May 2017
Safety Express Tour
By Tanya Haakinson
Inside this issue:
2
Member-Get-A-Member
Program
3
Death in the Workplace—Are
You Ready?
4
What Does it Mean to be a
Safety Professional?
5
ASSE Professional
Development Conference
6
Shattering the Stigma on
Mental Illness
7
New Bylaws
8
Free Trainings
9
Job Openings
10
Mark your Calendars
Safety Express Tour
By Tanya Haakinson
There will be no regular Chapter meeting at
Black Bear Diner in May. Instead, the
Southern Oregon Chapter of ASSE will be
hosting the Safety Express Tour, Southern Oregon’s premier
safety tour!
The Safety Express Tour will be held on May 2, 2017 from
7:30am to 5:00pm.
Industrial Dress: Long pants, closed toe boots/shoes (no heels),
safety vest, hearing and eye protection.
Stops on the tour:
 Boise Cascade--White City Veneer; a SHARP site.
 ECS Case in Grants Pass. An equipment case manufacturer that
made great gains with machine guarding and ergonomics.
 Lunch at the historical site The Point in Central Point. Lunchtime safety presentation by Mark Hurliman of OR-OSHA,
“Improving Your Safety Culture.”
 Linde Gasses in White City; a PSM and VPP site.
 Harry and David
Cost:
ASSE Members: $55.00, Non-Members $70.00
Please RSVP by Thursday, April 27, 2017
[email protected].
A special “Lunch Only” $25.00 ticket is available for those not able to
attend the full Safety Express Tour.
Seating is limited; please RSVP to
[email protected]
by April 27, 2017.
Safety Express Tour
May 2nd
www.asse-southernoregon.org
to
thaakin-
2
May 2017
By Amy Stonehill
Member-Get-A-Member
Program
Whether it's a friend or a colleague, you probably know someone who can take advantage of
ASSE's member benefits. Through the Member-Get-A-Member campaign, you and the safety
professional you refer can both benefit.
How does it work?
√ Forward an application using our refer a friend tool or direct them to www.asse.org/join to
download an application.
√ Ask your friend to enter your name as their sponsor and promotion code 1701RAF on their application.
√ Tell another friend…and another…and another to earn rewards.
The more of your friends who join, the more REWARDS
 Refer 3 friends to receive 1 FREE ASSE Webinar
 Refer 5 friends to receive a FREE 1-year extension of your ASSE Membership
 Refer 10 friends to receive an ASSE Polo Shirt + 1 FREE ASSE Seminar
Grand Prize Drawing: For every new paid member you sponsor January - December 2017, you
will receive an entry to win the Grand Prize drawing for a trip to SAFETY 2018 in San Antonio including:
 Full SAFETY 2018 registration June 3-6 in San Antonio, TX
 Three nights hotel accommodations June 3, 4, and 5 at one of ASSE's conference hotels
 $250 AMEX card to use for expenses
*Prize not to exceed $2,000 US.
Your Friend wins too!
In addition to all of their new ASSE Membership benefits, every time a new member joins with
code 1701RAF they receive 1 FREE ASSE Webinar.
Questions?
Contact ASSE customer service at +01.847.699.2929 or [email protected].
Truckers –Avoid Getting Hurt While Lowering Landing Gear
Courtesy of SHARP; WA LNI
SHARPS TIRES program has developed an online training showing the best way to
avoid getting injured while lowering the landing gear. Check it out!
http://www.keeptruckingsafe.org/assets/landinggear/story.html
Monthly Newsletter of the Southern Oregon Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers
3
Death in the Workplace –Are You
Ready?
May 2017
By Susan Murphey
At the recent Governor’s Occupational Safety and Health (GOSH) Conference, Michael Wood,
Oregon OSHA Administrator, reported a 50% increase in the number of workplace fatalities in
Oregon in 2016. Whether due to more comprehensive reporting methods or an increasing trend,
the reality is just as devastating. The lives of those lost, cut short before their time, and the family, friends, and co-workers left behind are forever changed. Eliminating hazards and mitigating
underlying causes is a primary focus of root cause analysis following a death in the workplace.
But are we also conducting a critical assessment to provide support to those left behind?
No one wants to plan what to do when a workplace fatality occurs because they don’t want to
believe it can happen in the first place. The death of a coworker can affect everyone, regardless
of whether they witnessed the incident, worked in the same department, or were even close with
the deceased worker. Employers must recognize and plan for the impact on their workers. Workers may suffer from depression, post traumatic stress, distractedness, guilt, or uncertainty related to their work. Getting workers the support they need following such an incident is vital to
the mental health and safety of staff.
Many organizations have resources available through employee assistance programs or procedures for referring employees for additional mental health services, as needed. Make sure there
are effective means for assessing need and providing access to resources immediately following
an adverse event. Time is of the essence when planning for grief response. Danny Cain, safety/
risk manager for Edwards Moving & Rigging Inc. and former clinical social worker, developed a
pocket guide called G.R.I.E.F., Guided Response—Intervention and Evaluation for Fatalities, to
help employees recover from the grief of an on-the-job fatality. This pocket guide is available
from OccupationalHazards.com. Cain has authorized its use for employers looking to develop
their own workplace fatality recovery plans.
The OSHA Workers' Memorial Day is observed every year on April 28. It is a day to honor those
who have died on the job, to acknowledge the grievous suffering experienced by families and
