Member Risk Management Spotlight – Winter 2020

VRSA members have been 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!

New Kent – OSHA At A Glance

VRSA Senior Safety Consultant Vinny Gallo provided OSHA At A Glance training in New Kent in October. This class covers major OSHA and VOSH topics to include trenching, permit-required confined space, hazard communication, lockout/tagout, walking working surfaces, and more.

Bedford Fire Department receives VRSA Risk Management Grant funds

One way VRSA helps our members manage risk, and ultimately reduce their total cost of risk, is through our Risk Management Grant funds. Each year we set aside funds that members may use to support their risk management efforts. The Bedford Fire Department recently purchased an IndeeLift Human Floor Lift utilizing grant funds.

Story from the Bedford Bulletin

Plan RVA

VRSA Director of Education and Training Thomas Bullock, III, MSA, ARM, presented Workplace Civility and Emotional Intelligence training to PlanRVA in November. The training is designed to review how strong emotions can diminish cognitive abilities, decision-making and interpersonal skills. Those with a high degree of emotional intelligence know what they are feeling, what their emotions mean, and how these emotions can impact others.

Central Shenandoah Criminal Justice Training Academy – Below 100

VRSA Public Safety Specialist Gary Dillon provided Below 100 to a class at the Central Shenandoah Criminal Justice Training Academy on Oct. 20. The Below 100 program’s mission is to reduce line of duty deaths to below 100 each year and focuses on five tenets: Wear your belt; Wear your vest; Watch your speed; What’s Important Now (WIN); and Remember, Complacency Kills.

Bedford Regional Water Authority utilizes grant funds

The Bedford Regional Water Authority utilized VRSA Risk Management Grant funds to purchase a calibration and bump test unit. The devices is used to test for gas meters prior to and during entry into confined spaces. The units are designed to automatically calibrate monthly and bump test daily. They also keep a documented track of these tests, helping the authority.

City of Suffolk – Knock Knock… VOSH is Here

VRSA Senior Safety Consultant Eddie Shelton presented Knock Knock… VOSH is Here to staff members from the City of Suffolk in October. Attendees included managers, directors and supervisors from parks & recreation, public works, the fire department, and police departments.  Risk Management Director Donna Vogel and Safety Officer Rita Walden from the City of Suffolk organized the event.

City of Suffolk Risk Management Director Donna Vogel coordinates VOSH training
Town of Herndon – Silica Training 
Senior Safety Consultants Fonda Craig and Vinny Gallo conducted silica and job safety analysis training for public works supervisors in the Town of Herndon in November. Silica exposure remains a serious threat to nearly two million workers in the United States. This course provides information on how to ensure employees are properly protected and compliant with OSHA silica regulations.

Fairfax County Water Authority hosts authority roundtable

The Fairfax County Water Authority hosted an authority roundtable Nov. 7, to facilitate a conversation on challenges and solutions shared amongst members.  Roundtables provide an avenue to advance VRSA’s mission of helping our members manage risk.

City of Salem – OSHA 10-Hour Training

VRSA Senior Safety Consultant Eddie Shelton provided OSHA 10-Hour training to employees from the City of Salem streets, water treatment and water distribution departments in November.

New Kent – Workplace Violence and Emotional Intelligence

VRSA Director of Education and Training Thomas Bullock provided workplace violence prevention and emotional intelligence training to county supervisors in New Kent.

City of Winchester – OSHA At A Glance

Senior Safety Consultants Fonda Craig and Vinny Gallo conducted OSHA At A Glance training in November for the City of Winchester. This class covers major OSHA and VOSH topics such as trenching, permit-required confined space, hazard communication, lockout/tagout, walking working surfaces, and more.

Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel District – Below 100

VRSA Public Safety Specialist Gary Dillon provided Below 100 training to officers of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel District. The program’s mission is to reduce line of duty deaths to below 100 each year and focuses on five tenets: Wear your belt; Wear your vest; Watch your speed; What’s Important Now (WIN); and Remember, Complacency Kills.

Prince William County Public Schools – OSHA 101

VRSA Senior Safety Consultant Vinny Gallo conducted OSHA 101 training for 40 managers and directors for Prince William County Schools. As the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) program can now cite local government organizations monetary penalties for certain safety and health violations, VRSA has increased OSHA training throughout the Commonwealth.

City of Franklin – Workers’ Compensation 101

VRSA Director of Workers’ Compensation Claims Robin Duvall and Senior Safety Consultant Fonda Craig presented Workers’ Compensation 101 as well as Incident Investigation for the City of Franklin in November. VRSA Indemnity Claims Representative Jennifer Moore and Senior Indemnity Claims Representative Tina Wetsch also attended.

Town of Parksley – Gecko

VRSA Public Safety Specialist Gary Dillon met Dwight, resident gecko with the Town of Parksley!

Southwest Virginia City and Town Roundtable

Representatives from the New River Valley and surrounding areas gathered together to collaborate on issues they are facing from fiscal challenges local governments face to emerging risks to safety and HR related topics. Attendees included: Galax City Manager Keith Barker; New River Valley Regional Commission Finance Director Jessica Barrett; Floyd Town Manager Kayla Cox; City of Radford Director of Operations Basil Edwards; Town of Blacksburg Director of Finance Susan Kaiser; Narrows Town Manager Susan Kidd; Dublin Town Manager Ty Kirkner; Town of Blacksburg Senior Human Resources Generalist Jackie Taylor; and Vinton Town Manager Barry Thompson. VRSA facilitated the roundtable, which was hosted by the Town of Blacksburg.

Mathews County – Taking Your Temperature: Is Your Workplace Civil?

VRSA Director of Education and Training Thomas Bullock presented Taking Your Temperature: Is Your Workplace Civil? training to a regional audience in the Town of Mathews. Bullock reviewed how the workplace culture impacts the overall civility, safety, health and welfare of employees; as well as the role of emotional intelligence in establishing a civil workplace.

Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police – Southwest Virginia Chief’s Group

VRSA presented on Public Filming of Police at the second meeting of the Southwest Virginia Chiefs Group. The group was formed as part of a partnership between VRSA and the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police. Agencies from Big Stone Gap, Chilhowie, Damascas, Galax, Glade Spring, Haysi, Independence, Lebanon, Marion, Narrows, Norton, Rural Retreat, Pearisburg, Pulaski, St. Paul and Wytheville were in attendance. Topics also included elder abuse, fleet lease programs, special olympics, accreditation, and legislative updates.

City of Manassas – Risk Review Process

VRSA Senior Safety Consultant Vinny Gallo presented on The Risk Review Process in the City of Manassas in December. As a principal component of Enterprise Risk Management, the process can ensure organizations succeed in their operations and ensure long term continuity. Representatives from Manassas police, fire, schools, and health were in attendance.