The Leader Spring 2018 - Profiles In Safety

VOLUME 5, ISSUE 2, SPRING 2018

PROFILES IN SAFETY

LEADER THE

VOL 5. ISSUE 2 SPRING 2018

features

CONTENTS

8

The Buried Truth About Human Factors

For years, after I went back to work, I spent every safety training class searching for the answer to how my accident happened. I was the last person this should have happened to—I was considered one of the safest operators in town. I was competent in my job. I had trained a lot of workers in safety. As the operator-foreman, my job was to stand up top and watch for signs of a trench failure. I knew the risks.

So why did this happen to me?

12

Sharing Stories, Saving Lives

Summer jobs are a rite of passage for high school and university students. We usually worry about finding work, take what we can get and wait out the few months until we head back to school. My summer job changed my whole life in just one moment. After my first year at university, I began a summer job at the local paper mill. Before I went to work, I spent a week in a classroom watching videos, reading pamphlets and discussing safety issues.

16

The Real Cost of Safety

What happened? What went wrong?

It was a host of missed steps, from not reporting near misses, not pre-planning with the job safety analysis, worker fatigue, and most importantly, not holding everyone accountable in performing their job duties the correct way. These necessary and crucial steps were overlooked, which created a domino effect that caused the incident that almost ended my life.

4

THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

18

410 Tiny Lead Balls and .246 Seconds

Gunpowder, 410 tiny lead balls and .246 seconds are all it takes to change a family’s life forever. On February 15, 2003, Tony Crow found out how one bullet can make a huge impact. Tony was hit in the face with a blast from a 12-gauge shotgun during a quail hunt in Knox City, Texas. Unknowing that his father was camouflaged in chest-high brush, his son, Landon Crow, pulled the trigger.

22

“Please God, Don’t Let Me Die!”

A quiet calm took over. I couldn’t hear anything, just silence. I was immersed in bright white light. I knew I had died.

I began talking to God again. I said, “God, if you just let me live I promise to be good. I promise to never complain about anything, please God…I am not ready to die!”

vpppa.org

www.vpppa.org

features continued

26

VPPPA National Board of Directors

The Ripple Effect

Traumatic accidents have far-reaching effects on family and friends. The first phone call contacting loved ones is like a pebble tossed into a still body of water and the first ripple is generated. Concentric rings rapidly form as family and friends are notified, and in turn, notify others. Their day has just been upended, plans for dinner, movies and little league are all thrown out the window.

30

Storytime or a Learning Opportunity?

If you’re going to take the time to share a narrative about an accident, event, or near miss you want to get the most out of it. Oftentimes, these stories are told at a morning staff meeting or worksite pre-job briefing, and the outcome is little more than mild interest or morbid curiosity. “That’s unfortunate.

Too bad for them. Where are my tools?”

Chairperson Mike Guillory, SGE, The Brock Group Vice Chairperson Rob Henson, LyondellBasell Treasurer Chris Adolfson, Idaho National Laboratory Secretary Terry Schulte, NuStar Energy, LP 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 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 GLOBAL SAFETY AND HEALTH WATCH

6

MEMBERSHIP CORNER

34

WASHINGTON UPDATE

38

STATE-PLAN MONITOR

40

VPPPA REGIONAL ROUND-UPS 42

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

G overnment Membership Health

INFOGRAPHIC CORNER

46

Business

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

47

Outreach

vpppa.org

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.

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

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 / SPRING 2018

5

global safety and health watch

Celebrating Safety & Health Around the World

6

THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

vpppa.org

BY JAMIE MITCHELL, COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR, VPPPA, INC.

E

very year we mark our calendars for the major holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, Memorial Day, Valentine’s Day...

The list goes on. But what about the national and international observances that can sometimes slip by on our calendars with no recognition?

The yearly calendar is full of safety and health observance days that we might forget to acknowledge, but it is crucial that we bring awareness to the causes these days, weeks and months aim to recognize. The upcoming weeks of May and June are overflowing with safety and health observance days that should not be missed. Do you participate in any events centered on these observances at home or at your work site? Perhaps you can start a program at your own site and start spreading awareness for the safety and health calendar.

May Observances As we finish up the month of May, there are plenty of safety and health observances occurring around the United States and abroad. For example, May 14–20 is Mental Health Awareness Week in the United Kingdom. Supported by the Mental Health Foundation, the aim of this week is to educate the public about mental health issues and promote better mental health.

Similarly, in the U.S., May is Mental Health Month. Since 1949, Mental Health America and their affiliates across the country have led this observance of May as Mental Health Month to bring awareness to this important topic. The 2018 theme for Mental Health Month is “Fitness #4Mind4Body.”

May 31, 2018 is World No Tobacco Day. This day serves to highlight the risks associated with tobacco use and advocates for policies to reduce tobacco consumption. According to the World Health Organization, World No Tobacco Day was created in 1987 to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and the preventable death and disease it causes.

Global Employee Health and Fitness Month is also celebrated during May. This international vpppa.org

observance promotes the benefits of a healthy lifestyle to employers and their employees through worksite health promotion activities and environments. A little bit of action goes a long way when it comes to healthy choices—preparing a healthy meal or going for a walk or bike ride can be the start to a new and improved lifestyle.

In the U.S., May is also Building Safety Month, Better Hearing Month, Healthy Vision Month and Clean Air Month, to name a few.

An abundance of resources are out there for these great causes—I urge you to do some research on a safety observance calendar and find an observance day, week or month that means the most to you, or applies to your work site.

June Observances June is National Safety Month. Thousands of organizations across the U.S. observe this throughout June to bring awareness to increased safety at home and on the job. The four weeks of the month each have a specific theme to focus on, including: Week 1: Emergency Preparedness, Week 2: Wellness, Week 3: Falls and Week 4: Driving. As June approaches, start thinking about the ways you want to spread safety awareness in your daily life. Perhaps you want to teach your children about emergency preparedness at home and what steps to take?

Do you want to focus on your personal wellness and make a change in your diet or exercise routine? Finally, maybe you have caught yourself, your teenager or a fellow employee texting and driving, and you want to make a point of correcting some poor driving habits.

Whether at work or at home, National Safety Month is a great opportunity to pinpoint some places you want to improve regarding personal safety issues, or bring awareness to these issues in the workplace. It is never too late to be safe.

A few specific days in June to note include: World Blood Donor Day on June 14, which raises awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products around the globe. The day also serves as a thank you to the voluntary, unpaid blood donors and their gifts.

June 21, 2018 will be the U.K.’s first National Clean Air Day. Air pollution harms the health of millions each day, but there are simple things we can do to reduce our exposure to it. A few of

these include, reducing the number of trips we take in our cars, eliminating or using fireplaces and wood stoves less often and avoiding burning leaves, trash and other harmful materials.

Clean Air Day urges us to pledge to reduce air pollution, and to join forces to discuss the ways we can beat harmful pollution together.

June is Men’s Health Month and specifically, June 11–17 is Men’s Health Week for 2018.

Started in 1994, and supported by Congress through a health education program, this week gives healthcare providers, public policy makers, the media and individuals an opportunity to encourage men and boys to seek regular medical advice and early treatment for disease and injury. Prostate cancer, cardiovascular diseases and mental health issues are some of the leading causes of death in men around the globe; therefore, preventative measures and treatment are crucial.

The calendar of safety and health observances is jam-packed every month, and the options are endless when it comes to participating in these days at your own site or at home with your family. Be sure to share how your site, or family, recognizes these important days, weeks or months with VPPPA on social media, @VPPPA.

Resources: 1. www.healthandfitnessmonth.com 2. www.beckershospitalreview.com/quality/ healthcare-awareness-calendar-keymonths-weeks-and-days-from-january-todecember.html 3. www.nsc.org/learn/about/Pages/SafetyObservance-Calendar.aspx 4. www.nsc.org/act/events/Pages/nationalsafety-month.aspx 5. www.healthandsafetyweek.com/ news/2015/1/30/what-is-health-and- safety-week 6. www.nhsemployers.org/your-workforce/retainand-improve/staff-experience/health-workand-wellbeing/sustaining-the-momentum/ calendar-of-national-campaigns-2018/ calendar-of-national-campaigns-2017-table 7. www.mentalhealthamerica.net/may 8. www.who.int/tobacco/communications/ events/wntd/en/ 9. www.cleanairday.org.uk/

THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

7

BY JOE TANTARELLI

8

THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

vpppa.org

M

y accident—we’ll call it that for lack of a better term—happened in June 1983. I was 26 years old.

Maybe you can relate to me at 26: my Sundays usually bled into my Mondays and getting to bed at 2:30 a.m. only to leave for work at 5:30 a.m. was perfectly normal. That morning, I allowed myself a 20-minute nap as I rode in the passenger seat of the tractor-trailer rig that hauled our excavator to the job site.

I had been in the excavating business for seven years, five of which as the operatorforeman on the basement crew. When I first started in the business, my safety orientation was straight to the point, I was told:

Production Training We hustle here, all day, every day. If you’re not a hustler then go home now because there’s no way we can find the time to waste on you.

Safety Training 1. Hurry up and get the pipe buried in the

trench before it buries you.

2. The longer the trench is open, the more

chance it’s going to cave in.

3. If the trench caves in but doesn’t kill you right

away, just hang tight because there’s going to be a second cave-in. And that second collapse is going to be more catastrophic than the first one—it will be the one that takes you out.

In the seven years since receiving that less than 10-minute overview, I had learned a lot.

In fact, I was even responsible for training other people on my job sites. On this particular site, I was working with two 17-year-old laborers— both inexperienced and with their own reasons for being there—but learning the trade was not their priority.

In order to save money, the customer decided they would have their plumber supply the 4-inch pipe for the job. My boss gave them the approval to do so on the condition that the pipe was delivered to the job site before we got there. But when we arrived that morning, the pipe wasn’t there and I was livid.

I jumped into the pipe truck and sped over to the site office trailer to tell the foreman that we were leaving to go to another job that was actually ready for us because they obviously weren’t. The foreman managed to calm me down and assured me the pipe was on its way and would be ready when I needed it.

Against my better judgment, I went back to the site and began work. I let the laborers install vpppa.org

the 6-inch pipe we brought while I dug the trench for the 4-inch pipe that wasn’t there yet.

Two hours passed as I sat with my open ditch waiting for the pipe that was on the way. In order to turn a profit, we needed to complete two basements a day. I went into a tailspin thinking about how in two hours I should have had all of the pipe in the ground and backfilled, which would have completed three-quarters of that basement. I knew if I wasn’t making money for the company, I wouldn’t be around much longer, so my urgency to get that pipe in the ground was high.

The plumber finally delivered the pipe. My patience was already low, I didn’t have time for on-the-job training and my laborers were taking what seemed like forever to make a decision on something. I intervened and asked what they needed. They said they wanted to put a bend on the pipe. I knew from experience that they didn’t need a bend but I had no time left to argue with them. I ran and got the only 4-inch schedule 40 bend I had on the truck and some PVC glue to affix it to the fitting. They were fumbling trying to get the fitting on and I knew that if the glue set, they would end up losing it. I had no room for error so I yelled for them to get out of the way, jumped into the trench, put a little more glue on the outside of the pipe and inside the fitting and slammed that pipe into the fitting. Just as I was about to scold them on how easy it was, I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye.

