

Region II is continuing to fundraise for the AED fund.

A special thanks to Curtis Lumber for volunteering to host the class.

The 2018 conference registration winner was Russell Gaston from Covanta in Essex County, NJ. In addition, the Chester facility held its annual STERIS June safety month, safety standdown, with a barbeque event. Presentations and speeches were provided by Mark Thomas and Robert Heatherington, who encouraged the work staff to continue to make advances in worker health and safety as an OSHA VPP Star worksite.

Congratulations on a great event Chester!

Contributed by Brenda Wiederkehr, Region II Chairperson

Region IV

Berry flag raising and reapproval plaque.

June Safety Month event at Chester.

34

THE LEADER / AUTUMN 2017

www.regionivvpp.org The Region IV VPPPA Board of Directors are currently gearing up for the 2018 Region IV VPPPA Safety and Health Excellence Conference. The conference will be held at the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in beautiful Biloxi, MS, from June 19–21, 2018. We will be accepting workshop proposals until November 30, so anyone who is interested in presenting is encouraged to visit our website at www.regionivvpp.org to submit their name and information.

The Region IV VPPPA Board of Directors would like to recognize our 2017 conference survey winners: • Attendee Survey: Teresa Harden, OCI Peroxides—Huntsville vpppa.org

• Exhibitor Survey: Earl Brown, Industrial Phycologists, Inc. Contributed by Christopher Colburn, Region IV Treasurer

Region VI www.regionvivpp.org The Region VI VPPPA is excited to kick off the 30th Annual Safety & Health Conference. This year we are excited to travel to Fort Worth, TX, where the conference will be held at the Fort Worth Convention Center. This conference is open to association members and non-members alike. We have attendees across all professional demographics as safety affects everyone. The course offerings from OSHA, TEEX, Gulf Coast Safety Institute, as well as the wide variety of industry peer-taught courses, makes this safety conference stand out among others.

Upcoming Special Government Employee (SGE) Trainings • November 14–16, Valero, San Antonio, TX • February 6–8, 2018 Baton Rouge Area Office, Baton Rouge, LA • April 28–30, 2018 Region VI Safety & Health Excellence Conference, Fort Worth, TX • September 11–13, 2018 NASA, Houston, TX

• Cintas Corporation #618—Ada, OK • DynCorp International at NASA Aircraft Operations Division, Elli—Houston, TX • Knowledge and Perfor Proj Srv at Chevron Phillips—Baytown, TX • Vallen at Chevron Phillips Chemical— Baytown, TX • Zachry at Chevron Phillips Chemical Pasadena Plant—Pasadena, TX • Timberlake Construction Company Inc— Oklahoma City, OK • BASF Corporation—Appleton— Appleton, WI • Bay Ltd. at Valero Bill Greehey Refinery— Corpus Christi, TX • Blue Cube Oyster Creek—Freeport, TX • Boise Cascade Alexandria Engineered Wood Products—Lena, LA • Brock Services at Valero Bill Greehey Refineries—Corpus Christi, TX • Cintas Corporation #628—Lawton, OK • Clean Harbors Enviromental Services— Waynoka, OK

The Region VI VPPPA is excited to kick off the 30th Annual Safety & Health Conference.

Flag Raising Ceremonies • H&S Constructors, Inc. at Valero Three Rivers Refinery—Three Rivers, TX • Naval Health Clinic Corpus Christi— Corpus Christi, TX • Naval Health Clinic Kingsville— Kingsville, TX • Phillips 66 Research Center—Bartlesville, OK • TEAM QualSpec at Valero Houston Refinery—Houston, TX • Total Safety Corporate Office—Houston, TX • Zachry Industrial at Phillips66 Technology Center—Bartlesville, OK • Canrig Drilling Technology—Houston, TX • Halliburton Energy Services—Lafayette, LA • Magnum Engineering and Controls at Chevron Phillip—Baytown, TX • Tenaska Kiamichi Generating Station— Kiowa, OK • USA Environment at Chevron Phillips Chemical—Baytown, TX • SGS Petroleum Service at Chevron Phillips Chemical—Baytown, TX • Brock Services at Chevron Phillips Chemical—Pasadena, TX vpppa.org

THE LEADER / AUTUMN 2017

35

regional round-ups

The Arizona Division of Occupational Safety & Health (ADOSH) is proud to announce that the VPP program has been codified in the state of Arizona.

• Entergy Chalmette Service Center— Chalmette, LA • Halliburton Energy Services—Carrollton— Carrollton, TX • John Zink Co., LLC—Tulsa, OK • Koch-Glitsch—Houston, TX • Lyondell Basell Bayport Underwood Plant— Pasadena, TX • Olin Chlor Alka Products—Saint Gabriel, LA • Refinery—Corpus Christi, TX • TEAM QualSpec at Valero Bill Greehey Refineries—Corpus Christi, TX In addition, Kimberly Cooper recently joined the Region VI Board of Directors.

