VPPPA

Rescue Standby vs. Rescue Available: What’s the Difference?

Contributor: Jacob Melancon, ASP When it comes to rescue operations, readiness isn’t just important – it’s everything! Many years ago, when Roco began offering standby rescue services, we used these terms for describing the required rescue response mode – whether it was “Rescue Standby” or “Rescue Available.” This distinction isn’t just a matter of preference; Rescue Standby vs. Rescue Available: What’s the Difference?

New Guide Released: Portable Gas Detection Application Solutions

Contributor: Nicole Randall ISEA has released the “Portable Gas Detection Application Solutions” guide, a comprehensive resource designed to help workers and employers navigate the complex landscape of gas detection in a variety of environments. This essential guide outlines key considerations for selecting, using, and maintaining portable gas detectors, which are crucial for protecting workers from New Guide Released: Portable Gas Detection Application Solutions

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Unlock a full year of exclusive benefits valued at over $3,700. Connect with safety-minded professionals through peer networking, meetups, and workshops. Earn rewards by participating in surveys, product reviews, and focus groups. Gain access to the Safeopedia Online Community platform for resource sharing, collaboration, and knowledge management. Enjoy 365-day access to Safety Connect Virtual Conferences Safeopedia Benefits

J. J. Keller and ISEA Release Results of Collaborative Study on Head Protection Practices & Challenges

Contributor: Nicole Randall Results Reveal the Industry Is at a Turning Point for Head Protection Practices J. Keller & Associate, Inc., a leading provider of safety and compliance solutions, and the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) recently joined forces to conduct a comprehensive study on head protection practices and challenges. The results of the study, titled “A J. J. Keller and ISEA Release Results of Collaborative Study on Head Protection Practices & Challenges

Can I contribute to one of VPPPA’s publications?

We welcome contributions to VPPPA from thought leaders in the field of safety, health and the environment. Membership is not a requirement to sharing your content in the Leader magazine or the monthly On The Level newsletter. We’d love to hear from you. Please reach out!

What kind of companies are a part of VPPPA?

From government, military, oil and gas, manufacturing and construction sectors and more, companies who are members of VPPPA run the gamut of business community. They all have one common denominator: Dedication to advancing safety and health excellence in their workplace.

How can I become a partner with VPPPA?

The goal of VPPPA’s Strategic Partner Program is to leverage our members’ status as the “best of the best” in advancing health and safety excellence by: The benefits of a partnership with VPPPA include year-round branding on our events, website and publications, complimentary registrations, and opportunities to produce professional development and product offering content. Learn How can I become a partner with VPPPA?

What discounts are available to members for events?

The benefits of membership include significant discounts to VPPPA events such as Safety Plus and regional conferences, not to mention discounts on advertising, educational opportunities, safety and health assessments and more. Visit Membership to see how you can save!

Does VPPPA offer any mentorship programs?

VPPPA is developing a Mentorship Program that will connect companies aspiring to become VPP Star Sites or increase the quality of their workplace safety and health with experienced experts nearby. Please let us know if you want mentorship support and we will find experts in your area that can help you.

How can I stay informed about VPPPA news and updates?

Staying on top of breaking news and developing trends in the safety and health community is easy. Just sign up to VPPPA’s On The Level newsletter and get monthly updates on information vital to you for your safety and health improvement journey.

How can I access past event materials?

One of the rewards of a VPPPA membership includes entrance to previously held events including educational materials from past Safety Plus conferences. Your access to our vast archive of educational resources is available by logging into your Member Portal.

Where can I find information about my regional events?

Regional events are a great way to network with workplace safety and health leaders who are both experts and your neighbors. Each region hosts regularly scheduled events, and you can visit Regions to find an event near you. Visit your region now to find what’s coming up for 2025!

How do I nominate someone for a VPPPA award?

We recognize excellence in advancing safety and health in the workplace for individuals and companies, and the VPPPA Annual Awards provides our selectees with national recognition at the annual Safety Plus conferences. Visit VPPPA’s Awards to see categories, selection criteria, deadlines and recent award winners.

Can non-members attend VPPPA events?

Membership is not a pre-requisite for attending a VPPPA event. We welcome all companies and individuals interested in improving the safety, health and wellbeing of their workplace locations. Visit Events to find experiences that you’ll want to have.