A 25–30 feet long section of the trench wall was moving a little bit. A collapse was imminent. I knew that I needed to get to the very end of the trench because its configuration there causes an arch effect and provides a safe cocoon in the event of a trench failure. Just as I was about to turn and run I realized that both laborers were down in the trench with me and they had no idea what was about to happen.

If a 6 feet long, 4 feet wide, 8 feet deep section of a trench collapses, it can send 10 tons of soil crashing down on a person. Knowing that all three of us were in harm’s way, every second mattered. I shoved both boys to safety against one end of the trench but I was unable to make it to the same area so I turned to run to another safe spot. I thought I would get away with it because I had done it so many times before without any negative repercussions. But this time I didn’t make it out—I was right at the tail end of the trench collapse and I was buried up to my armpits.

Luckily, I’d succeeded in pushing the boys to safety and they came running down to help me.

Right then, my 10-minute safety overview from when I first started in the business hit me.

“If the trench caves in but doesn’t kill you right away, just hang tight because there’s going to be a second cave-in. And that second collapse is going to be more catastrophic than the first one—it will be the one that takes you out.”

I was in and out of consciousness, but I remember pleading with myself to stay awake.

I knew that if I passed out again I would die because those young boys did not know how to help me. Every time I inhaled, the dirt got tighter around my chest. The only shovel we had was buried in the trench, so one of the laborers, who was 6 feet 6 inches tall and 300 pounds, grabbed my wrists with the intention of pulling me out by my arms. I knew that with the weight of a car on top of me, that action would have ripped me apart. I yelled for him to stop and explained how they should carefully dig me out with their hands instead.

They did and as soon as I could move my legs I was scrambling to get out.

We didn’t have 911 service or cell phones back then, so my ambulance was a 1978 Chevy Pickup. I was in and out of consciousness the whole ride to the hospital. But whenever I was conscious, I was self-diagnosing my injuries. I determined that I probably had a broken rib or two and I’d be home by dinner.

When we got to the hospital I managed to take two or three steps towards the emergency room and the next thing I remember is my toes dragging across the parking lot. I woke up again to a nurse taking my blood pressure.

“He’s 60 over 40,” I heard her say to the other nurse. I went back to self-diagnosing. I knew that my blood pressure wasn’t supposed to be 60/40, so my initial diagnosis must have been a bit off and I probably wasn’t going to be home for dinner.

Here’s the part of the story I can’t tell first-hand because I had learned about it later: by the time the attending physician made it into the emergency room that day, I had flatlined. My self-diagnosed broken rib was actually internal bleeding that required surgery and my left kidney had to be removed in order to get me stabilized.

Over the next 48 hours, I only remember the last 30 minutes of every four-hour interval because that was when the morphine wore off. I was completely out for the first three and a half hours and then I was in excruciating pain for that last 30 minutes until they gave me my next shot of morphine at the four-hour mark.

THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

9

You may never get caught in a trench collapse, but the tasks of your job and the risks you face at home or while driving can still cause serious physical injuries and leave lasting emotional effects on you and the ones you love.

10

THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

Consequences Aside from the physical consequences that include three bulging discs near my sciatic nerve, the results of which I can only describe as feeling like you’re walking on the sharp end of a sword instead of a leg, it’s the emotional consequences that are the worst. You could set a clock to when I wake up screaming from recurring nightmares, but they are nothing compared to the emotional damages this accident caused my family. Every time I left for work, they feared I was never coming back. If I was 10 minutes late walking through the door, the house was in hysterics.

For years, after I went back to work, I spent every safety training class searching for the answer to how my accident happened. I was the last person this should have happened to—I was considered one of the safest operators in town. I was competent in my job. I had trained a lot of workers in safety. As the operator-foreman, my job was to stand up top and watch for signs of a trench failure. I knew the risks. So why did this happen to me?

It wasn’t until I had taken some human factors training that it clicked for me. Your state of mind can greatly impact your critical decisions. I knew the hazards but I wasn’t in tune

with how complacency and other states of mind can impact safety. I had a happy ending to what could have been a tragic story, but if I’d known how to prevent the errors caused by my mental state, this incident could have been avoided.

You may never get caught in a trench collapse, but the tasks of your job and the risks you face at home or while driving can still cause serious physical injuries and leave lasting emotional effects on you and the ones you love.

My accident could have been prevented and so can your future accidents. Because protecting people through engineering solutions is a basic requirement, but how can they be protected against their own state of mind? If there’s one lesson I took from this and want to share with you it’s this: learn more about human factors training—it could save your life.

Joe Tantarelli teaches people about human factors as a Safety Consultant with SafeStart. In his 40 years in heavy equipment construction, he went from laborer to operator to manager.

Joe was a training specialist for over eight years which provided a natural transition for him to become a speaker and implementation specialist.

vpppa.org

AD p. 11

BY CANDACE CARNAHAN

SHARING STORIES,

SAVING

LIVES

12

THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

vpppa.org

For the past 17 years, I’ve been traveling throughout North America, and around the globe, spreading a critical message—that workplace safety starts with the individual. Each and every one of us can contribute something—even one small thing—that will make concrete change to the culture of safety where we work and where we live. It’s a personal mission that started for me on a bright August day, at my summer job.

S

ummer jobs are a rite of passage for high school and university students.

We usually worry about finding work, take what we can get and wait out the few months until we head back to school. My summer job changed my whole life in just one moment. After my first year at university, I began a summer job at the local paper mill.

Before I went to work, I spent a week in a classroom watching videos, reading pamphlets and discussing safety issues. Then I entered the work area for “on the job” training. This routine continued every summer for the three years I worked at the mill.

My job was to pick up any slabs of paper that fell on the floor, keeping the overall work area clean. It was a day like any other when I took an often-used shortcut that would result in a much longer journey of another kind. I was working on the winder floor when I crossed over a conveyor belt system that ran throughout the mill. It was a shortcut used regularly by other employees, students and even supervisors.

No one thought twice about it; if it had been dangerous, it would have been pointed out. Or so I thought.

As I crossed over the belt, I put my foot down at exactly the wrong place at exactly the wrong time. My left foot caught within the area where the belt system collided. I fell to the ground, landing on the belt. The conveyor was moving, and pulling my foot in. My screams echoed above the mill noise.

The automatic emergency stop was disabled.

vpppa.org

A co-worker rushed over and stopped the belt; however, my foot was still caught, crushed between a point where two conveyors came together. That man saved my life. Had he not heard my screams, that belt would have continued to run, and you would be reading a story about me, written by someone else, with a very different ending. A maintenance crew arrived to disassemble the system and free my leg. For 25 minutes, I remained on the ground while co-workers offered me support. Finally, I was freed and rushed away in an ambulance, still conscious and still in excruciating pain.

I was so grateful to be alive. I decided to focus on what I had left, not on what I had lost.

I awoke the next morning in the hospital, my left foot invisible beneath a mound of bandages.

The seriousness of the situation set in when they transported me to a larger hospital about an hour away, where I waited in my room for a doctor to come and look at me. The result: the lower part of my left leg was injured beyond repair. Amputation was the only option.

While the news of losing my limb was devastating, I was so grateful to be alive. I decided to focus on what I had left, not on what I had lost. I wouldn’t waste my time and

energy wondering “Why me?” and wishing for a different outcome, or worrying about things I couldn’t control. I had to focus on the things I had the power to change instead of dwelling on the things I couldn’t. Two months after the injury, I got my first prosthetic leg and began physiotherapy. Soon, I was walking on my own, ready to start another phase of my life.

Each day is a gift to be treasured. Almost losing my life made me realize that there is no better time than today to do the things you want to do. Tomorrow doesn’t come for everyone.

Nine months after the injury I traveled to Mexico to take a month-long anthropology course. Then I backpacked through Europe before returning to school to complete my degree in psychology. I never think of what my life could have been like if I didn’t lose my foot. Most everything that has happened since that day has led to a positive experience or adventure. I think it goes without saying that living with a disability of any kind can prove to be challenging at times. However, through my personal experiences, and those of others who have suffered a similar loss, I’ve come to believe that being “disabled” is more of a state of mind than one of physical being.

Just one year after my injury, I was approached by the prevention arm of the provincial workers’ compensation board to speak to high school students about workplace safety. Then, I started traveling across Canada with another safety advocate, Paul Kells, to get employers and young workers on the same page when it comes to safety.

THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

13

I encourage everyone to tap into their “Courage to Care,” and to act on it, with the realization that each and every day, we all have the capacity to change a life— or maybe even save one.

Now I am a full-time keynote speaker sharing my story at schools, companies, conferences and events worldwide.

Every time I speak, I customize my message to the audience—whether it be corporate, plant workers, students or community groups.

However, the basis of what I speak about is the same. I start with my personal experience and weave in three central themes: • Having the Courage to Care • See Something, Say Something • Sharing Stories, Saving Lives

Courage to Care Thinking about safety in terms of having the “Courage to Care” can be a real eye-opener for some people. Think of it this way—“Do you think it’s okay that some people are going to get hurt at work? How many is too many?

One? Put up your hand, who wants to be the one? Who is okay with the one being your brother or your daughter? I can tell you about that, because I have been the one.”

Once you change your perspective and realize that everyone around you is someone’s son, daughter, husband, wife, it makes safety personal. Would you be brave enough, would you CARE enough to check in with your spouse if they were working on new machinery for the first time? What if you saw your son doing something unsafely? Would you hesitate to put yourself out there and step in?

14

THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

I encourage everyone to tap into their “Courage to Care,” and to act on it, with the realization that each and every day, we all have the capacity to change a life—or maybe even save one.

See Something, Say Something I use my own injury story to encourage audiences to “log into life” and actively seek out situations where speaking up changes a life for the better. Perhaps this is reminding someone to buckle up, or simply asking someone how they are doing.

I always say safety is not nine to five. You can’t punch in and punch out. You can’t make it four on and four off. Safety is an attitude, it’s a way of life.

The minute your mind is wandering, you’re not present. If you’re on the plant floor, you’re working with other people, you’re working around moving machinery, if you’re off in the clouds, thinking about something that is completely unrelated to where you are, your guard is down.

It’s crucial that people not be afraid to speak up when they see hazards. Speaking up isn’t easy, and peer pressure is a reality in our workplaces and can cause us to remain silent. If something at work makes you uncomfortable, you say no. You ask questions. You never know—that one thing you say could be the thing that saves someone’s life.

vpppa.org

I believe that it’s the little things done on a daily basis that facilitate huge changes. By reminding people that until we achieve ZERO injuries, we can each do “one thing safer”—a challenge accepted by my audiences around the world.

At the end of all my keynotes, I have everyone stand up and cheer—“If you SEE something, SAY something!” It’s a first step to imprinting the concept into people’s consciousness.

