From January to mid-March, VRSA members were busy training their staff on a variety of risk management issues and exposures. As partners in risk management, VRSA staff have partnered with members to provide much of this training throughout the state as well as promoting risk management at a number of conferences. Read more below!
Wytheville Trenching
VRSA Senior Safety Consultants Vinny Gallo and Edward Shelton conducted a trenching train-the-trainer class in January in Wytheville.
OSHA At A Glance
Senior Safety Consultants Fonda Craig and Vinny Gallo provided OSHA At A Glance training for the Chesapeake Redevelopment and Housing Authority on Jan. 28.
Managing an OSHA Inspection and OSHA/VOSH Silica Update
Senior Safety Consultant Vinny Gallo provided training on Managing an OSHA Inspection as well as an OSHA/VOSH Silica Update at a training hosted by Prince William County Public Schools. Members from the Town of Warrenton, City of Winchester, and Alexandria ASAP also attended.
OSHA 10-Hour Training
Senior Safety Consultants Vinny Gallo and Fonda Craig provided OSHA-10 Hour Construction training in Gloucester on Feb. 6 & 7.
Town of Cape Charles
In early February, VRSA Director of Education and Training Thomas Bullock presented on workplace civility for the Town of Cape Charles. Workplace culture can impact the safety, health and welfare of your employees. This training covers the role that emotional intelligence plays in establishing a civil workplace.
Town of Grottoes
In February, the Town of Grottoes hosted a training led by VRSA Senior Safety Consultant Vinny Gallo on silica awareness for their employees, as well as public works and utilities staff from Harrisonburg, Elkton, and the Augusta County Service Authority. Members were educated on safe concrete cutting practices to ensure their employees are not exposed to Respirable Crystalline Silica – which is a serious carcinogen that public works and utilities employees are often exposed to.
Introduction to OSHA and Focus Four
VRSA Senior Safety Consultant Vinny Gallo provided Introduction to OSHA and Focus Four training to York and Gloucester County employees. Topics reviewed included electrical, struck-by, caught-in and fall hazards, as well as OSHA inspections, citations, and multi-employer worksites.
Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE)
VRSA Public Safety Specialist Gary Dillon provided Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) and Workplace Violence Awareness training to employees at the City of Salem in early February.
Arrest, Search and Seizure
VRSA coordinated six statewide trainings on Arrest, Search and Seizure with Jack Ryan from the Legal Liability Risk Management Institute (LLRMI). The course updates officers and supervisors on the foundational legal skills related to the critical legal tasks in law enforcement. These include: street encounters; stop and frisk; arrest; search incident to arrest; use of force; strip searches; property seizure; home entries; plain view; and more.
Blue Ridge Chiefs of Police and Southwest Virginia Chiefs Group
VRSA Public Safety Specialist Gary Dillon attended a joint meeting of the Blue Ridge Chiefs of Police and Southwest Virginia Chiefs group. This meeting covered many topics including legislative items, impaired driving, and other areas specific to attending agencies. VRSA regularly participates and supports our regional police chiefs groups throughout Virginia.
You’re A Target, Protect Your Wallet
VRSA Director of Education and Training Thomas Bullock, Director of Member Services Marcus Hensel, and Public Safety Specialist Gary Dillon presented “You’re a Target, Protect Your Wallet: Securing Your Work Environment” in various locations throughout Virginia. VRSA is encouraging local political subdivisions to invest in better security to reduce losses in three defined areas: 1. Technical 2. Physical 3. Administrative. These sessions focused on these three areas with presentations and discussions centered around cyber security, physical site assessment, and the fraud triangle theory.
Fauquier County Water and Sanitation Authority
VRSA Senior Safety Consultant Vinny Gallo provided training for the Fauquier County Water and Sanitation Authority (FCWSA) for operations and maintenance staff on electrical related safety issues, such as Arc Flash hazards and Lockout/Tagout.
Town of Warrenton
The Town of Warrenton invited VRSA Senior Safety Consultant Vinny Gallo to safety training on mobile equipment for their public works staff. Mobile equipment is used everyday for various tasks on roads, grounds, utility services, and more. With caught-in and struck-by incidents responsible for 17 percent of workplace fatalities in the construction industry each year, it’s important to provide continuous training to ensure staff remain attentive to potential hazards.
OSHA 10-Hour Construction
VRSA Senior Safety Consultants Eddie Shelton and Vinny Gallo presented OSHA 10-Hour Construction training to employees from the Town of Blacksburg, City of Lexington, Bedford Regional Water Authority, Southwestern VA Transit Management Company, Pepper’s Ferry Wastewater Authority, and the Western VA Water Authority. Various topics were discussed such as Fall Protection, Trenching and Excavation, Introduction to OSHA, Caught-in Hazards, Silica and Asbestos, Lockout Tagout and Arc Flash Safety, Permit Required Confined Spaces, and Implementing ERM into your Safety Culture.
Town of Vienna
Senior Safety Consultant Vinny Gallo presented Less Bad Days training for supervisors and managers in the Town of Vienna. The training focused on recording near misses and incident investigations. The interactive training involved managers and supervisors working together to review incident scenarios and determine root causes and preventive actions.
