​By the time this newsletter is published, our Southern Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Conference will be near. I can’t adequately explain to you my dismay as we made the tough decision to not hold an in-person event. At the time I type this article, I realize that it was the correct decision. Our virtual event that we have planned is shaping up to be stellar. Take a look at our line-up and you will see many familiar speakers that will be sharing with us and topics that are very relevant to workplace safety, no matter the industry.
 
A successful conference like this cannot happen without an engaged committee. Our conference planning committee has been hard at work on this since January, and we hope you will agree that our hard work provided you with a great conference. Please consider joining the effort next year as we work on the next Southern Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Conference. Participating on the conference planning committee means that you will have a seat at the table in determining how subsequent conferences are conducted. More importantly, you can continue to influence safety in Southern Oregon in a positive way.
 
We also have three vacancies on our executive committee. What does this mean? It means that there are new opportunities for you to participate in the chapter and help accomplish the important safety role that our chapter has here in Southern Oregon. Let me know if you would like an opportunity to serve on our committee with a great group of people that do great things to make our Southern Oregon chapter the best it can be. We look forward to welcoming you as our newest executive team member.
 
 
 
David Hanson, CSP
President, ASSP – Southern Oregon Chapter
Senior Safety Management Consultant, SAIF Corporation

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Registration is Open
Registration is open for the 2021 Southern Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Conference to be held online on October 19-21 with some of the most exciting and dynamic presenters we’ve ever had.
 
Professional Development
We have an impressive Professional Development Workshop in store with Corrie Pitzer presenting his DeepSafe Leadership model.
 
Three Keynote Presentations
We will be motivated and inspired by three keynote presenters including Anil Mathur, former CEO of Alaska Tanker Company, Corrie Pitzer, CEO of Safemap International, and Amy Harper, PhD, former Senior Director of Training and Consulting for NSC. Another very special presenter, Bob Edwards, will discuss Human Performance Learning Teams.
 
Safety Committee University
We will also bring back our popular Safety Committee University with a great lineup of sessions including some unique perspectives such as Bob Nelms of the Failsafe Network leading us in his Profound Incident Learning.
 
Even though this event is entirely online, we promise to make this one of the most interesting, educational, and valuable events for you in your safety work!
 
New Conference Website
Please check out our new conference marketing website to find the flyer, program schedule, presenter and program information, as well as registration link.
www.sosafety.org
 
Scholarships Available
We still have opportunities for scholarships. You can find the application on our chapter website at www.soassp.org/conference. Also, the Redwood Safety Association is offering the Harry W. Smedes Memorial Scholarship at www.redwoodsafety.org/training.
 
Please register today and join us in October!

​A big thank you to Loria Holden for her service on our ASSP executive board. She will be leaving our chapter to take a position in Georgia. Loria has served on our executive committee for well over 1.5 years and has been an important leader in our chapter and our Southern Oregon safety community. Although her time in our chapter was short, her leadership was very valuable. Our well wishes and thankfulness go with her.
 
We still have vacancies on our executive board. Our executive team for our chapter is an important part of making sure that the work we do as a chapter gets done. Every job on the executive team is important, and when we have positions that remain unfilled, it limits the work our executive team can do to help our chapter to be successful. Let me know if you would like an opportunity to serve on our committee with a great group of people that do great things to make our Southern Oregon chapter the best it can be. We look forward to welcoming you as our newest executive team member!
 
Please consider joining our ASP-CSP study group on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 pm. We learn lots and already a couple of our attendees have passed exams. It is a challenging but rewarding experience to work on your certification and succeed. Let me know if you would like to participate in this virtual study group.
 
Our Southern Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Conference is going to be unforgettable this year. Mike Hill has worked very hard to bring world class speakers to our small-but-mighty conference. Unfortunately, it needs to be virtual. The world is full of virtual events these days. But there is still room for the best virtual event! Please join us, submit awards applications, and consider sponsoring our conference as well.
 
Sincerely,
David H
 
 
David Hanson, CSP

​It's natural to wonder, “What does ASSP governance have to do with me?” That’s why it’s important to recognize that ASSP governance affects you because it impacts the organization you have chosen to join and support. Governance affects how ASSP does business and shows up in the marketplace, advocates on behalf of the safety profession, and delivers value to you as a member.