Sharing Stories, Saving Lives Essentially, what it boils down to is that sharing stories changes lives. Sharing stories can even SAVE lives. Our brain produces this thing call oxytocin. In the past it was referred to as the “love hormone,” but has since been dubbed the “moral molecule.” Oxytocin is produced when we are trusted. When we share a personal story with one person or a group of people, we are telling them that we trust them. Oxytocin is the neurochemical responsible for empathy and what we know is that it makes us more sensitive to social cues, and social cues are what motivate us to engage with and assist others, particularly

if help is needed. Empathy also allows us to understand how others are likely to react to a situation, including people we work with.

What this means is that if I’ve done my job well, if I’ve transported my audience through my story, the result is a whole room of people who are feeling empathy, releasing oxytocin and are scientifically motivated and engaged in being more aware of their co-worker and whether or not they may need guidance, help, or even a hug. We’ve got people who have a more acute understanding of how to go about “saying something” after what they’ve seen as they are now naturally more able to understand the reaction they will receive. Furthermore, people become aware that connecting with people in the workplace through their own personal stories can be a powerful way to garner trust and encourage them to check into the workplace safety culture—to begin to care for others. Everyone has a story to tell, and when a workplace develops a story-telling culture it is a powerful catalyst to make positive change.

Candace Carnahan can be reached via her website at www.candacecarnahan.com or email at info@candacecarnahan.com.

AN INTEGRATED SAFETY & HEALTH MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS SYMPOSIUM

PRESENTED BY VPPPA & TSHC

#VPPPA2018

#TSHC2018

“I thoroughly enjoyed the conference, and felt I gained a lot of insight and valuable tools to bring back to my organization.”

Tuesday, August 28 – Friday, August 31, 2018 Gaylord Opryland Convention Center | Nashville, TN www.vpppa.org/symposium ■■

More than 100 educational workshops

■■

Visit 250 safety & health exhibitors

■■

Prizes, giveaways & networking opportunities

■■

Earn industry CEUs

vpppa.org

THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

15

THE REAL COST OF

AFETY

BY RICHARD MCELHANEY

16

THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

vpppa.org

I

t was 3:00 a.m. on a Thursday morning, December 9, 2004. My crew and I had to leave a jobsite in Washington, DC, early enough to make a training session in Camden, NJ. The four of us were getting trained on using a 20,000 psi water lance. This lance was going to be used to cut concrete segments that were poured the wrong way. Due to some quality issues, the segments were poured six to eight inches too wide and needed to be cut so they would fit the other segments. The training started at 7:00 a.m., but ended unexpectedly at 10:30 a.m. One of my co-workers lost control of the water lance and spun around while the lance was at full power.

Thankfully, he missed the rest of our co-workers and the instructor, but unfortunately, I was struck by 20,000 psi across both legs, just above the knee. During the training session, the goal was to rotate between workers so we could learn how to use the lance and the compressor. I was next in line and standing 12 feet away from the worker using the lance. The pressure of the water, even at 12 feet, was so great that it entered both of my legs in the front and exited out of the back, hitting both femoral arteries. There I lay, in a pool of blood, thinking “that did not just happen.”

Throughout my training in advanced first aid and CPR, I knew I had only minutes to live. So what do you do when you only have minutes to live and you’re lying on the ground in a puddle of blood? I wanted to see my family. I had photos of my children in my wallet in my pocket. I asked my co-workers to get my wallet because I wanted to see my children before I died. Fortunately, my co-workers knew what to do: they applied pressure, elevated my legs, and kept me calm by showing me the photos of my children.

That day, my wife got an unexpected visit from the safety professional. “Mrs. McElhaney, there has been a terrible incident and we need you to come with us. Rich is still alive, but in critical condition.” She asked, “How can he be hurt, he’s the safety guy?” I was now asking, “what is the real cost of safety?”

As a 26-year-long seasoned safety professional, I understood and tracked each and every cost associated with occupational injuries. I would argue with upper management about tracking these unforeseen events linked to the injury.

Through my training and experience I understood these unforeseen events added eight to 10 times more money to the injury cost and should not be written off as typical business expenses. These unforeseen events include: cost of repairs, cleanup, costs to replace the injured person, increased insurance premiums and litigation. But what I really understood most of all, was the impact it vpppa.org

had on the worker and the worker’s family. Over the years, I had to be the messenger to the families of two fallen co-workers. It is by far one of the worst duties of a safety professional, a manager, or an owner, having to tell a spouse that their loved one is not coming home.

What happened? What went wrong? It was a host of missed steps, from not reporting near misses, not pre-planning with the job safety analysis, worker fatigue, and most importantly, not holding everyone accountable in performing their job duties the correct way. These necessary and crucial steps were overlooked, which created a domino effect that caused the incident that almost ended my life. Fifteen surgeries, 30 units of blood, induced comas, and three years of rehab later, I am somewhat back to what some may call a normal life. I can’t feel my legs, they swell and they are in pain 24/7. I also have a blood clot in my right leg that will never go away. The hardest part is not being able to teach my children the things I learned growing up. I can’t teach them to snow ski, water ski, and other things like play football.

I can advise them on these activities, but I cannot participate and share the experience with them, side by side. It is truly what affects me the most.

I now travel the globe sharing my story and teaching the participant’s lessons learned from my incident. In dramatic fashion, I reveal my injuries and its effects it had on me and my family’s lives. According to many audience members, they have left my training session a changed person. They say you will understand why the people in the safety profession do what they do to protect workers and workers families. I call myself a living lessons learned. So what have I learned from my incident? I have learned that the following six safety management principals are key to any company’s safety success: 1. Job Safety Analysis (JSAs) are the backbone of every safety program. Communication is the key to a company’s success. Look at JSA’s as a company’s language. Your employees need to know how to speak your language.

Train employees on how to use these tools.

2. Daily safety “huddles” are a must. Review the JSA with your crew. A safety huddle should never be one way communication.

You should always encourage two way communication. Ask the employees to share their experiences on the task that you are about to perform. Did it go well? Did it go poorly? Did you go above and beyond expectations to eliminate a certain risk?

3. Safety inspections should be done with a field level employee. A lot is missed if the inspection is only done by the safety

professional. Field level employees know the jobsite from end to end.

4. Behavioral Observation Surveys are key. When done correctly, it empowers employees to intervene if they see something wrong. It also gives the safety professionals a snapshot of what is going on out in the field so we can concentrate on what’s good and what’s bad. Remember, safety is everyone’s responsibility, not just the responsibility of the safety professional.

5. Create a robust lessons learned and near miss reporting program. We must all learn from our mistakes and never fear for our jobs if we report them. Teach your personnel the difference between a near miss and breaking a safety rule. An employee should never be disciplined for reporting a near miss.

But when they break a safety rule, then you should follow your disciplinary program.

6. When new employees complete the new hire safety orientation, the “boss” should always sit down with the new employees and review their commitment to the safety management process.

I have found that this sets the tone for safety within your organization and on the project.

Richard McElhaney was born and raised in Western Pennsylvania. He has been in the Safety and Risk Management field for over 26 years. He currently provides safety consulting services for many companies on a global scale. Over those twenty six years, he has presented and worked in Australia, Canada, China, Panama and Africa. Mr. McElhaney earned his B.S. in Occupational Safety and Health Management from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania in 1992. He completed his M.S. in Safety Science from West Virginia University in 2011. His professional designations include, Certified Safety Professional (CSP) and Construction Risk Insurance Professional (CRIS). Rich still resides in Western Pennsylvania with his wife and three children.

THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

17

410 TINY LEAD BALLS AND

BY TONY AND CHERYL CROW Gunpowder, 410 tiny lead balls and .246 seconds are all it takes to change a family’s life forever.

On February 15, 2003, Tony Crow found out how one bullet can make a huge impact.

18

THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

T

ony was hit in the face with a blast from a 12-gauge shotgun during a quail hunt in Knox City, Texas.

Unknowing that his father was camouflaged in chest-high brush, his son, Landon Crow, pulled the trigger.

“In the blink of an eye it was over,” Tony said. “I just remember Landon, crashing through the brush screaming, ‘Oh my God, Daddy, what have I done?’”

Landon Crow, who was a junior in high school at the time, supported his father the half-mile back to their truck and accompanied him as he was flown to the nearest hospital in Abilene, Texas.

“I knew I could not see, but I thought I might be okay later,” Tony said. “I could feel my eyes watering, and it was not until later that I found out it was blood.”

After the initial phone call from the hospital, no one knew how badly Tony had been injured, said Cheryl Crow, Tony’s wife.

“I really don’t remember much about the time Tony was in the hospital,” Cheryl said. “I think I was in shock and running on adrenaline.”

Tony said loved ones surrounded both him and Landon during a round of surgeries attempting vpppa.org

to restore his vision. The local Future Farmers of America chapter brought a bus of students to offer support and comfort for Landon.

“All that I can remember is asking my doctor if I would be able to see again,” Tony said.

“The only thing he said in return was ‘no.’”

Tony describes how hard it was to reach out and grab ahold of that word—never. Never is a long time—never is forever. Tony would never open his eyes to see the face of his family, friends or co-workers again. He would never see the face of his grandchildren, or be able to see the beauty of a sunset. “I asked the doctor if safety glasses would have saved his vision,” Cheryl said.

The doctor told them that any type of eyewear would have saved his vision.

An accident, on or off the job, can change many lives in the blink of an eye. Has your past experience or safety cockiness ever blinded your better judgment? In turn, has it caused you to avoid proper safety measures to minimize risks associated with work or leisure activities? Have you ever gotten away with some close calls or adopted an attitude that accidents haven’t happened yet and probably will never happen to me. vpppa.org

Safety is the number one issue for companies in today’s world. The purpose of safety meetings or programs is to safeguard and educate employees by creating an accident-free workplace.

In August of 1977, Tony began working for Luminant Energy (formerly TXU) at a coal-fired power plant in Northeast Texas where he lived.

He worked for 26 years for TXU, and attended numerous safety meetings, was well versed in safety rules and applied them on the job daily.

The first day on the job they gave the new hires three things—a hard hat, safety glasses and hearing protection. In addition, they had already told them to wear steel-toed boots. Every day for 26 years, Tony wore safety glasses, except for the day that it mattered the most. He knew how important they were. Safety does not stop once you leave the workplace. Unfortunately, he left his safety rules there. He later learned that safety should be a 24/7 responsibility at work, at home and at play—a personal commitment.

Not only was his life changed on February 15, 2003, but the lives of those he loved the most—his family. Accidents change lives forever.

There are no second chances or do-overs in these situations. There are so many things that Tony thinks back on and wishes he could change.

As they were traveling out to West Texas for the hunt, they passed a pickup truck. Landon said “Dad they are going hunting also,” he could see the dog boxes in the back of the truck. As Tony passed the truck, the driver was wearing a bright hunter orange shirt and cap that caught his eye. He said to Landon, “They must be city slicker hunters, they are wearing that orange.” They both laughed and traveled on. He often wishes now that he had never made that statement in front of his son.

