Contributor: Epicore Biosystems This summer, it has been difficult to begin each day without being confronted by news of record-breaking heatwaves or workers suffering from heat-related injuries when turning on your preferred morning news show or browsing a news website. Despite the current reports of the summer of 2023 being the hottest on record, scientists are … Safeguarding Workers in a Warming World: Heat Challenges and Solutions
Contributor: Chris Williams, CAE, Executive Director, VPPPA OSHA has undertaken its most ambitious effort yet to modernize the Voluntary Protection Program, the gold standard in safety and health management systems. Since 1982, VPP has grown to represent nearly 2,000 high-performing sites across the country who have committed to the program’s core principles of labor involvement, … The Evolution of VPP: Working With OSHA To Map the Future
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 20, 2023) — VPPPA, the Voluntary Protection Programs Participants’ Association and the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on June 15 to advance health and safety excellence. The 18-month agreement brings the safety organizations together to focus on assisting the Occupational Safety and Health Administration … ASSP and VPPPA to collaborate on worker safety
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced yesterday the launch of a nationwide competition aimed to raise awareness of the dangers and hazards of heat exposure in both indoor and outdoor workplaces. According to OSHA’s Beat the Heat Contest webpage, the competition has four main goals: Contest submissions are open … US Department of Labor’s OSHA Launches National ‘Beat the Heat’ Contest
Contributor: Ariana Hanaity – Communications Coordinator, VPPPA March is National Ladder Safety Month, an annual event dedicated to promoting ladder safety and preventing ladder-related injuries and fatalities. With falls from ladders being a leading cause of workplace injuries and deaths, it’s essential for employers and workers to understand and follow the Occupational Safety and Health … National Ladder Safety Month: Tips for Employers and Workers
Dear VPPPA Members and Stakeholders, Recently, OSHA published and requested participation in the agency’s VPP Modernization Survey as the agency seeks to, “modernize, improve and expand the various pathways that employers can establish and improve their safety and health programs, with the pinnacle being Voluntary Protection Program (VPP).” VPPPA encourages all of our members and … A Message from Chairperson Terry Schulte – Our Shared Role in Shaping the Future of VPP
Dear VPPPA Members and Stakeholders, Today, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published and requested participation in the agency’s VPP Modernization Survey. The purpose of this survey is to gather feedback on OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program and potential changes that could be implemented to “modernize, improve and expand the various pathways that employers can … OSHA seeking public comments on modernizing Voluntary Protection Program
Contributor: Doug Parker, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health This article was originally published in the Spring 2022 issue of VPPPA’s quarterly magazine, the Leader. Fifty-two years ago, a new paradigm emerged for America’s workplaces. The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 was passed, making way for the creation of the Occupational … Fifty Years of OSHA
Contributor: Soundtrace October is National Protect Your Hearing Month, and there’s no better time to evaluate how you’re protecting your team from noise-induced hearing loss. As safety professionals, it’s our responsibility to lead from the front. We should be asking ourselves every day, “What do I need to do to set my team and employer … National Protect Your Hearing Month
Contributor: Jean Ndana, Regional Environment Health Safety Manager, Michigan Seamless Tubes (MST) Key Takeaways 1 The first move toward transforming a safety culture or achieving desired safety outcomes is developing an inward-examining mindset that it is up to the task. You cannot be physically ready to lead change and make progress if you are not … Developing And Leveraging An “Up To the Task” Mindset
Contributor: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Suicide is a leading cause of death among working-age adults in the United States. It deeply impacts workers, families, and communities. There were approximately 1.2 million suicide attempts in America in 2020. Tragically, more than 45,000 of these attempts were fatal.1 The construction industry has one of the … Workplace Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
Contributor: Scott Schneider, MS, FAIHA Ergonomics is not a four-letter word. Under the OSHA Act, every worker is guaranteed a workplace “free of recognized hazards.” Yet in 2020, a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that almost a quarter of a million workers in the United States lost work because of musculoskeletal disorders (Table MSD1) … Ergonomics: The New Frontier
Contributor: AuditSoft The Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) has promoted safety and health at worksites for more than four decades. Approval into VPP is OSHA’s official recognition of the outstanding efforts of employers and employees who have implemented effective safety and health practices that keep injury and illness rates below the national average. The VPP started … Safety and Health: The VPP Difference
Contributor: Roco Rescue If entering permit-required confined spaces is performed at your worksite, then this is a question you absolutely should be asking yourself. And if you are, that is a good thing; it implies knowledge of OSHA’s requirement that an organization must provide for the safety of their personnel working in confined spaces. Asking … How Do I Choose a Qualified Rescue Service?
