Friday, August 23
8:00am – 5:00pm SGE Training
The Special Government Employee (SGE) Program was designed to give Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Participants the unique opportunity to work alongside OSHA to conduct onsite VPP evaluations, as well as review applications, reapprovals, and self-assessments. By becoming an SGE, you gain access to a network of EHS&S professionals unlike any other. In addition, you have the opportunity to best practices in action and share your knowledge with others in the community as well. Open to VPP site employees at all levels, to register for this two-day training, here: https://www.osha.gov/sge/sge-training. There is no cost to apply for the program. Deadline to register for the August 23-24 course is July 15, 2024.
Saturday, August 24
8:00am – 5:00pm SGE Training
The Special Government Employee (SGE) Program was designed to give Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Participants the unique opportunity to work alongside OSHA to conduct onsite VPP evaluations, as well as review applications, reapprovals, and self-assessments. By becoming an SGE, you gain access to a network of EHS&S professionals unlike any other. In addition, you have the opportunity to best practices in action and share your knowledge with others in the community as well. Open to VPP site employees at all levels, to register for this two-day training, here: https://www.osha.gov/sge/sge-training. There is no cost to apply for the program. Deadline to register for the August 23-24 course is July 15, 2024.
Sunday, August 25
- 7:00am – 4:30pm Registration
8:00am – 12:00pm PSM Best Practices
Location: Crest 1-2
Speakers:
Nathan Obaugh, Manager Process Safety, NuStar Energy
Tim Belitz, Director – Health Safety and Environmental, Honeywell
Rob Walker, Senior HSE Manager – PSM & Mechanical Integrity, Honeywell
Jackie Annis, Industrial Hygienist, OSHA
This class is an introductory overview of the core elements of OSHA’s Process Safety Management regulation, 29 CFR 1910.119. (applicability, Process Safety Information, Process Hazard Analysis, Contractors, Mechanical Integrity) The selected PSM elements will be reviewed by a panel of industry experts with decades of combined operating and engineering experience in various PSM regulated industries. You will learn how to navigate the regulation, what industry best practices are available and applicable, where to go for guidance and questions, and learn about pitfalls and strategies for success in implementing and maintaining your company’s PSM program.
You will learn to:
- Apply core elements of 29 CFR 1910.119 to your workplace
- Predict program pitfalls
- Identify industry best practices
8:00am – 12:00pm Violence in the Workplace and Active Shooter Response
Location: Crest 3
Speakers:
Valerie Dorr – PCAPP
Brian Ramdwar – PCAPP
William ‘Whit’ Whitman – Fort Carson and RMA
General Charles Bailey – Fort Carson
Ray Ross – US Air Force Hill AFB
Going beyond the standard “Run, Hide, Fight” presentation, this workshop will focus on the implementation of programs to prevent incidents of workplace violence. In addition, the attendees will be provided guidance on preparing and responding to active shooter situations. Emergency treatment during mass casualty events, including information on “Stop the Bleed” will also be covered.
You will learn to:
- Identify risk factors of workplace violence
- Practice de-escalation techniques
- Design comprehensive emergency response plan
8:00am – 12:00pm Industrial Hygiene
Location: Crest 4
Speakers:
Brenda Tolson-Markas, CIH, CSP, Certified Environmental Management, LTD
Mike Rose, Hellman & Associates
Lt Col William ‘Casey’ Matthews, US Air Force Hill AFB
Jason Furlow, OSHA
This highly interactive session will utilize multiple NIOSH case studies as a backdrop for in-depth analysis and group discussion activities. Each team will solve the unknown solution for the NIOSH case studies and present their conclusions to the class. Each of the presenters will share their own technical expertise, knowledge, and experience from their many years working in industry, consultation, the military, and OSHA. They will also serve as one-on-one resources for the attendees during their group activity to offer guidance, advice, and alternative perspectives. Come learn from one of the best collections of industrial hygienists ever assembled into one workshop session.
You will learn to:
- Break down NIOSH case studies
- Collaborate with a group to identify solutions
- Present case findings and lessons learned
- 8:00am – 1:00pm VPPPA Golf Tournament (Details To Come)
8:00am – 4:00pm What’s New in DOE-VPP?
Location: Crest 5
This session is for any participant in the Department of Energy VPP program. We’ll discuss an overview of what’s new in the DOE-VPP Program.
8:00am – 4:00pm VPP Application Workshop®*
Location: Valley 2
This full day session will focus on successful strategies you and your site can use to develop and submit a VPP Application that will meet VPP requirements, highlight your areas of excellence, and be acceptable to OSHA. Topics will include gap analyses, VPP elements, traditional and online submission methods, how to best showcase site strengths, mistakes to avoid, proper use of attachments, trade secrets and personal information, and other pertinent topics. This session will be presented by a consortium of Special Government Employees, VPP site representatives, organized labor representatives, OSHA State Plan personnel, and federal OSHA VPP Managers.
You will learn to:
- Develop a complete VPP application
- Evaluate site readiness to submit VPP application
- Identify areas of excellence and program gaps
*Additional Fee to Register
8:00am – 4:00pm Mediation Training
Location: Valley 3
Conflicts in the workplace are very stressful and can lead to an unsafe work environment if not delt with in a timely manner. Conflicts occur when something we care about is threatened, and this perceived threat can trigger fight or fight reactions.