He made fun of someone that was thinking about safety off of the job. When he woke up in the Parkland hospital in Dallas the nurse asked him several questions. She asked him if he thought he was wearing an orange shirt because he kept muttering something about an orange shirt. In his subconscious mind, all he could think about was making fun of the guys in the orange shirt. If only he had been wearing an orange shirt—maybe when Landon turned to swing the gun he would have seen that orange shirt. When Tony speaks to audiences he challenges them to always wear the proper PPE because in the work force the bright orange is called safety orange or hi-visibility. It is worn for a purpose—for people to see you easily.

THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

19

Tony and his wife, Cheryl.

On the day of the hunt, everything had been great up until that moment when Tony was shot. As he looks back on the day, another mistake he is reminded of is his lack of communication with Landon. They had a covey of quail scattered up an old fence row, and he had just told Landon he was going on up toward it. The quail got up and instead of going in front of them they went behind them. Landon thought his dad had gone on up the fence row, so he turned and shot not knowing that Tony had never gone on up the fence row. Tony was camouflaged in the chest high brush and was wearing a khaki shirt and cap—blending in with the brush. If only he had been wearing the orange shirt—if only he had been wearing safety glasses, but now another factor was added to the accident: non-communication. Why did Tony not yell at Landon and tell him he had not gone on up the fence row?

Another challenge that Tony shares with audiences is the importance of communication.

He had attended safety meetings for 26 years and one of the areas of safety that was stressed at every event was the importance of communication. Let people know where you are located and what you are doing. If only he had communicated with Landon, this could have been avoided.

While in the hospital, he realized that his accident had affected so many others than just himself. His life was not only changed forever, but in addition, his family’s life was changed forever. Tony Crow formed a non-

20

THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

profit corporation called INJAM—It’s Not Just About Me. In the blink of an eye, Tony’s life was permanently altered. His presentation drives home the point that accidents do impact the lives of the people that we love the most, like our families. Tony shares how his accident not only affected his family members, but his friends and co-workers. When you work for a company for 26 years, as Tony did, with the same people, they become like family. While Tony was in the hospital, his co-workers would call him to inquire how he was doing. Tony answered, “I’m doing fine—I’ve gotten out of intensive care and into a private room.” At Tony’s response, his coworkers would cry like babies. His co-workers replied, “You are never going to come back to work.” Whether we admit it or not, accidents do affect our co-workers.

Tony now travels all over the U.S. relaying his INJAM—It’s Not Just About Me presentation. Tony shares the human side of safety. His story is such a powerful, moving and motivational story that those attending leave with a different mindset regarding safety in general. They leave with an understanding that safety is 24/7 at work, home and play.

They also leave knowing that accidents change lives forever. When Tony shares his story, and employees see firsthand the damaging effects of neglecting safety, they truly grasp the impact of a life-changing accident. In just a moment, his life, the life of his family, and the lives of his co-workers were forever changed.

So many times, as Tony shares his message all over the country, people will approach him afterwards and share how their attitudes about safety will never be the same. When they understand the human side of safety, it gives them the will to follow safety rules more aptly. This is especially true as they realize that neglecting the priority of safety, eventually leads to a tragedy, which in turn can change your life permanently.

Tony uses humor and real-life stories to share how he is living as a blind person in a world for people with sight. Audiences can hear how he feels blessed to be alive as he shares his message of “triumph over tragedy.”

Tony believes leadership is best shown by example. He shares his thoughts on safety, as well as leadership in the workplace, at home and throughout daily life. Because he wants to live life to its fullest, even with his disability, Tony models his personal philosophies at home, church and in the community.

Tony still helps out on his 125 acre farm.

He feeds the dogs and cows every day and even artificially inseminates some of his cows. Life’s journey is not always easy, but Tony’s perspective is great. He has let life’s difficulties make him better, not bitter. Tony’s message about safety and leadership is compelling and passionate. To learn more about his non-profit corporation, his clients and their testimonials, or to schedule a safety conference or a site safety presentation, please visit Tony’s website at www.injam1.com. vpppa.org

AD p. 21

‘ nt ’ o d

, d G o e e s a pl

e M t e L

! e di

‘

RT

BY KINA HA

22

THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

vpppa.org

e

It was June 23, 1990, at 8:40 a.m., just 40 minutes into my first day on the job. I found myself entangled in a conveyor belt. My ears were ringing, I couldn’t scream because my jacket was choking me. Panic, fear and pain was all I could feel. My left arm was pulled in near the end roller of the conveyor. My jaw smacked against a bar causing my head to twist so hard I thought for sure my neck would snap. I grabbed the bar with my right hand and I held on with everything I had in me. I held on and I prayed. “God, please, don’t let me die! Please someone find me, please God save me!” The conveyor didn’t care that I was only 20, it didn’t care that I wanted to be a dentist, it didn’t care that I was someone’s daughter, granddaughter, sister and best friend.

I could feel myself losing consciousness. I fought against the blackness that was taking over, I knew if I let go of that bar I would not survive. A quiet calm took over. I couldn’t hear anything, just silence. I was immersed in bright white light. I knew I had died. I began talking to God again.

I said, “God, if you just let me live I promise to be good. I promise to never complain about anything, please, God…I am not ready to die!”

S

uddenly I was gasping for air like it was my first breathe of life. I started screaming for help. I screamed, “Turn off the machine!” As loud as I could I screamed, “Turn it off!”

I soon realized I was still stuck in the conveyor belt—it was off now, but I was still on my knees. Around me I could see feet and I could feel someone holding my head and asking me to calm down. It was a woman’s voice. She said “Kina, the machine is off, you need to be still.” She then asked me to slow my breathing.

“Just breathe with me and count to 10. Kina, you are going to be OK, just stay with me.”

I hurt so much, I begged for her to take away the pain. I pleaded for someone to help me. Please just do something to make the hurting stop! Please, I will do anything to make the pain stop! The pain didn’t stop. As I became more and more aware of myself and my surroundings I had a new concern.

What about my arm? My left arm felt like it was laying across my stomach, but I could see it wasn’t there. “Did I lose my arm?” I asked without wanting the answer. The woman’s voice said, “No, but you are hurt really bad.” I did find out later, I had lost my arm. It had been crushed and the conveyor belt continued to pull until it literally tore my arm from my body.

“I want to go home now. Please call my dad and he will come get me. I want to go home.”

That is all I wanted—for my mom and dad would take care of me.

vpppa.org

They were cutting off my clothes and asking me questions and telling me to breathe. So many people all around me talking frantically, telling me to hold on. Telling me to stay with them. “Kina, don’t give up!” I was getting so tired, I just wanted to sleep. I said, “Just call my dad.” I knew my dad would save me.

I had finished my sophomore year in college with plans on becoming a dentist someday. I was 20 years old, my life as an “adult” was just beginning. Part of the grown-up life included paying for college myself. All of my life I had grown up in poverty. I knew if college was in my future I would have to figure out a way to pay for it. With my best friend Lisa by my side, we decided to work in Alaska for the summer.

I remember the flight to Alaska. We were so excited. This was my first flight on a commercial airliner and I was so nervous. We arrived in South Naknek, Alaska, on June 19, 1990. My best friend and I settled into our dorm room.

The sun never fully set, so we put aluminum foil on the windows so we could sleep at night.

We hiked, we ate, we visited with the other girls in our dorm. But, we were not working and I was getting anxious. The fish were not coming up the river yet. Very few people were being called to work. I could no longer wait. I decided it was time for me to talk with my foreman, Joe. I went to his office and told him why I was in Alaska. I said, “Joe, I am here because I am paying for college all by myself. I am going to be a dentist someday so I really need to work.”

I convinced Joe that there wasn’t a single job he

could give me that I could not do. Reluctantly he gave in and told me I could work the next day on the cleanup crew. That was the day that forever changed my life.

There were five of us who started work that day 28 years ago. We gathered that morning for some quick instructions from Joe. We were at a fish processing plant, and this location processed salmon. We stood together in a large warehouse and the smell of fish was penetrating my every pore. Conveyor belts all around us, we were given instruction to clean the belts and get them ready for a load of salmon that was on the way. We were given a sponge, a bucket and shown where the hoses were. Then we were told, “get to work.” Joe left the building and we started working on the first conveyor belt.

It wasn’t very big, it had rollers that were only about 2-inches in diameter.

You know that feeling you get when something seems dangerous? The gut check?

This was a feeling I ignored that morning, but I will never make that mistake again. I didn’t want to be the one asking Joe if we should be cleaning these machines while they were running? I didn’t want to admit that I really didn’t know what I was doing. I certainly didn’t want him to know I was scared. I wanted to show Joe that I was a hard worker and that he could count on me.

This job was very important to me because it wasn’t just money, it was my future, and my only way back to college that fall.

Determined to make a name for myself, I ignored the fact that I was putting myself in a THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

23

Kina Hart

Reluctantly, he gave in and told me I could work the next day on the cleanup crew. That was the day that forever changed my life.

24

THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

Kina’s children.

very dangerous position: crawling under the next conveyer belt to clean near the end roller.

This machine was much bigger than the others, with rollers at least 24-inches in diameter. It was meant to move the salmon quickly. No one knew I was under the machine cleaning when the belt was turned on. I was wrapped up in the end roller immediately. With my jacket being pulled across my neck, I couldn’t even yell for help—all I could do was hope. Hope someone would find me, hope someone would turn the machine off, hope someone would save me. But I knew this was probably going to kill me.

After two months in a trauma hospital in Seattle, WA, I was sent home. This was a challenging time to say the least. Having to learn how to do things all over again was frustrating, and the pain was almost unbearable. At times, it’s still difficult to cope with. The hardest thing for me though, was dealing with how I looked. I felt ugly, deformed, not normal. I went back to college, not to be a dentist of course, but instead to be a science teacher. It took me about a year to get my feet back under me.

While I was in the hospital my grandmother said to me, “If you look for good, you will find it,” which has always stuck with me. Once I saw this situation for what it was, instead of for what I wished it could be, I was able to move forward and I stopped wishing my life away. I finally realized the only person that had a problem with me missing an arm was me. I have accepted this new chapter in my life and even embraced what this tragedy can do to help others not make the same mistake.

I want to be the accident no one else has.

Today, I would make sure I was trained.

Today, I would have the courage to say something if I didn’t understand or felt like something was dangerous. Today, I wouldn’t count on someone else to take care of me. I

want to be completely responsible for my safety.

Sure, companies have a responsibility to train and provide personal protective equipment and work environments that are as safe as possible.

But my personal safety is mine, and I won’t give that away ever again. This is where I am very selfish and you should be too.

So what now?

Twenty-eight years later, I am happily married.

Between my husband, Jarad, and I we have six fantastic children. We stay busy working and playing. We all love water sports in the summer and snow sports in the winter. Gathering around a campfire is an all-time favorite.

When one is faced with dying, it teaches you a lot about living. I appreciate every day that I have on this Earth with the people I love. I appreciate that I have a daily reminder to live my life with purpose.

I have dedicated my life to motivating people to make safety a very personal responsibility by speaking with companies and their employees across the United States. We can’t expect that other people are taking care of us. We are the only ones that know what we know or what we do not know. We are the ones that know if we are distracted by other life events, if we are tired, or lacking the knowledge, or focus on any given day. I want to empower people to be their own safety advocate—don’t give your safety away.