communities, and to recommit to the fight for safe and healthful workplaces for all workers. It is
also the day OSHA was established in 1971. The Oregon annual Workers’ Memorial Day ceremony will be held Friday, April 28th at noon at the Capitol Mall outside the Labor and Industries
Building in Salem.
Safety Quote
“Safety is not the absence of accidents.
Safety is the presence of defenses.”
- Dr. Todd Conklin
Monthly Newsletter of the Southern Oregon Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers
What Does it Mean to be a
Safety Professional?
May 2017
4
By Susan Murphey
Dan Hopwood, ASSE Region 1 Vice President asked our Chapter Executive Council to reflect on
what it means to be a Safety Professional. Michael Hill, Sr. Safety Management Consultant and
Chapter Conference Chair shared this response:
What does it mean to be a safety professional?
By Michael Hill
To be a safety professional means that you have a vast general knowledge of safety and health
hazards, compliance requirements, and best practices, or have a compendium of resources and
contacts to find them. It means that you manage and coordinate the processes that ensure a high
functioning safety culture, or you consult those that do. It means that you are always looking for
people who are willing to join in the efforts of achieving an injury-free workplace, and you recruit
them to assist in the many tasks required. It means that you have a personal major governing
value of preserving lives and avoiding needless pain and injury, and you align your work efforts
around realizing and promoting that value.
It’s an interesting question, with answers probably as varied as the number of people who work in
occupational health and safety. The answer, I believe, is unique to each individual, but has common elements of professionalism and passion. Professionalism infers a level of competence or skill
and the commitment to follow an ethical code of conduct; passion drives us to continually seek to
improve our understanding of occupational risk and share our knowledge for the improved wellbeing of others. How would you answer the question, “What does it mean to be a safety professional?”
Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention
By Susan Murphey
According to research published by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC),
workers in construction and extraction have the second highest suicide
rate, preceded only by combined workers in the farming, fishing and forestry occupations. The report showed that 53.3 per 100,000 construction
workers succumb to suicide, prompting the Construction Financial Management Association
(CFMA) to establish the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention. The Alliance aims to
share information on suicide prevention and mental health. Risk factors that may contribute to
the high rates of suicide include job-related isolation, work-life imbalance, economic struggles,
lack of steady employment, and neurological disorders related to exposure to toxins. The Alliance
is working to break the stigma around mental health issues and provide information and resources to assist those who are struggling.
Members of the Alliance help disseminate information and resources, promoting safety and wellness in the industry. Too often, those who struggle with mental health issues suffer in silence.
Regardless of industry, every company should be evaluating whether they cultivate a culture of
caring and opportunities for conversations about suicide prevention in the workplace. To learn
more about the Alliance, visit http://bit.ly/2dGiVex.
Monthly Newsletter of the Southern Oregon Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers
May 2017
5
ASSE Professional Development
Conference
By Kathryn Reinhardt, HR/Loss Control Manager, Naumes, Inc.
As a first time attendee of the ASSE Professional Development Conference (PDC) in Atlanta last year, I
found the conference of great value and well worth the time. I learned so much and made valuable
contacts. Plus, being in Atlanta was just plain fun! The sessions, separated into tracks, provided content specific to different professional roles in safety. As the HR/Loss Control Manager for a multi-state
agricultural company, I found courses covering both the HR and safety roles I perform. Classes ranged
from legal and financial to multicultural training and multi-site safety management. There were topnotch, certified professionals providing course content and nationally renowned motivational humorists
who spoke during the Executive and General Sessions.
Some of my favorite courses were safety measurement/risk assessment, safety and company branding, and an employee story from the trenches. The first, “Transformational Indicators: Measuring the
Contribution of Value,” covered the assessment, implementation, and value tests for site-specific safety
programs along with the creation of a safety promotional program focused on pre-task hazard assessment, recognition, and mitigation. The second was “Assessing the Risk, Protecting the Brand.” Lego’s
Risk Manager, Senior Health & Safety Consultant, and representatives from Aon Consulting Group discussed the programs and SOPs they are utilizing for safety culture transformation, employee engagement, hazard identification, and risk mitigation. While their focus is risk reduction for associates and
guests alike, their goal is maintaining the fun, playful brand experience that is Lego. Finally, there was
“The Buried Truth Uncovered,” where a former construction employee described his experience of taking safety shortcuts, dying in a trench cave-in, then being revived and living to tell the story. He described the devastating effect this experience had on him personally (health, employment, life), his
