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21st Annual Safety & Health Seminar

The VSRA 21st Annual Safety & Health Seminar was held on Wednesday, October 26, 2016 at the Ted Constant Convocation Center, ODU. The Seminar was a great success due to the diligent efforts of the 14 members of the Safety Seminar planning committee led by John Davis of Crofton Diving Corporation.

The seminar attracted over 231 registrants representing over 52 VSRA member companies.  Also in attendance were representatives from CNRMC, Navy Medicine East, the United States Coast Guard and Shipbuilders Council of America. 

We want to extend our appreciation to the more than 40 representatives in attendance representing 26 sponsor companies and for the attractive displays they provided.

Many thanks to our 11 keynote speakers and presenters whose presentations provided attendees timely and beneficial information vital to safety in the ship repair industry.

The importance of this year’s safety theme, “When you gamble with safety ... you bet your life,” was underscored by the remarks of the Opening Keynote speaker, Bill Bell, Vice President of Human Resources & Administration at Newport News Shipbuilding,  followed by remarks by Stan Dutko, OSHA Area Director, who presented on “Building and Sustaining a Culture of Safety.” 

Agenda highlights included:  “OSHA Update Review;” “Fall Protection Demonstration,” “Hot Work Hazards,” “Stretching to Avoid Injury,” “Hazardous Waste Management,” and “Toxicity Associated with Confined Space.”  Also featured this year was a Supervisor track on the following topics, “Injuries & Productivity,” “Dealing with Serious Incidents,” and “High Performance Leadership.”  

Seminar attendees were impacted by a powerful Safety video, “Here Today Gone Tomorrow,” presented during the Lunch session. 

Additional highlights of the event were the “Jeopardy Game” and numerous prize drawings.  Plans are already underway for next year’s 22nd Annual Safety & Health Seminar.  Please plan on supporting safety by sponsoring this important event in 2017.

If you are interested in participating in the planning committee or in sponsoring the 2017 event, please contact Sylvia Bell at sbell@VirginiaShipRepair.org or (757)233-7034.


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