Kina Hart (formerly Kina Repp) has a bachelor’s in education. She has taught science, and for the past five years, martial arts. She has a seconddegree black belt, she has run 13 marathons, she loves scuba diving, snow skiing and wake boarding. Kina was also honored in the 2002 winter Olympic games as an Olympic Torch runner. You can find out more about her, and book her for speaking opportunities, at kinarepp.com.

vpppa.org

AD p. 25

BY KEVIN BAILEY

26

THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

vpppa.org

O

n October 15, 1986, I was injured working on a farm. I was entangled with the unguarded power take off shaft (PTO) while unloading a silage, or forage wagon. The PTO shaft is what transfers power from the tractor to the wagon. The accident took my right leg at the hip and caused crushing injuries to my lower left leg. The road to recovery was long, and at many times, painful.

There were a few setbacks, but I was recovered and walking unassisted using a hip disarticulated prosthesis by 1988.

In June of 2000, I was off work as a machinist, due to an infection in my left leg.

One night during this time I was restless and could not sleep until I wrote down the idea of sharing my story and how my accident has affected those around me. Since then I’ve had the honor of presenting at nearly every national VPPPA event. It is great to be around so many people with a commitment to safety.

Traumatic accidents have far-reaching effects on family and friends. The first phone call contacting loved ones is like a pebble tossed into a still body of water and the first ripple is generated. Concentric rings rapidly form as family and friends are notified, and in turn, notify others. Their day has just been upended, plans for dinner, movies and little league are all thrown out the window. They are now trying to figure out who can pick up their kids early from school. What is the best route to the hospital. Not to mention the nagging question in the back of their mind, “will their loved one make it?” The true reach of this “ripple effect” won’t be known for years. I’m still hearing stories from cousins and second cousins about what they did when they heard the news. The saving grace for me was that I wasn’t married and didn’t have kids at that time. Now, after being married for nearly 20 years and having two boys, I couldn’t imagine my wife Jessica or boys, Jared and Trevor, having to take that call.

Missing the Simple Things in Life Sometimes I think this is overlooked. If you have a life changing injury it’s the simple things that you will miss the most at times. For me it’s slipping off my shoes or cuddling with my wife on a cold night. For others it could be something totally different. Several years ago, I was at a farm safety conference and there was another injured person giving a talk. His topic was not about his accident but about safe lighting for agricultural equipment on roadways. At the end I went up vpppa.org

and spoke with him and we talked a long time.

He was missing his arm due to a conveyor accident. We both shared some of the things that we missed. It surprised me to find the thing he missed the most was making a PB&J sandwich.

The room where we were speaking was within view of the parking lot. At the end of our conversation, as we parted ways, we were the only ones left in the room. I walked directly toward the door closest to the parking lot and he turned and walked toward the hall. It was strange to me but he was looking for the door with a handicap button, but it was significantly further away, and I was looking for a door with the shortest number of steps to get to my car.

Value of A Safety Program I think it’s safe to say, especially back in the 1980s and prior, that safety on small familysized farms was not a priority. I’m sure most people who are around farms during that time period can attest to the fact of missing guards and shields. Most of these guards or shields would be piled in the corner of the machine shed somewhere. Other than the general “be careful” or “don’t step over the power shaft” comments, there were no hard-and-fast safety rules. Keep in mind, small farms have all the hazards that you find in large industry.

Confined spaces, heights, chemicals, heavy equipment, conveyors, rotating equipment and, as a bonus, small farms have large unpredictable animals. Just to name a few.

All the hazards found in industry, but none of the rules or training. I know training can seem repetitive and boring but it’s there to make you aware of what can kill or maim you.

The equipment or the process doesn’t have a conscience, it is an equal opportunity life ender. Knowing what you can do to protect yourself while using it or stationed near it, is your best defense. Training also communicates changes. Remember when “Lockout” became “Lock out, Tag out?” Now some places are using “LOTO and Try.” I wasn’t breaking Dad’s rule of, “don’t step over the power shaft.” My shortcut in the process did not have me stepping over the power shaft but it brought me dangerously close. So, while I wasn’t technically breaking the rule, I was violating the intent of the rule.

In hindsight, I sometimes wonder if I had the intent to break the rule if my head would have been in the game. More out of fear of my dad catching me than fear of the equipment. I had THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

27

Working as a team, your site can overcome current obstacles, improve current standings and achieve zero recordables. Even if the improvements are small, do not be discouraged.

28

THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

been caught by Dad before, I knew what he could do. I didn’t respect the equipment.

One of the many questions that comes up at the end of my presentation is “what would you have done differently?” There are several answers to that question. First, I would have refused to work with unguarded equipment.

Missing guards, shields or other protective equipment are common on many small farms. It falls into the “no one has been hurt and we’ve been doing it this way for years” mindset. Second, I would not have adopted shortcuts that I thought would make my job easier and quicker. Over the years of operating this type of equipment I found a method that, while saving time, brought me unnecessarily close to the rotating shaft. Third, I would have made sure I had tight fitting clothing.

The Carhartt coveralls I had on had broken zippers on the legs. The choice to wear these was made from the lack of respect for the equipment I was operating.

The good news is that none of this has to happen to you. The fact that your facility or organization is part of the VPP program shows that there is a commitment level head and shoulders above most other facilities in this country. Working as a team, your site can

overcome current obstacles, improve current standings and achieve zero recordables. Even if the improvements are small, do not be discouraged. I filled out a survey sent to me

by Purdue University. The study encompassed rotating equipment accidents on a small family farm from 1982 to 1986. There were just under 10,000 injuries in that time frame. 864 resulted in some form of amputation, 112 resulted in death. What is 1 out of 10,000 as a percentage? I’m pretty sure it’s .00001 percent.

Not a big number. I was that .00001 percent, I made it into the 864 amputations category.

I almost made 112 fatalities, 113. A small improvement is huge to the person who gets to go home at the end of the day and there are no new ripples in the pond.

Kevin Bailey is a motivational speaker and aims to reduce the number of work-related injuries by encouraging workers with his presentation. He has also succeeded in the start-up and operation of a restaurant franchise, relearned to down-hill ski and water ski, and learned to build and fly Ultra-light airplanes. In addition, he has worked in the tool and die trade and built the home where he resides with his wife and two sons.

vpppa.org

BY

30

THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

ID V DA

S R E W SO

vpppa.org

STORYTIME OR A

LEARNING OPPORTUNITY? I

f you’re going to take the time to share a narrative about an accident, event or near miss you want to get the most out of it.

Oftentimes, these stories are told at a morning staff meeting or worksite pre-job briefing, and the outcome is little more than mild interest or morbid curiosity. “That’s unfortunate. Too bad for them.

Where are my tools?” As with most things, what you get out of a story about an event depends on what you put into it. How you share these stories is as important as the individual narratives. To ensure that your organization is truly learning, internalizing and improving you need to have an organized approach. You should have some goals in mind and a plan to achieve those goals; otherwise you’re just telling campfire stories.

vpppa.org

THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

31

We need to have an organized approach for communicating OE to ensure we are learning something and not just telling each other random stories.

F

irst, let’s get some housekeeping out of the way. I have heard stories about prior events called safety shares, industry events, prior learnings, safety profiles, near misses, safety tips, event analysis, etc. Having worked my formative years in nuclear power, I tend to default to that industry’s terminology; Operating Experience or OE. Where to Use OE:

The goal of OE is to help with improving the health and safety of your people as well as your plant, systems or equipment, by decreasing the frequency and severity of accidents and errors. That probably sounds exactly like the guiding principle of your entire safety process and that’s by design. You need to think of OE as an integral part of your daily drive to improve overall safety. Ideally, OE needs to be embedded into multiple facets of your personal or organization’s processes.

OE isn’t just for morning meetings. Trainers should look to incorporate OE into the initial training your employees receive. This sets the right tone around expectations, the company’s commitment to safety, and gives new hires insight into the culture of your organization. This is serious work. We are committed to constantly learning and improving. We are not afraid to talk about what has happened and the potential for it to occur again. This will come in handy later when this new employee, who may still be on a probationary period or is just afraid to speak up, is trying to decide whether to report a near miss. Knowing that the organization is not going to be punitive and values the learning that a near miss provides will encourage employees to speak up and share.

Work planning should also utilize OE and incorporate it into job packages. If there is OE that is relevant to a specific task it should be coupled to that task in the work planning process. A discussion about vehicle safety in the morning briefing is good, but is it relevant to the person who will be tearing down a chemical pump that day? Having an example of OE that is focused around chemical hazards or pressurized systems is more impactful in that moment. Instead of chasing this down the day of, start incorporating OE into the work planning system. Make it part of the work package, an attachment to the procedure, or a step in the work authorization.

If you are currently using OE, it’s probably an agenda item for the morning meeting.

Consider other times to use OE such as pre-job briefs, job hazard analysis, outage planning,

32

THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

production meetings or any time the team convenes to discuss work or safety. As you start to incorporate OE into your processes ensure you are not creating a check the box exercise by understanding how to communicate OE. How to Use OE:

For OE to be effective we need to learn something and know how to apply it to our work. Just relaying the basics of an accident or event doesn’t go far enough. We need to have an organized approach for communicating OE to ensure we are learning something and not just telling each other random stories. We need to communicate the full picture but do it in a way that is to the point and holds their attention. The easiest way to do this is to think of OE as a mystery that you will unravel to reveal an “aha” learning moment at the end.

You know how some movies, tv shows or novels will start at the end and then go back to show you all the events which led up to the climax? There’s a reason for this formula. You start with the attention grabber; the culminating event. There’s been a robbery or murder or some sort of peril. Now the audience is engaged and actively looking to unravel and solve this mystery as more information is revealed and clues start to fall into shape. What happened? then How did it happen? and finally How can we avoid a similar fate? It’s the same formula with OE. Let’s use the false missile alert that was issued to all of Hawaii in January of 2018.

Describe what happened? This is a short narrative which gives the basic facts; your attention-grabber. On the morning of January 13, the residents of Hawaii received the following false alarm on their cell phones: BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. For the 38 minutes it took to revoke the alert, the entire state of Hawaii was under the belief that their lives were in imminent danger. At this point, the audience should be listening.

How did this happen? Start unraveling the mystery by going back and filling in some of the details. In the Hawaii example, during a shift turnover, the supervisor initiated a drill. He announced “exercise, exercise, exercise” before and after the notification. The notification was read from an actual alert and included the phrase “this is not a drill.” An employee of Hawaii’s Emergency Management office, hearing “this is not a drill” mistakenly believed there was a legitimate attack and issued the warning to the public. Notification to the public only requires one person and does not need consent from a second person; which is vpppa.org

a requirement in many localities. Additionally, it was determined that the checklist for missile alerts was vague and allowed workers to interpret the steps they should take. There were delays in notifying the public of the false alarm because there was no process in place to rescind an errant alert.

clarification before proceeding. Avoiding vague guidance with clearer checklists and procedures.

Use clearer communication to avoid confusion.

Having processes in place to correct a false alarm.

Any of these are reasonable solutions. Don’t get hung up on one particular answer; the point is to get them thinking and engaged.