By now you may have heard about a proposal to update ASSP's governance. If not or if you would like more information about what you have heard, please visit ASSP’s governance webpage to review details on the recommendation to transition the House of Delegates to an at-large advisory group. ASSP has also posted a one-page fact sheet that summarizes key facts.
Since late May 2021, ASSP’s Board of Directors has been working to share information and answer member questions during various events and through one-on-one conversations with leaders and key stakeholder groups. In presentations about the recommendation, ASSP President Brad Giles, President-Elect Christine Sullivan and members of the Governance Task Force have highlighted several anticipated outcomes of passing the proposal:

1. Eliminate legal and financial risk by creating one governing body. Proposal aims to align ASSP structure with Illinois state law (where ASSP is incorporated).
2. Create agile daily operations. Versatile infrastructure would enable ASSP to meet the contemporary needs of our member communities, capture market opportunities and implement solutions faster.
3. Enhance member voice in decision-making. More members would be able to participate via the at-large approach. Members retain voting authority on key issues (e.g., name change).
4. Maintain strong representation for ASSP communities. Chapters would continue to advocate for change through their elected area directors and regional vice presidents.
5. Foster greater diversity of thought. At-large participation would open a more inclusive path to meaningful engagement for a larger group of members, including those not represented before.

The ASSP governance webpage provides additional details on these expected outcomes and explains factors driving the proposal. It also features an in-depth FAQ section that addresses specific elements of the proposal.

The House of Delegates will vote on this proposal on Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021, during a meeting starting at 12:00 p.m. CT. If you have specific questions about this issue, please contact Chapter President David Hanson using the form at the bottom of this page.
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Member voice will always be vital to ASSP. We appreciate your thoughtful consideration of this information so you can fully understand the issues and their impact on our Society.

​ We are pleased to announce that this years Southern Oregon Safety Conference is scheduled as an online event and has an amazing lineup of nationally and internationally recognized presenters.
 
Starting our event, Corrie Pitzer, CEO of Safe Map International, will facilitate our Professional Development Workshop entitled, Deep Safe Leadership. Deep Safe Leadership is focused on leadership in the high-risk environment and translating those skills to leading when we cant promise a safe environment.
 
Opening keynote presentation will be delivered by Anil Mathur, former CEO of Alaska Tanker Co. and outgoing Public Director at ASSP. When Mathur took over the leadership of ATC, they were experiencing a time-loss injury every month and as they built up the safety systems and knowledge, they went over a dozen years with only one time-loss injury. Mathur stresses the importance of building trust with employees and teaching mindfulness.
 
Second day keynote will be delivered by Amy Harper, PhD, Senior Director of workplace training and consulting at the National Safety Council. Dr. Harper has worked in the field for more than 20 years as a consultant, trainer, strategist and marketer.
 
Our conference will also include our popular Safety Committee University and its five-session series as well as a special presentation by Bob Edwards on the value of Learning Teams. We have other terrific topics and presenters in various safety and leadership topics.
 
To wrap up our event, our very own Craig Hamelund will emcee our closing session and awards ceremony where we will present 5 different awards to well-deserved businesses and leaders.
 
To learn more about our event, download a flyer or award applications and watch for registration materials, visit our page at: www.soassp.org/conference
 
Sincerely,
Michael Hill, CSP
Conference Planning Chair

​On a recent family vacation, I drove south on I-5 and saw low lake levels and dry terrain all the way from Southern Oregon to central California. Then, this morning, I read that the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon division announced that fire season will officially start Wednesday, May 12, 2021. The eastern valleys surrounding San Francisco were already in a Red Flag Warning this past weekend. Unfortunately, a drier than average winter, and ongoing drought has left us prime for another tough fire season. Because of this, it is a good time for us to prepare our homes, and our workplace, and review our wildfire emergency plans.
 
