Staff continue to reach out and connect with members through personal engagements, conferences, trainings, and more. Read more about their activities below!
VML Local Elected Officials Conference
Public Safety Specialist Gary Dillon presented at the Virginia Municipal League Virginia Local Elected Officials Conference. Dillon addressed the challenges of marijuana legalization in the workforce and how to navigate the complex employment issues it brings.
VRSA is pleased to maintain its partnership with VML and anticipates welcoming more guests to our Clifton Forge event on August 14. You can get more details at www.vrsa.us/events.
City of Fredericksburg
Safety Consultants Fonda Craig and Christine Gillison presented OSHA 10-Hour General Industry for staff in the City of Fredericksburg. Additional attendees from Culpeper County Public Schools and Prince William County Service Authority also participated in the training, which was provided at no cost to bring members together and help protect what matters.
Virginia Government Finance Officers Association (VGFOA)
Human Resources Director Tina Stevens presented on cyber risk management for HR at the VGFOA Spring Conference this May. HR staff collect a vast amount of personal information about their employees and ensuring systems and policies are in place to keep this information secure is crucial in preventing a cybersecurity event.
Water Authority Roundtable
Safety Consultant Christine Gillison and Member Services Specialist Harry McMillen facilitated a water authority roundtable at the Fauquier County Water and Sanitation Authority where representatives from the Upper Occoquan Service Authority and Alexandria Renew Enterprises joined. Topics discussed included getting safety buy-in from supervisors and workers, retraining drivers who have had an accident, training CDL drivers, VOSH’s Voluntary Protections Program, contractor safety, and more.
Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport Authority
VRSA safety consultants Fonda Craig and Christine Gillison facilitated a discussion at a regional OSHA 10-Hour General Industry training hosted by the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport Authority. The duo discussed recognizing and addressing hazards in the workplace. Regional members in attendance included staff from the Nelson County Service Authority, the Town of Elkton, and Culpeper County Public Schools.
American Water Works Association
Director of Workers’ Compensation Robin Duvall and Safety Specialist Eddie Shelton presented on ergonomics and workers’ compensation at the American Water Works Association Virginia Section in partnership with the Southwest Public Works Academy. Staff from the Town of Richlands, the City of Lynchburg, Augusta Water, the Western Virginia Water Authority, the City of Fairfax, Rivanna Water, and others attended the event.
Charlottesville Safety Fair
Senior Safety Consultant Fonda Craig and Public Safety Specialist Gary DIllon attended the City of Charlottesville Safety Fair this summer. Craig and Dillon were pleased to interact with representatives from Emergency Management, Human Resources, Risk Management, Information Technology, Parks & Recreation, Utilities, and more.
City of Winchester
Safety Specialist Edward Shelton was invited by the City of Winchester to provide training on reasonable suspicion in the workplace for city supervisors. Shelton provided an overview of the risks of drug and alcohol use by employees, skills that can be used to confront an employee who is suspected of using, and procedures for documenting these cases. With the legalization of marijuana, it is important for administrators and supervisors to receive this important training.
Virginia Association of Directors of Criminal Justice Training
VRSA sponsored and attended the Virginia Association of Directors of Criminal Justice Training annual conference in April. Thanks to Executive Director Tommie Bower with the Skyline Regional Criminal Justice Academy for inviting VRSA Public Safety Specialist Gary Dillon to attend this important training.
Virginia NENA Conference
Public Safety Specialist Gary Dillon attended the Virginia National Emergency Number Association (NENA) conference in Williamsburg, VA. Dillon, who served as a communications officer from 1988-1990 enjoyed learning about the technology available to 9-1-1 centers today.
“I admire each and every officer for their commitment and sacrifice to a profession that often goes unrecognized,” said Dillon.
Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA)
Director of Education and Training Thomas Bullock presented information on addressing marijuana in the workplace to attendees of the SWANA spring conference. Bullock discussed the importance of balancing the need to maintain a safe and productive work environment with respect for employees’ rights and privacy during his presentation. With the everchanging legal landscape and societal attitudes toward marijuana usage, it is important for entities to develop and communicate their policies.