Contributor: Sentinel Safety leaders hope to never receive the news that co-workers are injured but, unfortunately, it happens. Workplace deaths may result from sudden accidents or long-term complications. That’s why more organizations are turning to technology. Organizations and workers benefit from having data insights to prevent injuries and predict workers’ future health risks. Take for … Improving Occupational Safety Efforts in the U.S. Air Force and Other Organizations
Contributor: Jean Ndana, ASP, CSP, ASQ-SSBB, ASQ-CQE “A worker’s first day shouldn’t be his last day on earth.” I said these chilling words a few months ago when I narrated the tragic story of a 23-year-old temporary employee who did not return home from his first day at a Michigan factory. He was removing imperfections … Working Safely with Pedestal and Bench Grinders: 10 Proven Best Practices
Contributor: Toby Graham, KPA Imagine having a process to catch issues before they become problems – keeping your business efficient, your people happy, and your money in your pocket. That’s the premise behind Corrective and Preventive Actions (or CAPA for short). CAPAs are systemic improvements to an organization’s processes designed to fix recurring safety issues. Want … Using Corrective & Preventative Actions to Keep Your Company Safe
Position Details Job Code #: JC-293055 Working Title: California Voluntary Protection Associate Safety Engineer Classification: ASSOCIATE SAFETY ENGINEER # of Positions: 3 Work Location: Orange County Job Type: Permanent, Full Time Final Filing Date: 3/28/2022 Job Description and Duties Working at the Cal/OSHA means much more than showing up for a job. You will be able to work on programs … Job Opening: California Voluntary Protection Associate Safety Engineer
Contributor: Soundtrace Did you know Hearing Protection Devices do not prevent hearing loss—they only reduce the risk of hearing loss? Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is the most common occupational disease and the second most self-reported occupational illness or injury. In the manufacturing sector, occupational hearing loss accounts for 1 in 9 recordable illnesses, according to … The Invisible Hazard
Jacqueline "Jackie" Annis is an industrial hygienist with the Office of Partnerships and Recognition, Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs in OSHA’s National Office. Jackie’s primary responsibilities include developing and overseeing internal policies and procedures for the VPP, reviewing VPP on-site evaluation reports for process safety management information, serving as the National Office liaison for two of OSHA’s ten Regions, and facilitating the management of OSHA’s National Strategic Partnership Program. She is an integral part of OSHA’s National Office team.
She has served with the Agency for 36 years, including five years as a senior industrial hygienist in OSHA’s Office of Health Enforcement, Directorate of Enforcement Programs in the National Office and 17 years as a compliance safety and health officer in the Denver, CO Area Office. Prior to her tenure at OSHA, Jackie worked as an industrial hygienist for the Department of the Navy in Alameda, California. Jackie obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA in 1983.
Wayne Howard earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from UC Davis and has spent 12 years with Shell (at Martinez) refinery, 3 years with the consulting firm Process Safety, 15 years with Valero (at Benicia), and the last 10 years in the Corporate Process Safety Department. He is the Valero representative to AFPM's Advancing Process Safety Initiative.
Nathan Obaugh, PE is a senior engineer in the Safety and Operational Excellence Group at NuStar Energy. Nathan has over 10 years of PSM and process design experience in the petrochemical, refining and midstream industries. At NuStar, Nathan oversees all elements of the corporate PSM program and works directly on hazard analysis, process safety studies, PSM/RMP audits and provides process engineering support to the operations and capital projects groups.
Jared Teter, PhD is a senior staff scientist with a background in physics and hazards analysis. He has extensive experience in subscale testing of energetic materials and has served as program manager for several large testing and risk management projects. He has applied engineering and risk management protocols while evaluating the risk associated with propellant and explosives manufacturing, combustible dust, and other hazardous material related processes.
Tim Belitz has a degree in Environmental Health/Industrial Hygiene from Old Dominion University and a Master’s from Duke University. He has over 25 years of Industrial Health Safety and Environmental Experience and is a Certified Safety Professional. He has many years focused on Contractor Management and Process Safety programs.
Rob Walker graduated from Virginia Tech in Microbiology and Chemical Engineering. Rob has almost 35 years of experience working in the chemical plant and refining industry. His passion for Process Safety and Mechanical Integrity began very early in his career. Rob began with his current company, Honeywell, back in 2011.
Prasad Joshi has B.S. and M.S. Degrees in Chemical Engineering from two universities in India. Prasad has over 30 years’ experience in the business. He began with Honeywell in May 2022 as Principal Maintenance Engineer. He has worked internationally in Asia and Europe.