family, friends, and co-workers, and how he’s turned it into a mission to spread the personal safety
message. He told a compelling story, complete with on-scene photos and a call to action.
The Plenary Session with Dr. David Michaels, Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA, provided an informative “state of” address. Some topics covered were OSHA’s new Electronic Recordkeeping Rule, multemployer worksites, National Safety Stand Down for Falls Prevention, and attracting more safety professionals to the OSH field. OSHA is revising its Safety Program Management Guidelines, not changed
since 1989, and hopes the comment period will result in employers engaging in a dialogue and partnership to drive down injury and fatality rates. Dr. Michaels acknowledges that the new draft guidelines focus on some of the same issues as before, yet addresses changes occurring in the American
workplace today. For instance, he pointed out the need to change PELs covering chemicals in the
workplace so that the regulations “catch-up.” The new guidelines can help employers drive down injury
and fatality rates, yet Dr. Michaels pointed out that compliance is never enough. “Complying with
OSHA standards can help make the workplace safer but won’t make your workplace safe.” You need a
comprehensive safety and health management program working in concert with the standards to be
effective at reducing risk.
Continued on Page 6
Monthly Newsletter of the Southern Oregon Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers
6
Shattering the Stigma on Mental
Illness Across the Pond
May 2017
By Susan Murphey
I’ve been reading about the efforts of the young Royals in Britain lately with
great admiration. With openness and vulnerability likely unfamiliar to their
predecessors, the Duchess and Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry have been spearheading a
program called Heads Together to shatter the stigma surrounding mental illness through the simple act of sharing conversations about depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems.
The three Royals have just released 10 short films featuring famous people and others talking
about their mental health problems, noting that, time and time again, demystifying mental illness
begins with simple conversations.
It’s not uncommon to feel like you’re the only one suffering. When you realize some of the same
mental health struggles affect your neighbors, friends, and co-workers, the walls of judgment soften. You can view these remarkable conversations at https://www.headstogether.org.uk/.
ASSE Professional Development Conference
Continued from Page 5
The many opportunities for learning were a phenomenal value given the registration fee. And, there
is plenty of time to take in local sights, sounds, and eateries in the host city. What made a personal
lasting impression on me were the camaraderie and support of other safety professionals, practice
specialty, and common interest groups throughout the conference. I know that we have a supportive, participatory group of safety professionals here in the Rogue Valley. What I didn’t expect, and
was happy to see, is that same culture exists at the national level. If you haven’t experienced the National ASSE PDC, I suggest you give it a try. Attending is well worth it! I hope to see you in Denver
this year.
ASSE’s Safety 2017 will be held June 19-22, 2017, in Denver, CO.
Registration information can be found at http://safety.asse.org/
Root Cause and Job Hazard Analysis Workshops–Save the Date
Timber Products is hosting Caterpillar Safety Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) and Root Cause Analysis
(RCA) workshops for an opportunity to review and improve existing processes or build new ones.
WORKSHOP DETAILS
Date: (JHA) Thursday, July 13 & (RCA) Friday, July 14, 2017
Time: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (PDT)
Location: Timber Products Plywood; 1418 Sage Rd., Medford, OR 97501
Lunch and light snacks & beverages will be provided each day
Cost: $350 each or attend both workshops for $600
TO RESERVE YOUR SEAT CONTACT
Alok Maheshwari at (309) 675-8741 or [email protected]
Monthly Newsletter of the Southern Oregon Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers
Our New Bylaws and Executive
Committee Structure
7
May 2017
By Curt Charley
This fiscal year our Chapter will be completing a project that has been years in the making. With
final approval of the ASSE members, the bylaws and the subsequent officer structure for next
year will change. Over the past decade, we started subcommittees to convert our bylaws, but the
momentum seemed to stall.
For those who do not get involved in the business matters of the Chapter, the bylaws set up how
the Executive Committee (EC) is formed and organized. We have a relatively large EC for a chapter of our size, making the slate of officers difficult to fill. Also, by making some of the EC positions President-appointed (confirmed by the EC), rather than all of them elected, will make the
succession of officers practical. For instance, the Conference Chair, which changes mid-term, will
be an appointed position, making the transition easier.
If you have not been involved with the EC meetings, I would encourage you to do so. We do
more than just handle the business affairs of the Chapter. The majority of the time is spent finding ways to provide service to the Southern Oregon safety community. It is an honor to be involved with such a dedicated and caring group.
Here is the new proposed EC structure:



Elected by ASSE Membership

President / Delegate to the House of Delegates

Vice President (President Elect)

Secretary

Treasurer

Membership Committee Chair

Program Committee Chair
Appointed by the President & Confirmed by the Executive Committee

Conference Committee Chair

Governmental Affairs Chair

Communications Chair

COMT (Operations) Coordinator
Automatic Position

Past President
Monthly Newsletter of the Southern Oregon Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers
Northwest Safety & Health
Summit–May 16-18th
May 2017
8
The Region X Northwest Voluntary Protection Programs Participants' Association Safety and
Health Summit will take place May 16-18, 2017 in Spokane, Washington. This summit is designed for all industries and worksites, even if they are not in the Voluntary Protection Program
(VPP). Working with the theme Blazing the Trail for Safety, the conference will host six learning tracks:
•VPP Basics
• Strengthening Star
•Management/Leadership
•Industrial Hygiene
•Technical
•Health and Wellness
Attendees can also learn about VPP mentoring opportunities for their workplace. For information and registration, go to http://osha.oregon.gov/conferences/vpppa/Pages/index.aspx.
Free Trainings Available!
Course
Location
Date
Accident Investigation
Medford
05/25/2017
Fall Protection
Eugene
05/17/2017
Lockout/Tagout and Machine Safeguarding
Eugene
05/17/2017
Safety Meetings and Committees
Medford
05/25/2017
Online Courses
Hazard Identification and Control - Online
Inspections: What to Expect from Oregon OSHA - Online
Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) - Online
Lead in Construction - Online
Online/Internet
Online/Internet
Online/Internet
Online/Internet
Lockout/Tagout - Online
Online/Internet
Personal Protective Equipment - Online
Online/Internet
Portable Ladder Safety - Online
Online/Internet
Recordkeeping and Reporting - Online
Online/Internet
Safety Committees and Meetings - Online
Online/Internet
Monthly Newsletter of the Southern Oregon Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers
Training Opportunities
May 2017
9
http://www.d2000safety.com/
Fall Protection Competent Person
Eugene, OR May 23-24, 2017
Eugene, OR October 24-25, 2017
Forklift Safety Train the Trainer
Medford, OR June 13, 2017
Eugene, OR October 3, 2017
Confined Space: Train The Trainer
Eugene, OR May 9-10, 2017
Employment Opportunities
Product Safety Engineer—Eugene, OR
A Eugene-based manufacturer of heavy equipment related to the wood industry is now hiring a
Product Safety Engineer. This is an outstanding opportunity for a highly motivated professional to
take on a key role in the advancement of heavy equipment for the forestry and recycling industries.
This position is a mix of an engineer, safety professional, and somebody who is very comfortable in
a shop environment.
For information, contact the recruiter, Kayleigh Taylor @ [email protected] Office:
(425) 610-3016
h t t p : / / a s s e - s o u t h e r n o r e g o n . w e e b l y. c o m / u p l o a d s / 2 / 5 / 8 / 5 / 2 5 8 5 2 0 4 3 /
product_safety_engineer.docx
Production Supervisor—Safety and Quality—Medford, OR
Leading manufacturer is looking to hire a 3rd Shift Production Supervisor. This position will be located in the Medford, Oregon area. The ideal candidate must possess at least 3 years of production