Kimberly works at Chevron Phillips Chemical in Orange, TX. Danny Barrett and Johnny Collazo retired from the Region VI Board.

Thanks to both for all your hard work and dedication to Region VI and VPP. Contributed by Kirk Crandall, Region VI Director-at-Large

Region VII www.regionviivpp.org The Region VII Board of Directors are preparing for the 2018 Midwest Safety & Health Expo & Conference, which will be held at the Embassy Suites in La Vista, NE, on May 21–23, 2018. We are adding site visits for companies just starting their VPP voyage. We would like to thank Omaha Steaks and El Dorado Packaging, both out of Omaha, NE, for agreeing to open their sites up to tours during the conference.

In addition, we recently offered a SGE training class in Chesterfield, MO. We had eight attendees.

Our Region VII SGE of the Year, Michael Yount, was awarded the National SGE of the Year Award. Congratulations to Michael!

We have seven new mentor and mentee pairings this year, with numerous others interested in the program.

In early September, two Monsanto sites in Waco, NE, celebrated their Star status with a flag raising celebration. Honorary board member, Dan Saathoff, presented a plaque during the ceremony.

Contributed by Bill Turner, Region VII Chairperson

36

THE LEADER / AUTUMN 2017

Region IX www.regionixvpppa.org

Arizona

The Arizona Division of Occupational Safety & Health (ADOSH) is proud to announce that the VPP program has been codified in the state of Arizona. This signals a continued commitment to the Voluntary Protection Program and solidifies the fact that ADOSH will continue to grow the program through increased awareness and funding. At the time of the codification, ADOSH also placed language affecting the partnership and the scheduling of general scheduled inspections.

ADOSH has formed many alliances and partnerships offering opportunities for employers in high risk industries to collaborate with ADOSH and reduce injuries and illnesses in the workplace.

ADOSH offers construction partnerships, Public Entity Partnership Programs (PEPP), HBACA Safe Site Partnerships, ASA of Arizona Membership Partnerships, in addition to the Rate Reduction Awareness Program. Each of these programs strives to work with employers to gain status in SHARP or VPP. ADOSH holds several regional summits and two large safety summits annually. One summit will be held from November 15–16 at the Radisson Hotel in Phoenix, AZ. During the two previous safety summits and a regional summit, ADOSH provided outreach to over 180 attendees, providing them with additional information on safety and health management systems and OSHA regulations.

ADOSH did hold one special SGE course in conjunction with the Region IX and national OSHA offices, and 13 new SGEs were sworn in and are now ready to go to work throughout the region and on a national level.

The Region IX VPPPA Board of Directors are the mentoring liaisons and more information can be obtained by contacting Gilbert Cosme or Jennifer Sanchez through Region IX VPPPA at www.regionixvpppa.org.

Several companies were reapproved recently as VPP Star sites including: • Ducommon, Print Pack, Inc. • Yuma Cogeneration Association There have been several changes in board positions. Including:

vpppa.org

• Chairperson, Gilbert Aceves, NRG Energy • Treasurer, Jennifer Sanchez • Secretary, Gilberto Cosme Jr., Palo Verde Generating Station • Representative from a Site Without a Collective Bargaining Agent, Terry Schulte, NuStar Energy • Director-at-Large, Jodi Jondahl, Raytheon

Nevada One big change for future VPP applicants became effective on July 1. The Division of Industrial Relations Safety Consultation and Training Section (SCATS) has assumed control of VPP from Nevada OSHA enforcement.

SCATS will be rolling out the new Nevada VPP plan documents soon. In the interim, they will still be using the previously published guidance, available on their website at www.4safenv.state.nv.us under “cooperative programs.” As documents are revised to reflect changes, that information will also be published on the website.

Additionally, as of July 31, 2017, Nevada has 10 participating VPP sites. Two of the sites are currently going through the renewal process and there is one application which is currently under review. Moving forward there will be no set limit on the number of new applications accepted each year. This reflects a change of past practices.

A potential class for SGEs is currently being planned for August 2018. We will continue to update members as new information becomes available.

The CAO of SCATS is Todd Schultz and the Program Coordinator is Stephen Rodgers. They can be contacted by calling (702) 990-0362 or 1-877-472-3368. SCATS personnel look forward to working with you all in the future.

The Region IX VPPPA can be reached at several social media sites by going to any of the following: • Follow us on Twitter: @RegionIXVPPPA • Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/regionixvpppa • Follow us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/regionixvpppa Contributed by Mark Norton, Region IX Ambassador

vpppa.org

Region X www.regionxvpppa.org The Region X Board of Directors continue to support outreach activities in Region X which includes Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. During the week of September 19–20, Jack Griffith, Region X Treasurer and member of the National VPPPA Board of Directors and Rocky Simmons, Region X VPPPA Chairperson, attended Washington’s 66th Annual Governor’s Industrial Safety & Health Conference held in Tacoma, WA, and gave a presentation on VPP 101. Derek Engard, of Federal OSHA (Department of Labor VPP Manager) also participated in the session. In addition, they had a booth in the exhibit hall for networking and

providing attendees with information on VPP and the upcoming 33rd Annual Region X Northwest Safety & Health Summit to be held in Anchorage, AL, May 1–3, 2018.