What Traps Were Present?

Now that we’ve filled in a little more backstory, it’s time to start engaging the workers and asking them to solve this mystery. Start by asking “What traps were present?” In other words, what conditions before the event occurred encouraged the wrong action? From a human perspective, the supervisor said, “this is not a drill,” during a drill and the employee didn’t hear exercise, exercise, exercise. From a process perspective, the missile alert checklist was vague, there was no requirement for peer-check, and the was no process to rescind alerts.

How Could They Have Prevented This?

Now we know what happened and how it happened so it’s time to start looking at solutions and applying them to our work today. “How could they have prevented this?” Some simple solutions are: Requiring a peer-check before alerts are issued. In the face of uncertainty, asking for

vpppa.org

Maximize the effectiveness of OE by asking: what happened, how did it happen, what were the traps, what could they have done to prevent it and how does this apply to us today?

their work and safety. The intent of OE is not to scare them into being careful. The intent to is get them engaged and focused so they can recognize traps, put defenses in place, and stop work when they are not 100 percent sure of the next step.

Maximize the effectiveness of OE by asking: what happened, how did it happen, what were the traps, what could they have done to prevent it and how does this apply to us today? Follow this approach to ensure we are not missing opportunities to use OE to learn, grow, and, ultimately, improve overall safety.

Dave Sowers is a founding member of Knowledge Vine; a Human Performance Training and Consulting organization which strives

How Does This Relate to Our Work?

Internalizing the conversation is the next step. Get your employees thinking about the applicability to their work and jobsite. Ask: How does this relate to our work? Where do we have similar traps? What steps can we take to avoid a similar incident? Was a stop work point missed? This is a conversation. Be careful to not discourage any constructive input. Don’t look for right or wrong answers, just get them thinking about

to reduce the frequency and severity of human errors in the workplace. (www.knowledgevine.com) Dave has almost 30 years of experience in power generation and the utility industry. He is a veteran of U.S. Navy Nuclear Power Program and holds a bachelor’s degree in resources management and a master’s degree in both management and emergency management and homeland security.

THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

33

MEMBERSHIP CORNER

Contests & Prizes #HowISafety Contest

Roster Contest

The #HowISafety Contest is back again!

We loved seeing everyone’s submissions so much that we are holding the contest again for this year.

There is no easier way to win a gift card than the VPPPA Roster Contest. Please update the roster that was included in our membership mailing with all current employees. After we receive your faxed (703-761-1148) or emailed roster, we will randomly select one prime contact to win a gift card. Send your updated roster to membership@ vpppa.org by July 2, for a chance to win.

If you need another copy of your site’s roster, please contact the Membership Department via the email address above or call 703-761-1146. If you have already submitted your site’s roster, you are already entered into our random drawing.

To enter the contest: • Submit a photo of yourself representing how

you are promoting/practicing safety in the workplace or at home. Examples: Wearing your PPE, teaching a safety class, attending training, following safety procedures etc.

• Write a short description or caption explaining the photo • Include the #HowISafety hashtag in your photo description • If you don’t have a Facebook or Twitter account, you may email your photo entry to membership@vpppa.org • The photo will be posted to VPPPA’s Facebook page in the “#HowISafety” photo album • The photo with the most “likes” will win a complimentary Safety+ registration, free Delta airfare and lodging at the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, TN, on Monday, August 27– Friday, August 31.

Safety+ Registrants Stay tuned for more contests at the symposium in August.

The rules and requirements to enter this contest are as follows: • Must be a member of VPPPA • VPPPA has all rights to use the

pictures submitted • No nudity, graphic language or content,

firearms or alcohol may be shown in any artwork or pictures submitted Submit your entry on Facebook, Twitter or email your photo (including your name and member ID number if by email) by June 1 to membership@vpppa.org.

34

THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

Winner, Winner— Steak Dinner!

Congratulations to Laura B.! As one of the first 50 registrants for Safety+, she won a $100 gift card to Old Hickory Steakhouse in the Gaylord Opryland.

vpppa.org

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

Association Announcements We are excited to be partnering with the Tennessee Safety & Health Conference this year at the Safety+ Symposium! #VPPPA2018 #TSHC2018

VPPPA Member Benefit

VPPPA Awards & Scholarships

Have you taken advantage of the benefits VPPPA members can receive from Columbia Southern University? VPPPA members, as well as their spouses and children, receive a 10 percent discount on tuition. In addition, members and their families do not have to pay the application fee and get free textbooks.

Columbia Southern University offers online degree programs, open enrollment, affordable rates and a flexible learning style designed to accommodate your busy life. You can participate in the associate, bachelor, master or certificate programs in many fields including, business administration, fire science, criminal justice administration, occupational safety and health and more! Go to vpppa.org for more information.

VPPPA features awards, scholarships and an achievement program to recognize the extraordinary efforts of member sites and individuals who go above and beyond to improve safety and health for the American workforce. Below are the available recognition programs to apply to by June 1: • The VPPPA Annual Awards for Outreach and Innovation recognize member sites and individuals that have made exceptional contributions to the mission of the VPPPA during the previous year.

• Have you initiated best practices? The VPPPA Safety & Health Achievement Program provides special acknowledgement to non-managerial employees at member sites who have taken the initiative to learn and apply safety and health best practices.

• Or maybe you’d like to further safety and health education for a family member or yourself?

VPPPA’s scholarships will help achieve that goal.

Winners will be announced at the Safety+ Symposium in Nashville, TN, during a special reception on August 27.

vpppa.org

Meet the VPPPA Staff As VPPPA members, you talk to National Office staff members on the phone, chat with us via email and sometimes see us at regional and national events. But we want our members to be able to more easily put names with faces. Check back here in future issues to see more VPPPA National Office staff member profiles.

Name: Katlyn Pagliuca Job Title: Membership Manager Length of Time with VPPPA: Since April 2015

Favorite Part of Working for VPPPA: “Meeting the members at regional and national conferences!”

Hometown: Fairfax, VA Alma Mater: Virginia Tech Dream Vacation: Maldives Favorite Movie: Beauty and the Beast (1991 cartoon version)

Fun Fact About Me: “I did the Disney internship for six months in college.”

Favorite Food: Steak

THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

35

FEATURED P R O D U C T S Booth 538 & 542

Booth 208

ALLIANCE SAFETY COUNCIL

GRAVIC—REMARK SOFTWARE

Reenie Nichols rnichols@alliancesafetycouncil.org/ 571-235-0268 www.alliancesafetycouncil.org

Steve Joslin Steve.remark@gravic.com / 1-800-858-0860 remarksofware.com/safety

Alliance Safety Council, a member-driven association and

Collect and analyze data from safety observations, audits,

innovator in safety training and workforce development

checklists, surveys and other forms. No special paper or

solutions, works to build safer workplaces/communities.

hardware needed. Print your own forms and scan with an

A signature program is the Certified Occupational Safety

image scanner or multifunction printer. Use the built-in

Specialist (COSS)—a unique, curriculum-based course

reports or export your data.

Certified Occupational Safety Specialist (COSS)

Remark Office OMR

recognized nationwide for its rigorous standards.

Booth 458

HOT STUFF SAFETYWEAR

The Flex, Fever and Free Suits Jaime Glas jaime@hotstuffsafetywear.com / 225-978-9403 www.hotstuffsafetywear.com

Booth 306

VPPSTORE

VPP Positive Impact Scratch and Win Prize Package

The Flex Suit has a hood that zips in the collar and utility

Jeanne Lawson lawson@completesource.com www.vppstore.com

pockets on the arm and thigh. The Fever Suit has a

Engage with our award-winning Scratch and Win Prize

mandarin collar and halter shape seams. The Free Suit has

Package—20 scratch-off tickets, five winning tickets for

tapered legs and snap-adjustable waist flaps.

each of the four categories with 20 prizes included. Hand out tickets to those working safely . . . scratch off the foil and win the prize that appears three times! Back of scratch-off features a name slot for employee record keeping.

36

THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

vpppa.org

AN INTEGRATED SAFETY & HEALTH MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS SYMPOSIUM

PRESENTED BY VPPPA & TSHC

Booth 729

Booth 409

GLOVE GUARD LP

WORKING CONCEPTS, INC.

Melissa Slimp Melissa@gloveguard.com www.gloveguard.com

Lori Crampton lori@softknees.com / 503-663-3374 www.softknees.com

The OktoLock® clip is made in the U.S. with a strong,

The Ergokneel Body Mat is a 1-inch thick close-celled

flexible plastic that safely secures your cords and mitigates

foam and is designed for industrial use. It will not

potential trip hazards. The clip is designed to fit hand railing

absorb liquids, is petroleum resistant and will hold

or pipes up to 2-inches in diameter. The 3-inch diameter

up in tough environments.

OktoLock® Clip

Ergokneel Body Mat

lower loop will hold cords, hoses, welding leads or stingers.

Booth 301

Booth 708

ROCO RESCUE

TICK KEY PRODUCTS, LLC

Teresa Wilson twilson@rocorescue.com / 800-647-7626 www.rocorescue.com

Donna Lucente donna@tickkey.com / 860-618-3072 www.tickkey.com

The FreeTech™ Harness allows the user to safely and easily

The easiest-to-use tick removal device on Earth. It’s 99.9

transfer their body weight from the dorsal connector on

percent effective in the removal of all sizes and types of

the upper back to the front waist location of the harness to

ticks. Field workers need a Tick Key for proper tick removal.

reorient the user into a seated position.

It comes in 19 great colors. Private label available.

CMC/Roco FreeTech Harness

vpppa.org

Original Tick Key

THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

37

washington update

OSHA Safe & Sound Campaign Show Your Commitment to Safety Safe + Sound Week, being held August 13–19, 2018, is a nationwide effort to raise awareness and understanding of the value of safety and health programs that include management leadership, worker participation, and a systematic approach to finding and fixing hazards in workplaces.

V

PPPA is encouraging our members to show their commitment by participating in Safe + Sound Week.

Organizations of any size or in any industry can participate in Safe + Sound Week by hosting activities and events that include at least one, but preferably all three, of the core elements of a successful safety and health program: • Management

Leadership • Worker Participation • Finding and Fixing Hazards You can participate in your workplace or host a public event. Begin planning by accessing free activity ideas and tools at www.osha.gov/safeandsoundweek.

Why Participate?

Safe workplaces are sound businesses.

Successful safety and health programs can proactively identify and manage workplace hazards before they cause injury or illness, improving sustainability and the bottom line. Participating in Safe + Sound Week can help get your program started or energize an existing one.

38

THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

vpppa.org

Ideas and Actions for VPP’s Future:

Recommendations from OSHA’s VPP Stakeholders

BY DOUG KALINOWSKI, OSHA, DIRECTOR OF COOPERATIVE & STATE PROGRAMS

T

he Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)’s Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) emphasizes trust and cooperation among OSHA, employers and employees. It complements the agency’s enforcement activity with a progressive approach to prevention. VPP participants are dedicated to exceeding federal OSHA standards. These organizations are striving to excel with strategies that can help provide the best feasible protection for their workers.

OSHA is seeking to modernize VPP to continue the promotion of safety and health excellence, ensure effective administration of VPP and support smart program growth. In 2017, OSHA hosted two stakeholder meetings to explore ways to improve the sustainability of VPP—especially as it relates to OSHA’s interactions with active VPP participants. The first stakeholder meeting took place on July 17, at the U.S. Department of Labor. The second stakeholder meeting was on August 28, immediately preceding the 2017 Safety+ Symposium. In addition, OSHA opened an official docket for comments.

Stakeholders submitted 66 comments containing a total of 245 recommendations. These recommendations mirrored many of the discussion topics from the stakeholder meetings. OSHA identified common themes among the comments and determined the most prominent categories: • Simplification of the VPP process and documentation • Promotion of VPP & increased recognition of participants • Data collection/effectiveness of VPP and best practice sharing • Increased training and more formalized mentoring • Increase in OSHA commitment, resources and funding • Changes to increase incentives and benefits of participation • Changes to the corporate program vpppa.org

• Special Government Employee (SGE)—

specific recommendations • Use of third party provider for audits • Comments on VPP memos (specifically #7) These cover about 80 percent of the comments received. The remainder expressed a variety of other recommendations including; coordination and recognition of other systems (e.g. International Organization for Standardization—ISO), codification, expanding the time between VPP audits and the creation of a VPP advisory committee. At this time, OSHA is reviewing all the comments and examining which recommendations offer the most promise.

Please note that the prevalence of specific recommendations does not necessarily indicate its priority or feasibility. These categories and comments are still under consideration, and OSHA has not yet decided on its final recommendations for action.

Participants reported finding VPP a powerful tool for reducing workplace injuries and illnesses.

In reviewing the feedback, OSHA was pleased to see that the vast majority of the comments indicated overall support for VPP. Participants reported finding VPP a powerful tool for reducing workplace injuries and illnesses.

Generally, the comments expressed the view that there was a need for provisions to enhance consistency, timeliness and efficiency of VPP. OSHA agrees with this premise.

Many comments expressed strong support for streamlining and simplifying the forms, applications and reports required for VPP. This included the idea that VPP applications and audits should take into account preexisting certifications—such as ISO 45000, ANSI Z10—and allow those sites to utilize an expedited application process.

Another area stakeholders offered a significant number of comments, was related to increasing the visibility of VPP. While the basis of VPP is

sound and its popularity among participants is without question, the reach of the program is small. The number of VPP worksites represents a tiny fraction of American workplaces (0.03 percent or less). Recommendations to extend VPP’s influence and participation included developing a strategic marketing campaign, using success stories, videos and Public Service Announcements, to educate safety and health professionals and companies about VPP. Many of the comments also suggested improving data collection for the purpose of demonstrating the effectiveness of VPP. Anecdotal evidence and participant testimonials reveal significant cost savings, including workers’ compensation cost reductions; reduced employee turnover; improvements in the quality of participants’ products and services; and other benefits to participating in VPP. However, enhanced metrics would better demonstrate the greater safety and health performance of VPP participants compared with non-VPP employers—a point that has been made in two previous Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports.

OSHA is addressing a number of issues raised in the stakeholder meetings and from the docket comments to include: • Revising Memos #5 and #7, which address incentives and fatalities/catastrophes at VPP sites • Reducing the backlog of VPP applications • Establishing policies to increase the use of SGEs • Revamping VPP training for OSHA staff and SGEs • Evaluating the VPP application process to streamline and simplify it • Completing the update and improvements to the VPP database.

Stakeholder input is extremely valuable to OSHA when making policy and procedural changes. The agency will continue to keep everyone involved and informed, and look forward to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to build a stronger, more sustainable future for VPP. THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

39

state-plan monitor

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

Michigan

Upcoming Events

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.

• MVPP/C Advisory group meeting—

Promotion

Federal OSHA States State-Plan States Public Sector Only

MVPP Specialist Doug Kimmel has led MVPP presentations to Northern Coatings and Paint, Menominee; and Honeywell, Muskegon.

An MVPP/C onsite review was conducted at the Walbridge construction project at the Literature, Arts, and Science Building on the University of Michigan campus.

Applications Currently Pending for the MVPP • Cintas First Aid & Safety (Kentwood) • Robert Bosch (Farmington Hills) • Cintas Fire Protection—D26 (Troy) • Marathon TT&R, Lansing Terminal & Fleet

Initial Approvals for MVPP Participants • Marathon Pipe Line, LLC

(Woodhaven/Samaria)

Reevaluation Approvals for Continued Participation in the MVPP • Arconic (Whitehall) • Georgia-Pacific (Grayling)

May 22, 2018 “Like” us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter @MichiganLARA and subscribe to our YouTube channel: 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.

Minnesota Minnesota OSHA (MNOSHA) Workplace Safety Consultation currently has 35 MNSTAR sites and one Merit site participating in the Minnesota VPP (MNSTAR) program. Of the 35 Star sites, 33 are general industry locations and two are resident contractors at our MNSTAR certified refinery.

Minnesota saw a reduction in the number of sites participating in the Minnesota VPP (MNSTAR) program in late 2017.

Three employers voluntarily withdrew from the program.

Since the beginning of FY 2018 we have successfully certified two new MNSTAR sites: • Cintas Corporation (Eagan) • Delta Airlines, Iron Range Reservation, Customer Engagement Center (Chisholm) So far in FY 2018 we have successfully completed reapproval visits at: • CF Industries, Glenwood Terminal (Glenwood) • Louisiana Pacific Corp (Two Harbors) • Bosch Security Systems (Burnsville) • Cintas Corporation (Maple Grove) Prior to FY 2018 ending, we will be working to complete an additional two reapproval visits with our current MNSTAR employers and processing any new applications that are received. Additionally, the one Merit site will have a visit for initial approval.

The MNSTAR team continues to receive inquires and has visited multiple employers having interest in the MNSTAR Program.

If you would like further information about the MNSTAR Program, please visit www.doli.state.mn.us/WSC/Mnstar.asp or contact Marnie Prochniak, MNSTAR VPP Coordinator at marnie.prochniak@state.mn.us.

40

THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

vpppa.org

contacting each state >> Washington Washington State VPP currently has 32 Star sites with two more awaiting approval.

Recent Onsite Evaluations • Trident Seafoods (Anacortes) • Veolia Environment (Vancouver) • NAES PSE Ferndale Generating

Station (Ferndale) • Weyerhaeuser Tacoma Distribution

Center (Tacoma) • Cascades Sonoco (Tacoma) • Champion and Associates (Auburn)

Upcoming Onsite Evaluations • NuStar Energy (Tacoma) • Oldcastle Precast (Auburn)

Networking Meeting A VPP networking meeting was hosted by Carlisle Construction Materials in Puyallup on February 1. Thirty-one people were in attendance from Washington VPP sites and others interested in the VPP. Attendees toured the facility and had the opportunity to meet others in VPP. Paul Marsh of the WA Division of Occupational Safety and Health spoke on the “DOSH Education and Outreach Social Media Marketing Project,” Sharon Perkins of WA VPP gave information on “Completing the Annual VPP Self Evaluation,” and Max VanValey of Carlisle Construction Materials presented on “Mentoring sites toward VPP.”

2018 VPP Seminar The Sixth Annual VPP Seminar: Melvin E. James Honorary Lectures on Safety was held on March 6, in Tumwater. There were 146 people in attendance from 65 separate companies and 16 local/state/federal government entities. People came from a variety of companies, including: Cascades Sonoco, CMC Biologics, Georgia Pacific Packaging, Honeywell Aerospace, Mortenson Construction, NAES/PSE Ferndale Generating Station, Nucor Steel Seattle, Inc., NuStar Energy LP, Oldcastle Precast, River Road Generating Plant, Starbucks Roasting Plant, Trident Seafoods Anacortes and Seattle, Veolia Environmental and Vertellus Performance Chemicals LLC.

vpppa.org

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 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 milford.stern@doli.virginia.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

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

THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

41

regional round-ups

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

Region I Region II Region III Region IV Region V Region VI Region VII Region VIII Region IX Region X

Region I www.vppregion1.com Region I held its quarterly chapter meeting at MassPower in Indian Orchard, MA, on February 13. There were 28 attendees, representing 20 different companies. MassPower provided lunch prior to the meeting, shared their best practices with attendees and provided a tour of their facility after the meeting. Thank you again to MassPower for hosting the chapter meeting and for providing the environment for such a wonderful exchange of information.

Those that are interested can find some of the information that was shared on the Region I website by clicking on the Chapter Minutes & Updates from Meetings link.

Region I held its 2018 Safety & Health Excellence Conference & Expo on May 7–9 at the Sea Crest Beach Hotel in North Falmouth, MA, in Cape Cod. Region I has scheduled a SGE training class for September 18–20. Hypertherm in Lebanon, NH, will be hosting the class. Please keep an eye on the Region I website in the upcoming months to get more information as plans continue to develop.

Earlier in the year FLEXcon of Spencer, MA, began mentoring High Liner Foods in Peabody, MA. Recently FLEXcon began mentoring High Liner Foods in Portsmouth, NH. Thank you FLEXcon for mentoring and good luck to High Liner Foods.

Contributed by Karen Girardin, Region I Chairperson

Region II

14 for its newest location in Chester, NY. This facility is located directly across from the existing STERIS gamma processing facility, a VPP Star site. Billy DePuy, Region II Director-at-Large and Rich Brown, VPP Manager of Region II, both attended the grand opening event.

Region II currently has six open SGE opportunities on seven upcoming VPP evaluation teams. Please contact Ms. Greta Olsson, MPH, (201) 288-1700 ext 1016, Olsson.greta@dol.gov, if you would like to volunteer for a SGE opportunity.

New Mentor/Mentee Match Ups • Ultra Electronics will be mentored

by Bartell Machinery Systems • Bosch will be mentored by Frito Lay • Burberry will be mentored by

Kevin Mihalenko • Honeywell will be mentored by

Olin Corporation

Recent VPP Region II Flag Raising Ceremonies • North Jersey Energy Associates—Sayreville

Generating Facility • Bartell Machinery • Chambers Cogeneration (Carneys Point) • Logan Generating

Region II AED Fund In 2007 Norman Deitch retired from OSHA after 27 years of service. Norman also served as the Region II VPP Manager for 18 years.

One of Norman’s passions is to foster the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to help save lives. In his honor, the Region II

www.vppparegion2.org The 2018 Region II SGE class was held April 10-12 at Curtis Lumber in Ballston Spa, NY. The 2018 Summer Forum will be held June 25–26 at the Tropicana in Atlantic City, NJ. The 2018 Fall Safety Forum will be held October 1–2 at the Courtyard Marriott in Saratoga Springs, NY.

New VPP Site • Bartell Machinery Systems is proud to

announce that it has been awarded Star status in the VPP program. Currently, there are 58 VPP facilities in New York.

