Santiam Section

Message from Paula Phelps, Section Chairperson

October 26, 2020 = Can you believe that we are now 226 days from the first time we heard the words “Slow the Spread”? Who could have predicted in addition to the COVID-19 virus upending our entire world, that in our little corner of the world, we would face devastating wildfires in the Santiam Canyon for weeks?

Challenging times are just that, challenging…. but thankfully they can also be a time of growth. As I reflect on these past 226 days, I am thankful for the opportunities that have pushed me to develop and learn new skill sets. We’ve all pick up a few new skills that were not on our “goal” list for 2020. We have learned Zoom, how to make a face covering, MS Teams, FaceTime with family members, be patient while waiting in lines 6 feet apart, have become teachers and interior designers to creatively make workstations in our homes.

One other bright spot for all of us safety professionals, is never again having to explain what PPE stands for! My hope is for greater understanding of the role PPE plays in everyday safety decisions by all frontline workers. I was not envisioning my year as President of the Section to be categorized as probably the most unsafe year ever recorded or that we would only see each other via a computer, but here we are.

As we close this year of challenges, growth, and bright spots, I encourage each of us to take a moment to think about what new skills sets or bright spots we can take with us into 2021. I’d like to share one more bright spot that happened with many of you last month, we had one of our own Matthew Balke, who was in a fire truck, suited up, coming from one fire and waiting to go to the next, and he decided to attend our Santiam Section Meeting on his brief break. That is dedication to our community and safety! I am sure there are many more stories out there about how each one of you have made positive impacts in the lives of those in our Santiam Section and beyond. Thank you all for being bright spots in such a bleak year.

I look forward to seeing you all again in person, but until then, I will be thankful we have the technology to connect with each other. If you have any interest in being on our Board, we would love to hear from you.

Please reach out to me directly or any member of the Santiam Section Executive Board if you have questions or need any assistance.

With appreciation for all section members,

Paula Phelps

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Upcoming Meetings Schedule

Next Meeting: January 12,  2020 at 8:00 AM. This meeting will take place using Zoom Online Virtual Platform. To request a link and access codes to join the meeting please email SantiamSection@cwc.assp.org.

Topic: Essentials for Mastering the New Silica Rules

Description:  Workplace health and safety regulations for silica changes from a known hazard and published occupational exposure limit to a 50% reduction in the exposure limit and a new substance=specific standard.  Why? Because workers are still developing silicosis and other illnesses from exposures.  Are you where you need to be with your silica exposure plans, training, and controls to better protect your employees? We will discuss Oregon OSHA’s new silica rules, medical surveillance, the famous Table 1 and other controls, and nuances within the rules.

Presenter: Kim Henry, MS, CIH, CHMM

Kim Henry is a Certified Industrial Hygienist with SAIF Corporation. Kim provides industrial hygiene, risk, and exposure evaluations services to client throughout the state of Oregon. She has 15 years experience in the environmental, health and safety field including managing an EHS team in the aerospace industry and environmental team in a large Colorado school district. She has served as an IH professional in the biotech industry and in consulting for a variety of industries including hospitals, technology, and construction. She is originally from Colorado where she received her Masters of Science degree in Environmental Health from Colorado State University.

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Members and Guests

Thank you for being a member or guest of the Santiam Section of the Columbia-Willamette Chapter. We want to take this opportunity to invite you to our monthly meetings. Guests are always welcome. We would like to see more people at our meetings and welcome your input.

• Do you have recommendations for speakers and topics?
• Do you regularly attend our monthly Santiam Section meetings? (Why or why not?)
  • If not, What would motivate you to attend the meetings?.
  • How are the meeting time and location for you?
• What would you like to see the Santiam Section do to support the safety profession locally and you in your professional development? In the past, we have had an AED grant for schools, hosted Professional Development Conferences, hosted webinars, and hosted a CSP study group.

Please email your suggestions and comments to our Section at SantiamSection@cwc.assp.org.

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Upcoming Meeting Topics

• Feb 9th, 2021 (TBD)
• March 9th, 2021 (TBD)
• April 13th, 2021 (Off-site Factory Tour – Jason Luty / Mountain House)
• May 11th, 2021 (Managing the Gray – Panel) Oregon OSHA, Worker’s Comp, FIre Marshall, etc.

Available Section Meeting Minutes:

For a copy of section meeting minutes, submit a request (including the month and year needed) to the following email: SantiamSection@cwc.assp.org.

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Executive Committee

The Santiam Sections’ Executive Committee meets on the Thursday the week after the membership meeting each month. This is usually the third Thursday but is sometimes the fourth Thursday, based on when the membership meeting occurs. Guests are always welcome.

We meet at 8:00 AM via video conference. To be included in the video meeting please email us at the following link: SantiamSection@cwc.assp.org.

The dates for the upcoming Santiam Section Executive Committee meetings are:

• Jan 21, 2021
• Feb 18, 2021
• Mar 18, 2021
• Apr 22, 2021
• May 20, 2021
• June 17, 2021

ASSP Santiam Section Bylaws:

• Santiam Section_Bylaws_July-15-2015_changestothe2004

Available Executive Meeting Minutes:

For a copy of executive meeting minutes, submit a request (including the month and year needed) to the following email: SantiamSection@cwc.assp.org.