Are there scholarships available for members?

Providing access to financial assistance for education is a guiding principle of VPPPA. We provide scholarships for graduate and undergraduate students who are pursuing careers in the safety, health or environmental fields. See our Scholarships section to learn more about eligibility requirements.

Where can I find upcoming VPPPA events?

With the Safety Plus annual conference, Regional Events and webinars, VPPPA has experiences designed to meet your needs. For more than 30 years, Safety+ has been the only national event designed to help companies improve safety and health excellence. Visit us in St. Louis for the 2025 Safety+ in August! Our Regional Events feature workshops, Where can I find upcoming VPPPA events?

How can I renew my membership?

Becoming a member of VPPPA is easy. Reinvesting in membership is just as fast and easy. Visit Membership to get started.

What is VPPPA?

VPPPA is the premier safety and health organization.  We offer our members networking with industry professionals, mentoring, and educational opportunities.  Learn more here.

Where can I find information about my regional events?

Regional events are a great way to network with workplace safety and health leaders who are both experts and your neighbors. Each region hosts regularly scheduled events, and you can visit Regions to find an event near you. Visit your region now to find what’s coming up for 2025!

What are VPPPA’s regional chapters?

VPPPA has ten regional chapters that include all 50 states as well as Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam. VPPPA regions are aligned with the regional structure that has been established by OSHA. Land on our Regions section to learn which region has been established for your location.

What are the benefits of attending the Safety+ Symposium?

For more than three decades, the Safety+ Symposium has been the premiere educational and professional development event for the safety and health community. Safety+ provides attendees with the education, networking, products and services they need to bring their safety and health programs beyond compliance to excellence. From C-Suite executives to frontline workers, Safety+ attendees represent What are the benefits of attending the Safety+ Symposium?

What are the different membership levels?

VPPPA offers memberships that are ideal for any workplace location from sites that is seeking to attain OSHA’s VPP Star Site status to sites that are beginning their exciting journey to make their workplace safer and healthier to companies that produce products and services that support the enhancement of safety and health. We even have What are the different membership levels?

What is Safety+?

The Safety+ Symposium is the only EHS&S event that provides the tools and resources you need to bring your safety and health programs beyond compliance to excellence. With attendees ranging from frontline workers to C-Suite executives, our community offers the unique opportunity to see safety from all angles and better understand its role in the What is Safety+?

How do I become a member of VPPPA?

Our community of individuals, workplace locations and companies share the same mission: to raise the standard for a safe and healthy working environment. So, we make joining VPPPA fast and easy. To learn more about how to join and what type of membership is ideal for you, visit us at Membership.

The Importance of Mental Health and Psychological Safety in the Workplace

Contributor: Dave Miller – Director of Business Development & Membership, VPPPA October 10 marks World Mental Health Day and, in today’s dynamic work environment, mental health and psychological safety are no longer optional considerations—they are essential. As leaders in safety & health, our responsibilities extend beyond managing tasks and processes or overseeing performance. It’s about The Importance of Mental Health and Psychological Safety in the Workplace

Daryl Butler Jr. – 4th Quarter 2024

Daryl Butler Jr. Savannah River Nuclear SolutionsRadiological ProtectionChairman of Local Safety Involvement Team and Leaders Emerging Amongst Professionals How did you get involved in safety? My commitment to safety began early when, at 12, I became a student mentor for students with mental disabilities at Paul Knox Middle School. This role taught me to be Daryl Butler Jr. – 4th Quarter 2024

Heat Injury and Illness… Are You Ready to Beat the Heat?

Contributor: Brannon Aaron, ASP, NRP, Roco Rescue This article was originally published on rocorescue.com on August 13, 2024. August 13, 2024 — With the proposed standard of Subpart J—General Environmental Controls § 1910.148 Heat Injury and Illness up for codification, it may be time to examine some of the proposed changes that may affect indoor Heat Injury and Illness… Are You Ready to Beat the Heat?

There’s More to Fall Protection than Yellow Paint. Choose Your Safety Partners Carefully.