The National VPPPA Labor Management Committee will be hosting Mediation Training presented by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, an independent federal agency established under the Taft Hartley Act of 1947. In this workshop attendees will learn “What are the Four Sources of Conflict, Types of Conflict and Guidelines for Resolving Conflicts”. They will also be introduced to the role of a Mediator, Benefits of a Mediation, Settlements, Litigation vs. Mediation, and Steps in Mediation. Here is your opportunity to increase your knowledge and skills with the methods used for resolving conflicts in the workplace.
You will learn to:
- Identify the Four Sources of Conflict
- Select the best strategy to resolve the conflict
- Distinguish between litigation and mediation
- Define the role and benefits of a mediator
1:00pm – 4:00pm Smooth Operator
Location: Crest 1-2
Speaker: Tim Page-Bottorff, Senior Safety Consultant, SafeStart
One of the primary reasons that compliance rates lag behind where they should be is that workers feel unengaged with your safety program. A successful safety program requires the support and commitment of employees, and that depends on your ability to earn their trust. Soft skills are one of the biggest determinants of trust, and they are often the missing element to an otherwise successful safety program. This half-day session is designed to provide safety professionals with a deep understanding of the interpersonal skills and practices that can transform their approach to safety engagement. It will focus on practical methods of winning the hearts and minds of workers in order to positively influence safety outcomes and to shift attitudes towards safety in general.
Participants will learn to leverage the power of consistency, deploy positivity and empathy with tactical precision, and use storytelling to strengthen your workplace safety culture and deepen workers’ faith in your safety program. There will be a variety of learning methods, including plenty of time to practice new skills and to workshop your personal approach to crucial people skills.
Led by Tim Page-Bottorff, an expert in safety engagement and training, this is a can’t-miss session for anyone looking to improve personal connections with the workforce. Whether you’re trying to improve your own ability to connect with workers, or you want to boost the soft skills of your frontline supervisors, this session will offer the insight you need to enhance the caliber and consistency of safety engagement.
You will learn to:
- Demonstrate the value of soft skills
- Analyze what soft skills can and cannot do
- Examine research on relationship building and recognize its importance in safety
- Identify the seven soft skills that will make your safety program more efficient
- Apply the seven soft skills through interactive practice with other safety professionals
1:00pm – 4:00pm Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
Location: Crest 3
Speakers:
Daniel Rector, RKI
Glenn Merchant, PCAPP
Jennifer Wilson, PCAPP
Alex Yannacone, VitalCog
Matt Mishkind, VitalCog
Personnel from RK Industries, the Johnson Depression Center, and the Pueblo Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant will share their successful, world-class strategies for promoting workplace mental health/wellness and suicide prevention. Topics will include identifying warning signs, providing help and guidance to those in need, and attendees will receive VitalCog training.
You will learn to:
- Discuss and practice direct conversations
- Identify risk factors and warning signs as they pertain to different industry settings
- Apply best practices for implementing mental health and wellness programs to the workplace
1:00pm – 4:00pm Confined Space Competent Person
Location: Crest 4
Speakers:
Chris McGlynn, CSP Director of Safety/ VPP Coordinator, Roco Rescue
Chris Warrick, CSRT Crew Member/ Medical Program Manager, Roco Rescue
Join Chris McGlynn and Chris Warrick of Roco Rescue for a three-in-one confined space entry team course. By taking the team approach to CSE, you’ll get the big picture of entry responsibilities and precautions, preparing you to serve as a competent person as Entrant, Attendant, or Entry Supervisor. This presentation will cover an overview of the three roles and how they work together, common confined space hazards, rescue, myths and misconceptions, as well as alternate entry & reclassification.
You will learn to:
- Classify roles and responsibilities of Entrant, Attendant, and Entry Supervisor
- Understand Permit-Required Confined Space regulations
- Identify rescue requirements
- Apply hierarchy of controls to CSE Hazards
- 6:00pm – 8:00pm Grand Opening of the Exhibit Hall
Monday, August 26
- 7:00am – 4:00pm Registration
- 7:00am – 7:45am Labor & Management Open Forum
- 8:00am – 8:45am Annual Meeting of the Membership
- 9:00am – 10:30am Opening General Session
- 10:30am – 3:30pm Exhibit hall hours
- 11:30am – 1:00pm Lunch
- 1:00pm – 4:00pm Workshops
- 4:00pm – 6:00pm Reception
Tuesday, August 27
- 6:00am – 7:30am VPPPA Fun Run/Walk
- 7:00am – 4:00pm Registration
- 8:00am – 1:30pm Exhibit Hall Hours
- 9:00am – 12:15pm Workshops
- 12:15pm – 1:30pm Lunch
- 1:30pm – 3:45pm Workshops
- 6:00pm – 9:00pm Awards & VIP/Board Reception (Invitation Only)
- 6:00pm – Open Night/Free Evening
Wednesday, August 28
- 8:00am – 4:00pm Registration
- 9:00am – 2:30pm Workshops
- 4:00pm – 9:00pm Closing reception and event