FEMA recommends the following protections for your home: Regularly clean roof and gutters; inspect chimneys twice a year; install a smoke alarm on each level of your home, especially near the bedrooms, and make sure you test the batteries monthly, and change at least annually; have an ABC fire extinguisher on hand and train every family member how to use it (PASS method); keep household tools like a rake, axe, chain saw, bucket and shovel on hand; have a ladder that can reach the roof. Create a 30-foot safety zone around your home by raking leaves, limbs and twigs and clearing flammable vegetation (remember to clean under structures like decks too). Remove dead tree branches that extend over the roof, and keep shrubs and branches at least 15 feet away from any stovepipes or chimney outlets. Remove any vines from the walls, and move the grass regularly. Keep a clear 10-foot area around propane tanks and barbecues.
 
For emergency preparation, keep a 72-hour survival kit on hand. I have one in every vehicle, and one in my office. Sign up for local emergency alerts in your area. You may also choose to use a scanner app and follow local emergency management agencies on social media. Make sure you understand the different levels of alerts & warnings. A Fire Weather Watch is issued by the National Weather Service when potentially dangerous fire weather conditions are possible in 12-72 hours. A Fire Weather / Red Flag Warning is issued when conditions currently exist and weather patterns support that wildfires are occurring or expected to occur within 24 hours.
 
During a fire event, a Level 1 is the first evacuation or protection Alert. This indicates a wildfire threat is in your area and be READY in the event an evacuation becomes necessary. Level 2 Evacuation Warning means there is a high probability of a need to evacuate, so be SET to evacuate. Level 3 Evacuation Order asks all occupants of the affected area to leave (GO) within a specified time period.
 
Now is the time for every company in a fire hazard region to complete training on Wildfire Safety to cover site specific plans.  It is also a best practice to monitor smoke conditions, and have a plan in place for how to protect workers when air quality decreases.
 
Thank you,

Loria Holden, CSP
Treasurer

​I am pleased to announce that we will be offering awards for awards for your safety committees and Safety leaders at virtual Safety Conference this October. Take a look at our website to download the applications:  Conference (soassp.org). Please have them completed and turned in by August 27th!
 
It is always a good reminder to make sure that we find time to recognize and show appreciation for our safety leaders. Safety Awards are one way that this can be accomplished.
 
We have a number of awards you and your organization can apply for. The Best of the Best Safety Committee award is highly sought after and the competition is fierce. The Lundberg award for outstanding safety and health program is a prestigious award based on the seven major elements of an effective occupational safety and health program. Don’t forget the new Safety Champion Award, that was first offered in 2019,and is a great way to recognize outstanding individual achievement on your safety committees. Because we know that the tone of safety always comes from the top, we have the Business Leader who gets it (BLWGI) Award. Unfortunately, we will not offer the Bertak award this year because the minimum requirements for safety committees were lifted last year. At this time, we do expect the important Bertak award to return.
 
On our awards website, take some time and click on the Frank Bertak and Randall Lundberg History’s to help us remember the efforts of these prominent Southern Oregon foundational safety professionals that made our Southern Oregon Occupational Safety Conference a success over the years.
 
David Hanson
Awards Chair

​We just had an election this month. Please join me in offering a huge thank you to our outgoing executive officers for our chapter. I won’t say it has been an easy year to be a leader in our chapter, but the unique challenges have been rewarding.
 
These individuals deserve a huge thank-you:
 
Roy Harper: Vice President
Patti McGuire: Treasurer
Chris Lawrence: Past President
Loria Holden: Membership Chair
Dave Spence: Programs Coordinator
Kyle Valley: Communications Chair
Mike Hill: Conference Chair
Ross Olson: Government Affairs
 
Also, we have a new slate of incoming officers. Some of these leaders are familiar to us as they take on new roles. We also have some new leaders stepping up to make our Southern Oregon chapter a great safety resource for our community. Please join me in welcoming our new chapter leaders:
 
Patti McGuire: Vice President
Chris Lawrence: Past President
Loria Holden: Treasurer
Roy Harper: Secretary
Monica Verduzco: Membership Chair
Jen Killpack: Programs Coordinator
Kyle Valley: Communications Coordinator
Mike Hill: Conference Chair
Ross Olson: Government Affairs
Karrie Hyde-Bogart: Operations Coordinator
 
Just because our executive board is full, this does not mean that there are not more ways to be active and serve in our chapter. Please let me know if you would like to help with our events or be on the conference planning committee.
 