Contributor: Craig Erickson, CEO Safety Rail Company Fall protection is big business. It’s estimated that in 2024, the U.S. market will spend north of $3 billion on guard rails, lanyards, harnesses, lifelines, anchoring systems, etcetera, etcetera. It’s easy to see why the fall protection industry has attracted the attention of so many sales organizations. And There’s More to Fall Protection than Yellow Paint. Choose Your Safety Partners Carefully.

Top 5 Reasons Employees Don’t Wear Safety Glasses on the Job and How to Overcome Them

Contributor: SafeVision Ensuring employee safety is a priority for any business, especially in environments where eye hazards are present. Per OSHA requirements, employers are required to provide necessary personal protection equipment (PPE) for employees working in hazardous environments. This includes ANSI Z87.1 rated safety glasses or other safety eyewear. However, a common challenge faced by Top 5 Reasons Employees Don’t Wear Safety Glasses on the Job and How to Overcome Them

Best Practices for Improving Hazard Recognition with the Energy Wheel

Contributor: Sturgeon Electric As OSHA VPPPA members we are always striving for continuous safety improvement at Sturgeon Electric Company. We recognize Human and Organization Performance (HOP) is the future of construction health and safety and it has become a driving force in our safety training. HOP focuses on understanding the human element of decision making Best Practices for Improving Hazard Recognition with the Energy Wheel

Jay Walter Hocutt – 3rd Quarter 2024

Jay Walter Hocutt RSIConstruction Heavy Equipment Program ManagerUnited Cleanup Oak Ridge (UCOR), Oak Ridge, TN How did you get involved in safety? I have always been cautious when it comes to my actions. As a teenager, my grandfather always told me to weigh the consequences of my actions and how they would affect others. Joining Jay Walter Hocutt – 3rd Quarter 2024

VPPPA’s 2024 Safety+ Symposium and EHS Today’s Safety Leadership Conference Continue Co-Location Partnership

The renewed co-location of the annual events will offer safety and health professionals expanded opportunities for collaboration, networking, and professional development this August 25-28 in Aurora, CO FALLS CHURCH, VA (June 27, 2024) — VPPPA announced today an agreement with Endeavor Business Media to continue their co-location relationship for 2024. VPPPA’s 2024 Safety+ Symposium will VPPPA’s 2024 Safety+ Symposium and EHS Today’s Safety Leadership Conference Continue Co-Location Partnership

The Power of EHS-Supply Chain Partnerships

safety agreement
safety agreement

Contributor: Kimberly Rodriguez, BSI Consulting This article was originally published on bsigroup.com on May 1, 2024. May 1, 2024 — Organizations are facing supply chain challenges that demand innovative, multi-functional, and collaborative solutions. One often-overlooked approach to addressing these unexpected hurdles is the intentional partnership between environment, health, and safety (EHS) management and supply chain The Power of EHS-Supply Chain Partnerships

Key Takeaways: The Rising Threat of Heat Exposure to Worker Safety

Contributor: Epicore Biosystems Increasing Threat to Worker Safety: Climate change is significantly increasing the risk of heat exposure, putting over 2.4 billion workers at risk of excessive heat exposure during their work, resulting in numerous injuries and fatalities annually. Economic Impact of Heat: Rising temperatures not only affect worker health but also lead to substantial economic Key Takeaways: The Rising Threat of Heat Exposure to Worker Safety

Ben Nemtin Set to Inspire at VPPPA’s 2024 Safety+ Symposium

Renowned #1 New York Times bestselling author and co-founder of The Buried Life movement named opening keynote speaker for VPPPA’s 2024 Safety+ Symposium, August 25-28 in Aurora, CO. FALLS CHURCH, VA (May 14, 2024) — VPPPA today announced Ben Nemtin, co-founder of The Buried Life Movement, as the opening keynote speaker for the organization’s 2024 Ben Nemtin Set to Inspire at VPPPA’s 2024 Safety+ Symposium

Sodexo Roth Finds a Savior in SRC

Contributor: Safety Rail Co. If you’ve spent any amount of time on a commercial roof lately, you know how much is going on up there. It’s a world unto itself. Organizations like Sodexo Roth manage rooftop assets for an ever-expanding portfolio of clients and when it comes to rooftop fall protection, they look to Safety Sodexo Roth Finds a Savior in SRC

VPPPA and Roco Rescue Join Forces in Landmark Partnership

FALLS CHURCH, VA (February 1, 2024) — VPPPA and Roco Rescue have entered into a strategic partnership agreement, marking a significant milestone for both organizations. Roco Rescue, a distinguished leader in technical rescue, is the first to join VPPPA’s recently launched Strategic Partner Program. This collaboration is rooted in the shared commitment to advance health VPPPA and Roco Rescue Join Forces in Landmark Partnership

Tami L. Keas – 1st Quarter 2024

Tami L. Keas Central Plateau Cleanup CompanySafety AdministratorRichland, WA / Hanford Site How did you get involved in safety? I began in a temporary role working as a data entry clerk for the Occupational Safety and Industrial Hygiene (OS&IH) department in 2010. One of my roles early on was serving as a recorder for the Tami L. Keas – 1st Quarter 2024

3 Tips for Delivering a Successful Safety Stand Down

Contributors from PepTalk: Caitlin Kirwan, Content Writer, and Haelee Reis, Marketing Manager Workplace safety should be a top priority for every organization, but around 340 million work-related accidents still happen across the world every single year. Workplace accidents range from minor slips, trips, and falls to serious incidents that have long-lasting effects on employees and 3 Tips for Delivering a Successful Safety Stand Down

Julie Smith – 4th Quarter 2023

Julie Smith E & J Gallo Winery (Spirits Plant)Operations AssistantModesto, CA How did you get involved in safety? I was working as the Spirits plant admin and was asked to attend a BBS Safety Committee meeting as a scribe. I enjoyed my participation and learning about safety through the committee and that my role has Julie Smith – 4th Quarter 2023

Mitigating on-site workplace danger and decreasing fatality rates with safety solutions designed to save lives

Contributor: Lucy Holford-Walker, Sentric Group Global Copywriter and PR The Sentric Group’s Kirk Key Interlock Team recently exhibited at the annual VPPPA Safety+ Symposium, which offered safety professionals the chance to engage and collaborate with fellow industry leaders with the aim of achieving and maintaining on-site safety. With the number of fatal work injuries across the Mitigating on-site workplace danger and decreasing fatality rates with safety solutions designed to save lives

Safeguarding Workers in a Warming World: Heat Challenges and Solutions

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

The True Meaning of Labor Day in the US

Contributor: Chris Williams, CAE, Executive Director, VPPPA To many, Labor Day marks the ceremonial end to summer and one final opportunity to gather with friends and family, fire up the barbecue and, in many parts of the country, enjoy the last vestiges of warm weather before fall and winter set in. Sadly, very few Americans The True Meaning of Labor Day in the US

Confined Space FAQs

Contributor: MSA Safety Confined spaces present unique challenges and risks that safety professionals can help reduce with proper understanding and precautions. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, from 2011 to 2018 there were 1,030 workers who died from occupational injuries involving a confined space.1 Here are some of the most frequently asked questions to Confined Space FAQs

VPPPA Launches Innovative Strategic Partner Program, Raising the Standard for Safe and Healthy Workplaces

FALLS CHURCH, VA (August 18, 2023) — The Voluntary Protection Programs Participants’ Association (VPPPA) is proud to announce the launch of its all-new Strategic Partner Program, redefining collaboration in advancing health and safety excellence. This forward-thinking initiative offers an exclusive platform for organizations that align with VPPPA’s mission of raising the standard for safe and VPPPA Launches Innovative Strategic Partner Program, Raising the Standard for Safe and Healthy Workplaces

The Evolution of VPP: Working With OSHA To Map the Future

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

John Frattali – 3rd Quarter 2023

John Frattali Orange County Sanitation DistrictSafety & Health SupervisorOrange County, California How did you get involved in safety? In the early part of attending college, I worked for a local grocery store in the produce department. I witnessed a coworker slip and fall on the sales floor as a result of water that had accumulated John Frattali – 3rd Quarter 2023

ASSP and VPPPA to collaborate on worker safety

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

Safety Certifications: Which Are Right for You?

