By VRSA Senior Safety Consultant Edward Shelton Many organizations seek to build a safety culture. The goal, of course, is to provide employees with the tools, resources, training, and supervision needed to ensure they can safely and effectively perform their …
Vinny Gallo, the newest member of the VRSA Risk Services Team, brings experience from both federal, state and local government to his role. Gallo, like VRSA Senior Safety Consultant Eddie Shelton, previously worked for Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH). …
Read More › “Meet VRSA Senior Safety Consultant Vinny Gallo”
As school districts all across the Commonwealth prepare to reopen their doors, the health, safety and well-being of students, teachers and other staff is top priority. Reducing the risk of exposure to COVID-19 by cleaning and disinfecting is an integral …
Read More › “Hanover County Public Schools – Return to Learn Sanitizing Measures”
The Western Virginia Water Authority (WVWA), with nearly 350 employees, faces unique communications challenges. Staff are located throughout different facilities, and work varying hours. To build a culture of enterprise risk management across the organization, the authority began looking for …
Read More › “Western Virginia Water Authority utilizes VRSA grant funds for digital communication”
By Vinny Gallo, VRSA Senior Safety Consultant June is National Safety Month, and according to the National Safety Council (NSC), “now, more than ever, safety is crucial both inside and outside the workplace.” This year, the NSC will be focusing …
Read More › “How a well functioning safety committee is key toward creating a culture of safety”
For 19 years VRSA Senior Safety Consultant Fonda Craig has partnered with members through education, training and consulting to help strengthen their risk management programs. Craig came to VRSA from her role at Liberty Mutual Insurance where she worked in …
The National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction, scheduled to be observed this week has been postponed due to COVID-19. The safety stand-down is designed to take time out from day-to-day activities to talk about safety, and raise awareness …
VRSA’s mission is to provide financial stability through risk management for Virginia political subdivisions so they can effectively serve their communities. One of the ways VRSA accomplishes this is by partnering with members to provide education, training and consulting – …
VRSA recognizes National Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week, a time to recognize animal control officers who work to protect the welfare of animals and pets that are rescued from injury, disease, abuse, and starvation. Earlier this year, VRSA Public Safety …
Read More › “VRSA recognizes National Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week”
Everyday roughly nine people are killed and more than 1,000 injured in crashes involving distracted driving. Distracted drivers are nearly four times as likely to be involved in a crash than drivers focused on driving. Distracted driving is not a …
Read More › “Distracted Driving Awareness: Law Enforcement Perspective”
While the National Safety Council has postponed the observance of Distracted Driving Awareness Month in response to COVID-19, many VRSA members continue to work and learn from home. Throughout April we will share distracted driving prevention information, resources, learning opportunities …
Read More › “Distracted Driving Prevention: Top Safety Tips”
With more staff working from home as part of social distancing, online training can allow employers to continue educating staff on risk management best practices and other topics. VRSA has compiled a listing of online learning resources available at no …
Read More › “VRSA Online Learning Resources and Webinar Wednesdays”
By Peter Stephenson, VRSA Local Government Specialist It’s always a good time to talk about ethics. Not simply in March when we really begin to ‘Think Spring.’ This important topic should be evergreen, at the forefront of our decision making …
Local political subdivisions are designed to serve their communities. At times, community members may request to use public property to host events. For events held on premises that are owned and/or operated by local political subdivisions, for example a town …
As part of VRSA’s 40th anniversary, throughout the year various services, resources and coverages will be highlighted through this blog. VRSA Director of Human Resources Services Tina Stevens has been providing human resources consulting to members purchasing public official’s liability …
Read More › “Meet Tina Stevens, VRSA Director of Human Resources Services”
Puxsutawney Phil has predicted an early spring for 2020 and if his prediction is correct, more activities will be taking place outside earlier this year. In the 1993 film Groundhog Day, weatherman Phil Conners – sent to cover Punxsutawney Phil’s Groundhog …
Read More › “Getting your risk management program out of a rut”
In 2018, VRSA Senior Safety Consultant Fonda Craig visited with Captain Joey McLaughlin with the New Kent County Sheriff’s Office to see the installation of Hornet electronic deer avoidance systems. The devices were purchased with $3,700 in VRSA Risk Management …
Read More › “New Kent County deer strike prevention pilot – A follow up!”
Localities with 15 or more employees are required by VA Code section § 15.2-1506 to have a grievance procedure for employees that “affords an immediate and fair method for the resolution of disputes which may arise between the public employer …
2019 Year in Review The most notable change in 2019 was our new name! On July 1, 2019, VML Insurance Programs became the Virginia Risk Sharing Association. The new name better represents the diverse membership of the pool, and clarifies …
Local governments face many of the same loss exposures as their local businesses and citizens. However, while measures that may be available for commercial businesses, organizations and residents include a wide array of risk management techniques, for local governments those …
This month, VRSA Director of Member Services Marcus Hensel celebrates five years with VRSA. In December 2014, Hensel joined VRSA as a senior underwriter from his position with the Virginia Property Insurance Association. Since 2018, Hensel has served as VRSA’s …
Read More › “VRSA Director of Member Services Marcus Hensel celebrates five-years!”
Guest blogger Jerry the Skeleton is in the office today recapping VRSA’s 2019 Halloween costume and pumpkin carving winners. It was a ghoulish good time at the Virginia Risk Sharing Association (VRSA) today, and while there was not a ghost or …
The United States Department of Education, in A Guide to School Vulnerability Assessments, identifies eight categories of hazards and risks that could impact schools. “It’s important to consider all hazards and threats that could affect your school system when conducting …
Read More › “Addressing physical and operational hazards in schools”
In recognition of Safe Schools Week, VRSA Senior Safety Consultant Fonda Craig toured Mountain View Elementary in Prince William County along with Safety Specialist Jim Honeycutt and Brian Antolick to search for hazards that could lead to injuries and common …
America’s Safe Schools Week has been recognized on the third week of October each year since 1984. Virginia’s public school divisions enroll nearly 1.3 million students. Collectively, VRSA members include school divisions averaging 14,000 students. As such, school safety is …