December 2, 2021
Contributor: Site Safety, LLC

Site Safety, LLC, a national safety consulting and training company, owes our success to our diverse and inclusive staff. We started our business in 1999 with 15 employees and today we are over 150 employees strong.

Having clients around the U.S., we pride ourselves with being fully equipped to provide on-time services to our clientele and their diverse worker population. Our staff contributions of their unique ideas and experiences allows us to excel and better serve the needs of our diverse clientele. As such, we want to share a video showcasing our most valued strength, our staff.

November 11, 2021
Contributor: CableSafe®

Understanding Dropped Objects
Dropped Objects (struck by a falling object or a piece of equipment) continue to account for 9.6 percent of the top ten causes of workplace accidents across different industries. According to Liberty Mutual’s Annual Workplace Safety Index, ‘struck by a falling object’ is the top four cause of the most serious workplace accidents which cost employers $5.61B in annual medical costs and lost wage payments in 2020.
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By definition, dropped object or falling object is any item that falls or has the potential to fall from its previous position. Unnecessary items, loose or unsecured items, poorly stacked items, pieces of structure or even the structure itself can fall.

November 4, 2021
​By: Kevin Gardner

​When you're at work, you probably get caught up in assignments and everyday tasks. However, it's vital to always stay safe. If you're unsure about how to do this, here are five tips for staying safe in the workplace.

1. Use Safe and Regulated Equipment
​One of the most fundamental ways to stay safe at work is to use the right equipment. Specifically, your equipment should be completely reliable and regularly checked. This is especially true when it comes to dangerous items. So, be aware of each piece of machinery you use. If you notice that anything's amiss, even if it's a small problem, don't use the equipment. Instead, contact someone in charge to conduct an examination. If you don't see any maintenance work getting done, be sure to pursue the matter in a professional way. This doesn't only apply to construction companies and similar organizations; things like restaurant equipment can also be hazardous, so it's always good to remain vigilant in all workplace settings.

By: Michael Hancock, SMS, SGE, Director of Safety, VPP Site Coordinator, Marine Corps Air Facility Quantico; Owner, Creative Safety, LLC

This article originally appeared in the winter 2021 issue of The Leader magazine, a quarterly publication of VPPPA.

I would love to know how many safety colleagues have been challenged with one or more of these nagging thoughts:

“Is my safety training changing behavior?”
“Are people actually learning anything?”
“Why is there so much push-back to attend required training sessions?”
“What’s wrong with these people, don’t they realize this training is key to their wellbeing?”
 
These thoughts were the source of torment as I worked through our annual self-assessment. Although completion percentages looked great, we had solid documentation and curriculum was up to date with current standards and regulations, I was confronted with the realization that a majority of those attending required safety training had very little desire to be there, even if it was for their own good. So, the journey began to determine “why,” then work to restructure safety training strategies going forward.

October 14, 2021
By: Kevin Gardner

Staying healthy while working can seem like a difficult task, but it doesn't have to be if you start by making small changes to your daily routine. Here's how to stay healthy during your busy workday.

October 7, 2021
By: Ashley Lipman

Despite the term “domestic”, relationship violence rarely stays at home. Every year, victims struggle with the impacts of domestic abuse in their career. While workplaces are making strides toward seeing their employees as fully developed human beings with lives outside of work, there's still a ways to go— especially when promoting the safety of their people.
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Here are some practical tips for navigating the impacts of domestic violence when it follows you to work.

September 30, 2021
​By: Kevin Gardner

Accidents in the workplace can be devastating to everyone involved. Not only can they have a profound impact on the victim, but also by their company, fellow employees, and loved ones. A proactive approach is the only way to diminish workplace accidents and create a safer environment for employees. Thankfully, it can be done with ease and minimal effort. Here are five simple steps you can take to improve safety in the workplace.

September 23, 2021
By: Phil La Duke

Author’s note: The following is an updated excerpt from my book Lone Gunman: Rewriting the Handbook On Workplace Prevention.

Everywhere I go these days employers have the same lament—nobody wants to work. While that might have a modicum of truth to it, the more likely scenario is that job seekers are being more judicious about the type of employment, compensation, and employer that they will accept.  Aging Baby Boomers forcefully removed from the workplace by COVID-19 shutdowns have acclimated to life as a retiree and aren’t particularly interested in returning to a job while a pandemic still rages.  Younger workers aren’t interested in working for companies who don’t pay a living wage or that expect workers to take on a side hustle (which they realize is corporate greed-speak for a second job) just to make enough money to live above the poverty line.

September 9, 2021
By: Ashley Lipman

You can get back pain and many other issues as you age, and they can all be worsened by your work conditions. Even a simple desk job can make your back pain worse if you aren’t careful, as well as the factors like age, weight, and your sleeping position.

You may already be experiencing some level of back pain at work, or you’re just generally concerned about preventing that from happening. Whatever the case, you can make sure your back problems stay to a minimum with just a few simple steps. Keep reading to find out what they are!

​High temperatures on the job can make people miserable. And whether it’s from hot weather outdoors or high-heat applications indoors, discomfort can quickly escalate from an annoyance to a life-threatening situation. In fact, every day in the United States, 11 workers are seriously injured or die from heat stress, resulting in incidents that cost an average of $53,000. Here are a few tips to make your workers aware of the causes of heat-related illnesses and some solutions to help everyone keep their cool.

August 26, 2021
By: Kevin Gardner

No matter what your job is, work comes along with a lot of stress for many people. It can often feel like you don't have a choice and that feeling stressed out is just how things are. Here are a few tips for managing stress while continuing to perform well on the job.

VPPPA has partnered with the experts at MindWise Innovations to present a monthly article addressing issues and questions that members might be hesitant to ask about. These columns will address your concerns about mental health, substance abuse, brain injuries, family issues, and more.
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August 19, 2021
By: Lisa Desai, Chief Behavioral Health Officer, MindWise Innovations​​

The Importance of Fostering Psychological Safety in the Workplace

Have you ever had a great idea at work but didn’t feel comfortable sharing it? Most of us have been there – a better way for the company to operate pops into your head but you don’t pass this information forward. Maybe you fear repercussions from your boss if your suggestion doesn’t pan out. Perhaps you aren’t given a chance to speak or are discouraged from talking when the opportunity presented itself. You most likely believed you had more to lose from speaking up as opposed to remaining silent. If this sounds at all familiar, odds are your work environment isn’t psychologically safe, and both you and your employer are suffering as a result.  In construction or related industries, psychological safety can bolster physical safety – a priority for employee safety and team health.

August 12, 2021
By: Kevin Gardner

​An artificial neural network (ANN) is a data processing paradigm that functions similarly to biological nervous systems. The innovative structure of an artificial neural network's information processing system is its most important feature. This system comprises a huge number of highly interconnected processing computing pieces that work together to solve problems.
 
Artificial neural networks, like people, may learn by example. An artificial neural network is designed for a specific application, such as pattern recognition through a learning process. Adjustments to the synaptic connections between neurons are the basis of learning in biological systems. Artificial neural networks are no exception.

August 5, 2021
By: Kevin Gardner

​Starting your own company may pave the way toward fame and fortune, but that distinction is a prize that must be won. The commercial landscape is incredibly competitive, and small businesses have the deck stacked against them. To even the odds so that you can survive and thrive, you’ll practically need to find a way to be everywhere at once. Delegating tasks is a good place for any business leader to start, but these tips can help you further expand your reach by strategically deploying personnel.

July 29, 2021
By: By Jessica Larson, SolopreneurJournal.com

We learned a number of lessons from the pandemic, some of them personal and others professional. There was some overlap, but some of what we’ve learned applies specifically to business, and much of it involves being prepared in the event another emergency hits.

The numbers are stark: According to Facebook data released in May, 31% of small businesses reported shutting down in the previous few months. A SCORE survey in June of 2020, at the height of the pandemic, found that 37.3% of employers had been forced to furlough or lay off workers temporarily, while 31.4% had to cut staffers’ hours or pay.

July 22, 2021
By: Mitzi Robinson, President/Founder/Speaker, Bulli Ray Occupational Dog Bite Safety 
Presenter 2021 VPPPA Conference Nashville

Severely injured meter reader attacked by two Mastiffs! Was never told about the puppies in the yard.

This event took place with a meter reader working for a mid-western company. We spoke to the company many times in the past about the need for dog bite prevention training, however they continually had the same excuses: their dog bites were minimal and they had no history of serious attacks.

VPPPA has partnered with the experts at MindWise Innovations to present a monthly article addressing issues and questions that members might be hesitant to ask about. These columns will address your concerns about mental health, substance abuse, brain injuries, family issues, and more.
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July 15, 2021
By: Lisa Desai, Chief Behavioral Health Officer, MindWise Innovations​​

​Investing in Employee Wellness Is More Important Than Ever
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Now is the time to invest in the well-being of your workforce, as many are struggling – physically, mentally, and emotionally – on the heels of an unprecedented global pandemic. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development defines well-being at work as “creating an environment to promote a state of contentment which allows an employee to flourish and achieve their full potential for the benefit of themselves and their organization.” An employee’s well-being at work is no longer optional. In a 2018 American Heart Association CEO Roundtable Report, 9 in/10 survey respondents agree that employers have a responsibility to support mental health. To perform at their best, workers need to know that their organization cares about them and supports their whole health – physical and mental.  Increased workplace wellbeing results in greater job satisfaction which can lead to better teamwork and increased productivity.

July 8, 2021
By: Kevin Gardner

A business's customer relationship management team is the main line of contact customers will use when they need something from a business. CRM employees most often fall under the customer service category. No matter what type of business you run, the CRM team is vital. Below are a few things that any CRM employee can do to build a better relationship with the business's customers.

July 1, 2021
By: Safex

OSHA announced a new Regional Emphasis Program (REP) to identify, reduce, and eliminate hazards associated with exposures to high levels of noise. The program was announced on June 14, 2021, and is for OSHA Region V, which includes Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.

June 24, 2021
By: Mitzi Robinson, President/Founder, Bulli Ray Occupational Dog Bite Safety 
Presenter 2021 VPPPA Conference Nashville

When I complete dog occupational safety training around the country, the employees are usually very concerned about the big dogs they encounter daily, but it’s the little guys that are the most prevalent. Customers/Owners aren’t as concerned with their small dogs really hurting anyone. These dogs are usually allowed to accompany the owner when speaking to the employee. Even if the employee objects, they are usually drowned out by all the reasons their perfectly safe. Employees have shared their stories with me and even though the little dog may be clamped on to their leg, the owner shows little to no concern.