Contributor: Columbia Southern University In addition to formal education, a growing number of companies are looking for occupational safety and health specialists who hold professional safety certifications. Many positions in the industry require a bachelor’s degree, and others require a master’s, but certifications can be just as important to companies that prioritize workplace safety and seek to Safety Certifications: Which Are Right for You?

Assessing Capacity for Workplace Violence: Are YOU Ready?

Contributor: Dr. Steve Webb, Founder of Safe Secure Systems, Board-Certified Workplace Violence and Threat Assessment Specialist, and SAFE Training Program Instructor Within the workplace, there are several facets that fall under the category of “safety,” and it is crucial that your worksite’s training address all potential hazards and dangers that employees may encounter on any Assessing Capacity for Workplace Violence: Are YOU Ready?

US Department of Labor’s OSHA Launches National ‘Beat the Heat’ Contest

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

Work Zone Safety is Everyone’s Responsibility

Contributor: Ariana Hanaity – Communications Coordinator, VPPPA National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) is just around the corner, starting next week from April 17-21. The annual event is observed nationwide and aims to raise awareness and encourage safe driving through highway work zones. NWZAW brings together public agencies, national roadway safety organizations, companies, and individuals Work Zone Safety is Everyone’s Responsibility

Larry Webb – 2nd Quarter 2023

Larry Webb Flint Hills ResourcesHealth and Safety ManagerCorpus Christi, TX How did you get involved in safety? After performing field safety at an entry level for a local contractor, I decided to get a degree in a safety related field. I applied for a night shift job at a manufacturing company in the area that Larry Webb – 2nd Quarter 2023

National Ladder Safety Month: Tips for Employers and Workers

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

Safety Starts with Sight

Contributor: Meg Klaers – Program Manager, Walman Optical Safety Eyewear Safety starts by simply seeing the potential hazards in the workplace. The risk of eye injury happens in all types of workplaces. In fact, nearly 40% of work-related eye injuries occur in healthcare, offices, laboratories, and other similar work environments – the remainder occurring in Safety Starts with Sight

A History of Powerful Women in Construction

Contributor: Matthew Luman, EHS Program Manager, US Farathane This article was originally published in the Winter 2018 issue of VPPPA’s quarterly magazine, the Leader. In the construction industry, it’s safe to say that women are underrepresented. Even when compared to traditionally male-dominated sectors, women have yet to break through in many areas of construction. Just nine A History of Powerful Women in Construction

A Message from Chairperson Terry Schulte – Our Shared Role in Shaping the Future of VPP

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

Is New Safety Technology Rendering Your Hearing Conservation Program Obsolete?

Contributor: MākuSafe Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent recorded occupational illnesses for industrial workers. 22 million workers are exposed to potentially damaging noise at work each year, according to OSHA. The most tragic part of this particular injury is that once the hearing is damaged, it is irreparable. A hearing aid can make Is New Safety Technology Rendering Your Hearing Conservation Program Obsolete?

OSHA seeking public comments on modernizing Voluntary Protection Program

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

Ergonomics and the Hierarchy of Controls

Contributor: Logan Steffans, EHS/Facilities Supervisor, Collins Aerospace After working in the aerospace industry for five years now—you know that saying ‘time flies’—I’ve had the chance to engage with a plethora of folks on the manufacturing floor, learning their story about what brought them into this field of work and what keeps them coming back year Ergonomics and the Hierarchy of Controls

VPPPA and EHS Today Announce Co-Location of Safety+ Symposium and Safety Leadership Conference Events

FALLS CHURCH, VA. — The Voluntary Protection Programs Participants’ Association (VPPPA) announced today that the 2023 Safety+ Symposium will co-locate with EHS Today’s Safety Leadership Conference. The co-location is set to take place September 17 – 20, 2023 at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Orlando, Florida. “EHS Today is one of the premier resources VPPPA and EHS Today Announce Co-Location of Safety+ Symposium and Safety Leadership Conference Events

Jeremy Presnal – 1st Quarter 2023

Jeremy Presnal Shermco IndustriesSenior Vice President, EHS & Workforce DevelopmentIrving, Texas How did you get involved in safety? I really got interested in safety before starting college in the summer of 1997 while working as an intern at a large coal fired power plant that my father worked at as an FGD Production Team Member. Jeremy Presnal – 1st Quarter 2023

How Can Your Organization Overcome the Challenges with Hazard Identification?

