WV Governor's Safety Conference Schedule

2020 West Virginia Governor's Safety Conference Agenda

Tuesday, April 28

Drug Management in the Workplace

• West Virginia University President E. Gordon Gee

• Don Teater, M.D., MPH
  
Both legal and illegal use of opioids in the workplace are a significant problem in West Virginia.  Opioids are impairing and increase the chance of a workplace accident or injury.  They also delay recovery, increase medical costs, and increase disability when used following an injury.  This presentation will show how the development of a comprehensive drug-free workplace program can reduce opioid use, improve safety, improve injury outcomes, and identify and treat workers with opioid use disorder.  These programs will save money and result in a happier and healthier workforce.

• L. Christopher Plein, Ph.D. Professor of Public Administration and Eberly Family Professor for Outstanding Public Service, West Virginia University
This presentation will focus on an overview of the social determinants of health and well-being. Leading authorities, organizations, and agencies emphasize the importance of understanding how surrounding environmental, social, economic, and cultural context influences health and wellbeing outcomes. This is especially relevant to our understanding of substance use disorder. We will discuss the role that stakeholders can play in promoting positive outcomes through a commitment to community that includes citizens, private enterprise, non-profit organizations, and public institutions.

• Michael Brumage, Program Director, School of Public Health's Public Health/General Preventative Medicine Residency, West Virginia University and Medical Director, Cabin Creek Health Systems
Rarely do we discuss the roots of the addiction crisis. Meaningful answers stem from a clear understanding of addiction and stigma. In this talk, we’ll look at adverse childhood experiences and the social determinants of health and how they impact employment and safety. We’ll also look at programs and services available to help employees.

• Jennifer Hornsby-Myers, Senior Certified Industrial Hygienist, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Emergency Preparedness and Response Office
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has conducted a number of Health Hazard Evaluations (HHEs) concerning unintentional occupational exposure to opioids. Results from several NIOSH HHEs will be discussed. These include evaluations of incidents where law enforcement officers and fire fighter-emergency medical services (EMS) providers have experienced health effects after potential unintentional exposures to illicit drugs. In addition, the session will cover current NIOSH recommendations on preventing occupational exposure to opioids.

• Van Ingram, Executive Director, Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy
This presentation details Kentucky and West Virginia ling history with the Opioid and the laws and programs Kentucky has implemented to combat it.

• Jan Rader, Chief, City of Huntington Fire Department 
This presentation will give an overview of the conditions in Huntington, WV during the worst epidemic of our times. And how the community and first responders are making a difference in the most difficult of times.

Wednesday, April 29

Transportation Safety

• Charleston Area Office, Occupational Safety and Health Administration

• Gary Tincher, Traffic Incident Management Consultant, West Virginia Department of Transportation  
The presentation will focus on history, implementation and current successes of the West Virginia Traffic Incident Management Responder Training Program ( TIM Training). Attendees will learn the basic information, need for training, outline of the training and how to receive training through the West Virginia Department of Transportation, Division of Highways. The Training incentive package program will be explained and attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and sign up for training opportunities. This program addresses the risks encountered by responders in all types of traffic incidents, as well as work zones. It gives simple and effective solutions and recommendations on mitigating those risks.

• Kyla Retzer, Research Epidemiologist and Coordinator, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Center for Motor Vehicle Safety 

• David Fosbroke, Statistician, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Safety Research
In United States, the construction industry has the highest number and third highest rate of fatal occupational injury. Road transportation incidents were the second leading cause of fatal injury highest in construction. The presentation summarizes injury surveillance data analyses and identifies opportunities for reducing road transportation related fatal injuries different sectors of the construction industry. In Heavy Civil Engineering Construction, continued effort to reduce workers on foot being struck by vehicles should be combined with efforts to reduce fatal roadway collisions. In both Building and Specialty Trades Construction, the primary focus should be on reducing fatal roadway collisions.

• Katie Chimelewski, Director of Safety and Certification, American Road and Transportation Builders Association
Nearly 50,000 people are injured or die in and around U.S. transportation infrastructure projects each year, according to the Federal Highway Administration. An average of 125 workers are killed annually. The cost of these tragic incidents—to families and employers—is staggering. Industry leaders decided status quo safety performance is not acceptable. Through the American Road & Transportation Builders Association’s Transportation Development Foundation (ARTBA-TDF), they brought together top safety professionals to develop a “next-level” initiative aimed at achieving this vision: “To ensure the safety and well-being of construction workers, motorists, truck drivers, pedestrians and cyclists and their families by making transportation project sites worldwide zero-incident zones.”

• Bruce Lippy, Ph.D. Director of Nanomaterials Research, CPWR (The Center for Construction Research and Training)
The construction sector has seen an increase in the use of nanomaterials in a range of applications such as coatings, treated lumber, and insulation. CPWR, with funding from NIOSH has identified over 600 nano-enabled products. Carbon nanotubes are now being added to cement, concrete and asphalt in large-scale highway applications. The Georgia Department of Transportation has approved the use of a carbon nanotube-containing cement on roads in the state. This presentation will examine how ENPs are being used, what we know about exposures and risks to workers, and how risks can be reduced with engineering controls, PPE and hazard communication.

WVU is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer -- Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran.
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs).
The WVU Board of Governors is the governing body of WVU. The Higher Education Policy Commission in West Virginia is responsible for developing, establishing, and overseeing the implementation of a public policy agenda for the state’s four-year colleges and universities.
Reasonable accommodations will be made to provide this content in alternate formats upon request. Contact the WVU Extension Service Office of Communications at 304-293-4222.