They also interviewed potential speaker candidates and vendors. This event was also supported by John Geppert, DOSH VPP Manager, Sharon Perkins and Darren James who not only supported the VPP activities but were involved in activities to support the Governor’s Industrial Safety & Health Conference as speakers, moderators and Staff members.

Contributed by Jack Griffith, Region X Treasurer and National Board Director-at-Large

SAFETY IS EVERYONE’S BUSINESS www.nucor.com/responsibility

THE LEADER / AUTUMN 2017

37

infographic corner

The Navy’s Marine Mammal Program began in 1960 to study the capabilities of dolphins, sea lions, beluga whales and other

marine mammals.

Bottlenose dolphins are used to

detect and defend against enemy swimmers, detect and mark underwater mines and more.

Hippotherapy

is a physical, occupational or speech and language therapy treatment strategy that uses

equine movement.

The Japanese IT firm, Ferray Corporation, adopted nine office cats to reduce work stress.

38

THE LEADER / AUTUMN 2017

Per the National Service Animal Registry, service animals are dogs (and in some cases, miniature horses) trained to perform major life tasks to assist people with physical or severe psychiatric impairments/ disabilities.

Notable companies including Google, Amazon and Proctor & Gamble allow pets in the workplace.

With their acute sense of

smell,

some dogs can be trained to

sniff out diseases like cancer and diabetes. vpppa.org

VPPPA Contacts

calendar of events

December Mid-December Membership renewals

March March 7–9

May 21–23 Region VII VPPPA Conference Omaha, NE

May 22–24 Region V VPPPA Conference Indianapolis Convention Center Indianapolis, IN

21st Annual Region III Conference Omni Homestead Resort Hot Springs, VA

June

March 13–15

Region IV Safety & Health Excellence Conference Beau Rivage Casino & Resort Biloxi, MS

Region IX VPPPA Safety Summit San Diego, CA

June 19–21

April

August

April 30–May 3

August 28–31

Region VI Annual Safety & Health Conference Ft. Worth Convention Center Ft. Worth, TX

Safety+ Symposium Gaylord Opryland Convention Center Nashville, TN

May May 1–3

To reach the VPPPA National Office, call (703) 761-1146 or visit www. vpppa.org. To reach a particular staff member, please refer to the contact information below.

Mike Maddox mmaddox@vpppa.org Executive Director Ext. 103 Sara A. Taylor, CMP staylor@vpppa.org Director of Operations Ext. 107 Brielle Mroczko bmroczko@vpppa.org Conference Coordinator Ext. 116 Kerri Carpenter kcarpenter@vpppa.org Communications & Outreach Manager Ext. 121 Jamie Mitchell jmitchell@vpppa.org Communications Coordinator Ext. 117 Heidi Hill hhill@vpppa.org Senior Event Sales & Advertising Coordinator Ext. 111 Katlyn Pagliuca kpagliuca@vpppa.org Membership Manager Ext. 115 Natasha Cole ncole@vpppa.org Member Services Coordinator Ext. 113

Region X Northwest Safety and Health Summit Anchorage, AK

Sierra Johnson sjohnson@vpppa.org Special Projects Coordinator Ext. 114

May 7–9

Bryant Walker bwalker@vpppa.org Information & Data Analyst Manager Ext. 110

Region I VPPPA Conference Falmouth, MA

May 8–10 Region VIII VPPPA Safety Summit Cheyenne, WY

Michael Khosrofian mkhosrofian@vpppa.org Accountant Ext. 104 Courtney Malveaux, Esq cmalveaux@vpppa.org Government Relations Counsel Ext. 105

vpppa.org

THE LEADER / AUTUMN 2017

39

7600-E Leesburg Pike, Suite 100 Falls Church, VA 22043-2004 Tel: (703) 761-1146 Fax: (703) 761-1148 www.vpppa.org VPPPA, a nonprofit 501(c) (3) charitable organization, promotes advances in worker safety and health excellence through best practices and cooperative efforts among workers, employers, the government and communities.

SCAN QR CODE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT VPPPA, INC.

http://bit.ly/jVQcBo

PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER

• Keeps extension ladders from slipping on slick surfaces such as composite decking • Unique design of foam creates tiny suction cups that grip the surface, even when wet • Light weight for easy use, weighs ~8 pounds • Works on smooth surfaces, plastic, wood, concrete, etc., even when wet • 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

Ladder falls – 2nd leading cause of work-related injuries!* * https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ nioshtic-2/20034690.html

Working Concepts, Inc.

888-456-3372 • www.softknees.com • info@softknees.com Patent Pending