Contributor: Doug Pontsler, Chairman and Managing Director, COVE Organizations committed to safety know that finding and addressing hazards before they cause harm is mission critical. They have the best intentions and may be prepared with safety protocols, checklists, best practices and training, but even then, something fails, errors are made, and steps are overlooked for How Can Your Organization Overcome the Challenges with Hazard Identification?

Carbon Monoxide Safety

It’s cold outside! So batten down the hatches, but beware of carbon monoxide. Contributor: Brenda Wiederkehr, Owner, Access Compliance, LLC It’s wintertime, and particularly in the north, we close the windows and doors, creating a microenvironment to warm up and stay comfortable. Some people heat with electricity, which runs the risk of further drying the Carbon Monoxide Safety

Fifty Years of OSHA

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

National Protect Your Hearing Month

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

Workplace Mental Health and Suicide Prevention

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

Ergonomics: The New Frontier

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

Job Opening: Environmental Health & Safety Representative II

Hendrickson is currently seeking a Environmental Health & Safety Representative II to join their team. This role would be responsible for project work and assisting in the implementation of Environmental, Health and Safety policies, as well as programs that support business practices within the Hendrickson Somerset, KY facility. Essential Functions: For more information, read the Job Opening: Environmental Health & Safety Representative II

A Safer Workplace with Safety Eyewear

Contributor: Meg Klaers, Industrial Safety Program Manager, Walman Optical Safety Eyewear ON-THE-JOB: 2,000 EYE INJURIES PER DAY The number of job-related eye injuries that require medical attention in the U.S. each day. Eye injuries make up nearly 45% of all head injuries that lead to missed workdays. 40% of on-the-job eye injuries happen in the A Safer Workplace with Safety Eyewear

Safety and Health: The VPP Difference

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

The SafetyPro Podcast Talks with VPPPA Chairperson, Terry Schulte

Last week, VPPPA Chairperson Terry Schulte sat down with Blaine from The SafetyPro Podcast to talk about the early days of VPP, busting VPP myths, the advantages of being a part of the VPPPA community, and what safety and health professionals can expect this August at the 2022 Safety+ Symposium in Washington, D.C.

VPPPA Announces New Executive Director

Release Date: July 14, 2022 Contact: Keri Usher, Communications Manager, kusher@vpppa.org 703-761-6519 Falls Church, VA – The Board of Directors of the Voluntary Protection Programs Participants’ Association, Inc. (VPPPA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Christopher Williams as the association’s next Executive Director. Williams was previously the Director of Membership for the Association of the Wall and VPPPA Announces New Executive Director

Why people fear performing CPR on women – and what to do about it

Contributor: American Heart Association Women are less likely than men to receive CPR from a bystander. But why? The reluctance, new research suggests, may be fueled by worries of being accused of sexual assault or doing physical harm. Knowing people’s secret fears is the first step to dispelling them, experts say. The insights come from Why people fear performing CPR on women – and what to do about it

The Buried Truth About Human Factors

Contributor: Joe Tantarelli, Speaker and Senior Safety Consultant for SafeStart This article was originally published in the Spring 2018 issue of VPPPA’s quarterly magazine, the Leader. My 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 The Buried Truth About Human Factors

Protecting Workers from Heat-Related Illnesses

Contributor: Ariana Hanaity, Communications Coordinator, VPPPA The United States has experienced record-breaking summer heat in recent years, leaving millions of workers exposed to these environmental extremes particularly vulnerable to illness. Between 1992 and 2017, data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that heat stress killed 815 U.S. workers and seriously injured over 70,000. Protecting Workers from Heat-Related Illnesses

Improving Occupational Safety Efforts in the U.S. Air Force and Other Organizations

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

Improving Communication Skills to Influence Safety Culture

Contributor: Dianne Grote Adams, CIH, CSP, CPEA, FAIHA President and Founder of Safex, Inc. This article was originally published in the Autumn 2021 issue of VPPPA’s quarterly magazine, the Leader. As health, safety and environmental (HSE) professionals, we recognize that safety is good business. While we’ve spent years honing our technical skills, we often don’t spend Improving Communication Skills to Influence Safety Culture