David Hanson, CSP

​President’s Message, May 2021
 
The last twelve months has been strange and difficult for all of us. I’m pretty sure I don’t need to list all of the struggles our region has experienced. Because of the uncertainty around what in-person events will look like in October, we made the decision to hold a virtual safety conference this fall. Normally, we need to make financial commitments in February and March for in-person venues. With the conditions being so uncertain, it simply did not warrant the risk. For those of you that remember our Safety Committee University last fall, we will include it as a track for our safety conference in October. We are planning on holding an awards ceremony, keynotes, and pre-conference PDCs. Our conference chair, Mike Hill, is leading the charge on getting the details put together. Please mark your calendars for this event, which will be held on October 19, 20,& 21. We hope to release more details about the event soon.
 
Another event that is coming up very quickly is the May 12 Total Worker Health 101 Professional Development Workshop. At the time I write this letter, we have about 20 seats remaining. This is a great opportunity. After not holding a PDC last fall because of the unique challenges that 2020 offered, we are glad to offer this event.
 
Also, don’t forget that the Safety Committee University content on our website is still free for the time being. Please take advantage of these resources that our chapter offers you and your organization. Please stay safe and have a great 2021!
 
 
Stay safe!

​David Hanson, CSP
President, ASSP – Southern Oregon Chapter
Senior Safety Management Consultant, SAIF Corporation
 
David has an expertise building dynamic safety teams and developing high-performing safety cultures. He spent 18 years at Timber Products Company as a Supervisor and Safety Coordinator and facilitated continued certification into Oregon OSHA's Voluntary Protection Program (VPP).

​David Hanson
Southern Oregon Chapter President
 
I wasn’t always in the safety profession. When I was a teenager, I remember working for a sub-contractor during a summer job. One of the sites we were working for was addressing some serious injuries that they had recently. They began to put up signs and a large traffic light that announced how they were doing at safety. I remember a mannequin that had bandages representing the injuries their employees had suffered recently. I think many of their awareness efforts had limited effectiveness, but they had some new rules that I think were potentially very effective. One of these was a new rule requiring eye protection in the aircraft hangars as a condition of employment. I remember thinking this was a wise and practical measure, and even us contractors were given adequate safety glasses that we could use to comply with the new prudent rules. I had no problems wearing them, as required, and appreciated management’s effort to protect my eyes. I bought into the new safety initiatives. You might say, I was an early adopter. So far so good.
 
Generally, in the break room we removed the safety glasses, and they were not required there. There was a long hallway between the breakroom and the hangar. This hallway was basically an office-type hallway and did not contain any acute eye hazards that I could tell. My understanding was that I did not need to wear the glasses until I got to the hangar. I was on my way back to work, heading down this hallway to the hangar. I was wearing my safety glasses on my forehead and fully intended to place them back over my eyes before I entered the hangar. Walking the opposite direction was a manager that had never spoken to me before. He immediately pointed his finger and yelled at me to “get your safety glasses on now!”  I complied with the demand, but this event also signaled the end of my support for his safety program.
 
One big lesson I learned was this: how we present our safety initiatives to employees is just as important as what the initiatives are. To this day, I wonder if that manager ever found out why his approach to managing safety was not as successful as it could’ve been. His intention to make sure employees were using the best practices to stay safe on the job was admirable. His approach was to gain robotic compliance from his workforce by shouting at them and humiliating them in front of others.
 
Our efforts can be so much more effective if we work harder to include front line employees in making these safety initiatives a positive effort. Often, we think about a safety program as being the program implemented by management, and certainly that is true. It always helps to remember that employees are the #1 beneficiary of the safety program. The true owners (stakeholders) of the safety program are the workers that make safety happen every day, every hour, and every second on the front line where work is happening. If we lose cooperation from those key stakeholders… no amount of yelling and pointing will make anyone safer in the long run.
 
David Hanson, CSP