STERIS Applied Sterilization Technologies hosted a grand opening event on September

42

THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

vpppa.org

VPPPA Board of Directors established the Norman Deitch AED Fund. The board is again soliciting donations from members to purchase AEDs for worthwhile community groups in honor of Norman Deitch’s many years of service. Donations of any amount will be accepted and appreciated. A company can make a recommendation for a worthy non-profit organization in their area to receive an AED. Examples of acceptable organizations include: Police, Fire, or EMS departments, churches, youth groups such as Scouts or Little League, social groups such as the Elks or Knights of Columbus, and veteran groups such as the VFW or American Legion.

Checks should be made payable to Region II VPPPA and sent to: Joseph Whalen, Treasurer VPP PA Region II 3119 Broad Street Port Henry, NY 12974

Cintas location #86 (Round Rock, TX)

Contributed by Brenda Wiederkehr, Region II Chairperson

Region IV www.regionivvpp.org The Region IV 2018 Safety and Health Excellence Conference will be held June 19–21, in Biloxi, MS. The call for workshops is complete, and registration for exhibitors and attendees is now open. Standard registration will be open through June 8. Please visit the Region IV VPPPA website to register and take advantage of standard registration pricing.

Additionally, a SGE class is scheduled June 17–19, before the conference officially begins.

This year’s conference networking event is appropriately titled, The Luau at the Beau!

Come enjoy the enchanting sights and sounds of an authentic Polynesian evening right on the beautiful Biloxi Gulf. The event will include authentic Polynesian food and entertainment right on the Beau Rivage property.

You can order your tickets during the registration process. Hurry because ticket availability is limited. The event will occur Wednesday evening (June 20) at 6:00 p.m. at the Region IV VPPPA Safety and Health Excellence Tent near the pool and will end at 9:00 p.m. It promises to be a night you won’t soon forget.

Great food, entertainment and networking.

The following commentary is from Region IV VPP Manager, Leigh Jackson: vpppa.org

Tenaska Frontier Partners, Ltd. (Shiro, TX)

“Thank you for submitting your 2017 annual VPP Self-Evaluations for review

by February 15. We have reviewed the self-evaluations and are in the process of responding to those sites for which we may need to request additional information or clarification concerning the information in their self-evaluations. The annual selfevaluation is an integral part of the Safety and Health Management System (SHMS) and a very good tool that can be used as a Gap Analysis to determine where to focus site resources in order to maintain an effective SHMS and promote continuous improvement.”

As always, please feel free to contact us with your questions.

Leigh Jackson, VPP Manager: 678-237-0436 jackson.leigh@dol.gov Ivory Williams, VPPO: 601-965-4606 ext. 2028 williams.ivory@dol.gov

Dan DeHart, VPPO: 904-562-5461 dehart.daniel@dol.gov

Region VI regionvivpp.org The Region VI Voluntary Protection Program Participants’ Association was excited to kick off the 30th Annual Safety & Health Conference.

This year we were excited to travel to Fort Worth, TX, where the conference was held at the Fort Worth Convention Center, April 30–May 3.

Upcoming SGE Trainings • July 10–12, Kiewit Offshore Services, Ltd.

(Ingleside, TX) • September 11–13, NASA (Houston, TX)

New Star Sites • Cintas location #86 (Round Rock, TX)

THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

43

regional round-ups

The job of a construction worker remains one of the toughest and most dangerous around.

Construction Safety Day offers multiple workshops covering a range of topics applicable to the construction industry.

• Matrix Service Fabrication Division

(Catoosa, OK) • Tenaska Frontier Partners, Ltd. (Shiro, TX) • Total Safety U.S. (La Porte, TX) • Total Safety, U.S. at Equistar Chemical (Channelview, TX) • United Continental Holdings (Houston, TX)

Updates to the Region VI Board of Directors • Elmer “Bubba” Johnson—Chairman • Rae Ann Badeaux—Secretary Historian • Open—Director at Large #2 • Kirk Crandall—Director at Large #4 • Sandra Morrison—Employee Representative

from a Represented Site Contributed by Kirk Crandall, Region VI Director-at-Large

Region VII regionviivpp.org The Region VII VPPPA 25th Annual Midwest Safety and Health Conference & Expo in La Vista, NE, took place on May 21–23.

Our keynote speaker this year was Olympic Gold medalist Rulon Gardner. Rulon is a retired American Greco-Roman wrestler. He competed at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics and won the gold medal in 2000, defeating Aleksandr Karelin in the final. Karelin was previously unbeaten for 13 years in international competition. This was also the first Olympic gold medal won by an American Greco-Roman wrestler in a full international field. Gardner won a bronze medal at the 2004 games.

During the 25th Annual Midwest Safety and Health Conference & Expo we also hosted an application and SSQ workshop.

Numerous companies have reached out for mentors as they are preparing for their reapprovals or are looking into VPP for the first time. With an abundance of mentors throughout Region VII we have never had an issue filling mentor requests.

Flag Raising Ceremonies • CBRE, St. Louis—March 1 Contributed by Bill Turner, Region VII Chairperson

Region IX www.regionixvpppa.org The following is a message from Mark Norton, Region IX Ambassador, who reflected on the Region IX conference that was held March 13–15, in San Diego, CA.: “As I sat there late on a Thursday afternoon, scouring the empty Aventine Ballroom, of the Hyatt Regency Hotel in La Jolla, CA, I couldn’t help but think, “What just happened here?” What was accomplished over the course of the last week, and how many people were impacted, by the message of safety excellence?

I witnessed the pain in the eyes of the attendees who were drawn in as they listened to the heartwrenching story of Matt Pomerinke, explaining the impact his accident had on his life. I saw that transformation as he discussed his role, passing lessons forward to young workers to help shape the decisions made in the future. I listened as Bruce Wilkinson “'splained” in his own Cajun (his word not mine), vernacular, the differences between generations; all to help everyone understand, that while the message may have the same content, we must change the delivery to

44

THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

vpppa.org

maximize the impact. Bruce helped everyone in attendance understand that while the outcome is serious, the process can be fun, and we need to change things up.

Like bookends in the safety library, Matt and Bruce framed the conference beautifully, with the breakout sessions and the leadership panel in between, serving as the countless chapters of knowledge, filled with details on the “how to” of the VPP process. Attendees excitedly discussed some of the new information they obtained and how they were anxious to get back to the plant to help put it in action. Stakeholders in the battle against workplace injuries and illnesses were able to hear from their state and federal OSHA VPP Coordinators as they outlined the growth of VPP in their areas of jurisdiction in AZ, CA, NV, HI and federal sites, all while renewing hope for the future growth of the VPP program across the region and the country. I couldn’t help but think about the countless mentors, leaders, safety professionals and stewards who came to the Region IX VPPPA Safety Summit in an effort to grow. This conference and this group always evoke feelings of hope and gratitude for all that they do, to shape cultures around the concept that safety is something that is constant and demands improvements that are consistent.

As I stared at that stage and wondered: “What just happened here?” I came to the realization that what just happened, was what every safety manager, company executive and leader longs for…We were impacting change through education and enrichment. Providing the tools for those committed to the process, to go back and affect change within their organization.

It doesn’t get any better than that. If what just happened inspires or encourages some of the attendees to get involved or to make a difference, then it was well worth the effort. After all, we are talking about sending workers home healthy and safe at the end of the day. The best thing of all is that even though the stage was now empty, the breakout rooms had cleared, and the suitcases were rolling down the corridors… I took solace in knowing this effort would continue next year…the good people of the Region IX VPPPA board and their helpers were already starting to formulate that plan. Thank you all. For now…

That’s a wrap!”

Region X www.regionxvpppa.org The Region X Board of Directors and conference planning team was very busy preparing for the 24th Annual Northwest Health & Safety Summit, which was held in Anchorage, AK, May 1–3. It took place at the Downtown Marriott and the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center. A SGE class took place April 28–30.

Derek Engard, U.S. Department of Labor, Mark Hurliman, Oregon OSHA and Jack Griffith Region X and national board member provided the training. Pre-conference workshops on leadership/communication, construction hazards, preparedness and the VPP Application Workshop took place on May 1.

The Region X Treasurer completed a list of all members and non-member sites for the Region X Board of Directors. This will allow board members to begin contacting the non-member sites and invite them to become members. Special thanks to Derek Engard, DOL-Fed OSHA; Mark Hurliman, Oregon OSHA; Darren James, DOSH, and Christian

Hendrickson, AKOSH, for assisting with developing the current list.

The job of a construction worker remains one of the toughest and most dangerous around.

Construction Safety Day offers multiple workshops covering a range of topics applicable to the construction industry. The event also features exhibitors showing the latest in safety technology and controls. Construction Safety Day was held at the Washington State Fair in Puyallup on May 11.

The U.S. Navy Intermediate Maintenance Facility (IMF) in Silverdale, WA, was awarded VPP Star Site designation for a third consecutive time, the ceremony was held on November 30, 2017. The Department of Energy conducted a VPP reapproval of Bechtel National February 5–16. Results are pending.

The USAF 627th LRS on JBLM submitted a VPP application.

A SGE training took place at the Hanford site in Richland, WA. Fourteen attendees participated in the training conducted on February 14.

Contributed by Mark Norton, Region IX Ambassador

vpppa.org

THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

45

infographic corner

In 2016, there were

892,270

occupational injuries and illnesses that resulted in days away from work in private industry.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were more than

1.1 million

hand injuries in 2014.

One cubic yard of soil can weigh up to The

5

most common hand injuries

in the workplace include lacerations, crushes, avulsions or detachments, punctures and fractures.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports at least

60,000

foot injuries

are responsible for keeping people from work every year.

46

THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

3,000 pounds.

According to OSHA, 2016 has more

trench deaths than 2014 and 2015 combined (23 in 2016 vs 11 each in 2015 and 2014).

A total of

5,190 workers died from on-the-job injuries in 2016. vpppa.org

VPPPA Contacts

calendar of events

May

July

May 25

July 2

National Board of Directors Nominations Forms Due

Roster Contest Submissions Due

June June 1 #HowISafety Contest Submissions Due

June 1

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

August

Sara A. Taylor, CMP staylor@vpppa.org Director of Operations

August 28–31

Brielle Mroczko bmroczko@vpppa.org Conference Coordinator

Safety+ Symposium Gaylord Opryland Nashville, TN

Awards & Scholarships Application Submissions Due

October

June 19–21

October 1–2

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

Region II Fall Safety Forum Saratoga Springs, NY

Kerri Carpenter kcarpenter@vpppa.org Communications & Outreach Manager Jamie Mitchell jmitchell@vpppa.org Communications Coordinator

June 25–26

Heidi Hill hhill@vpppa.org Senior Event Sales & Advertising Coordinator

Region II Summer Safety Forum Tropicana Casino & Resort Atlantic City, NJ

Katlyn Pagliuca kpagliuca@vpppa.org Membership Manager Natasha Cole ncole@vpppa.org Member Services Coordinator Sierra Johnson sjohnson@vpppa.org Special Projects Coordinator Bryant Walker bwalker@vpppa.org Information & Data Analyst Manager Michael Khosrofian mkhosrofian@vpppa.org Accountant Courtney Malveaux, Esq cmalveaux@vpppa.org Government Relations Counsel

vpppa.org

THE LEADER / SPRING 2018

47

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