Message from the Executive Director

A Message From the VPPPA Executive Director

Everyone I met during the course of Safety+ spoke about how great it was to be back in person, learning from one another, and taking that next step forward in their personal and professional safety journeys.

On the Job Training at Safety+

The 2022 Safety+ Symposium in Washington, D.C. is officially in the books, and I couldn’t have asked for a better—or busier—week. The entire VPPPA team—board members, staff, volunteers—worked together to create a conference that delivered the networking, learning, and fellowship that members and attendees have come to expect from our association. Everyone I met during the course of Safety+ spoke about how great it was to be back in person, learning from one another, and taking that next step forward in their personal and professional safety journeys.

Myself included.

Even though I’ve been around the EHS&S world on the construction side for almost two decades now, it’s only been since July 1 that I’ve officially been in my current position as Executive Director of VPPPA. That’s about 7 weeks from my first day to the Opening General Session. To say that Safety+ was on-the-job training, even with my background, would be an understatement.

Being familiar with VPPPA was certainly helpful, but nothing can equate to the experience of meeting and engaging in-person with the members and attendees, and hearing firsthand what VPP, VPPPA, and collaborative safety & health culture mean to our association’s—and our profession’s—mission. The entire week reinforced my passion—our passion—for our shared, singular goal: to send every worker home in the same, or better, condition than which they arrived on the job. And, like our Safety+ attendees, I left Washington, D.C. armed with the information and knowledge to continue working toward that goal.

Now the work begins.

I joined VPPPA because of my passion for workplace safety, health, and sustainability (the other “S” in EHS&S), but also because of what, and who, VPPPA represents—the very best of the best when it comes to EHS&S people, processes, and performance. Our association truly is the premier global safety and health organization—where worldclass safety comes to evolve. Coming from construction, I’ve seen how VPP transforms safety cultures to unlock the potential of the labor, management, and regulatory collaborative environment and create the conditions for long-term success.

VPPPA has that same potential.

Much like our members, VPPPA is on its own continuous improvement journey. Our mission applies beyond VPP itself, to companies and sites small and large. Our association is uniquely positioned to harness the collective knowledge of our members on what it takes to achieve safety excellence and help others along their journey. We have the opportunity to develop the next generation of safety & health leaders using the principles of VPP and outstanding performance as our foundation. Most importantly, we have the responsibility to engage and educate industry, so that others need not experience the tragic, catastrophic moments that, sadly, form the basis of many of our “safety why” stories.

Our shared journey is one of continuous, incremental improvement through education, training, developing, and sharing best practices. After experiencing Safety+ together, I’m confident that we’re ready to forge ahead toward our shared goal.

Let’s get to work.

Stay safe,

—Chris Williams, CAE Executive Director