supervisory experience in a non-union manufacturing environment. Experience with Lean Manufacturing or Continuous Improvement along with clear communication skills, excellent decision making
skills, and an excellent safety track record are required. This role comes with an excellent compensation plan commensurate with experience ranging from a base salary of $60-$65k plus a 5% shift
premium and an opportunity to earn quarterly production bonuses.
https://tinyurl.com/me82zgv
First Aid & Safety Service Sales Representatives—White City, OR
Cintas is currently seeking a First Aid and Safety (FAS) Service Sales Representative to sell and service FAS customers in a manner which exceeds their expectations. The Service Sales Representative will develop and maintain relationships with customers, replace used and/or outdated products,
service any safety equipment that requires periodic maintenance, and upsell products that will
benefit the customer and ensure OSHA compliance.
https://tinyurl.com/mu92pe9
For More Employment Opportunities, Please See Our Employment Page at:
http://asse-southernoregon.org/
Monthly Newsletter of the Southern Oregon Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers
May 2017
10
Mark Your Calendars
General meeting:
Thursday, May 4th, 2017
12:00 noon - 1:00 pm at Black Bear Diner (Meeting Room)
No-host Lunch
1900 NW 6th Street in Grants Pass — Just off I-5 Exit #58
Check out our website at:
www.redwoodsafety.org
This month’s topic:
Safety Committees Operations
Presented by: Dennis Jordan
This training session will cover all the regulatory requirements of safety committee operations,
and differences between a safety committee and a safety meeting. It will also cover how good
safety committees function and how safety subcommittees can help achieve greater employee
involvement in your safety process.
The RSA — Providing Quality Safety Training for the Price of Lunch!
PLEASE JOIN US!!
Membership not required.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2016-2017
President: Curt Charley, Boise Cascade—[email protected]
Vice President: Pam Ahr, SAIF—[email protected]
Past President: Chris Lawrence, Boise Cascade—[email protected]
Secretary: Joe Vollmar, ACCESS—[email protected]
Treasurer: Patti McGuire, SAIF Corporation—[email protected]
Conference Chair: Mike Hill, SAIF Corporation—[email protected]
Membership Committee Chair: Amy Stonehill, City of Medford— [email protected]
Program Committee Chair: Tanya Haakinson, Timber Products—[email protected]
Grants and Awards Committee Chair: Rusty Eccleston, Jackson County—[email protected]
Communications and Public Relations Committee Chair: Susan Murphey, Essential WorkWellness—
[email protected]
Governmental Affairs Committee Chair: Lenny Reierson, OR-OSHA—[email protected]
STARS Coordinator: David Hanson, Timber Products—[email protected]
CoPS (Council on Practices and Standards) Coordinator: Hal Morgan, S&B James Construction—
[email protected]
Delegate to HOD (House of Delegates): Chris Lawrence, Boise Cascade—[email protected]
Newsletter/Web Designer: Ethan Hill, Light Symphony Productions—[email protected]
PO Box 1481  Medford, OR 97501-0110
Visit our website at: http://www.asse-southernoregon.org
Monthly Newsletter of the Southern Oregon Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers