Sept. 15-17, 2010

1. Register online with TVPPA
2. Make your hotel reservations:
   Embassy Suites Hotel
   1200 Conference Center Drive
   Murfreesboro, TN 37129
   615.890.4464
   
   TVPPA room rate: $135 single/double ends Aug. 25. Use the link above or call 615.890.4464 and use TVPPA online group/convention code "SHR" to make hotel reservations.
   
   IMPORTANT: The hotel will hold the TVPPA room block until Wednesday, Aug. 25. Early reservations are encouraged, since the room block could sell out prior to Aug. 25. Reservation requests received after Aug. 25 will be confirmed on a rate- and space-available basis.

CSC certificates will be presented at this Utility Safety Conference. If you have completed this program and would like to receive your certificate at this conference, please contact the E&T department at training@tvppa.com. Certificates not presented at conferences will be sent by mail.

Workplace Hazard Assessment
When we state that the employer is required to assess the workplace for hazards that are present or likely to be present, what standards are we referencing? What tools do we have available to assist us in making these assessments?  Glenn Smith of Glenn Smith Associates, Inc. will review the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.269 (Existing Conditions), 29 CFR 1910.132 (Assessment for PPE), 29 CFR 1910.331-335 (Load Side Electrical work), Arc Flash (NESC & 1910.269) and Arc Flash NFPA 70-E. The class will cover available tools that operations management and safety professionals have to assist in determining the hazards and developing work procedures, such as job safety analysis (JSA) / job hazard analysis (JHA). Delivery format will be lecture and hands-on. Participants should be in a position to determine work place hazards and properly address these hazards based on the training and tools provided.

Pre-conference registration separate from conference registration
Member $385, Non-member $565

Thrive in an Environment of Change
(Joint with HRM)
Regardless of your age or personal achievements, the best is yet to come! You can (and should) change your catalyst to a better you and a better life! Trainer, author and speaker Dr. Fred Broder will provide insights, strategies and techniques on how to improve your personal and professional level of success and happiness – even in an environment of dramatic, sometimes traumatic, change.

Trends in OSHA Audits & Activity
On what safety areas is OSHA placing special emphasis these days? What are recent OSHA safety audits targeting and finding? What proposed OSHA requirements are in the pipeline? Randall Chase, CSP, will address these questions and much more. Attendees will be encouraged to ask questions and make comments. Randall has been with Tennessee OSHA for 33 years, and is currently the Occupational Safety Compliance Supervisor in the Kingsport, TN, Area Office.

Update on Utility Safety Rules & Regulations
Distributing electricity is a highly regulated activity. Many of these regulations address safety issues. Jonathan Glazier, association counsel for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), follows these regulations on behalf of utilities across the country. He’ll update us on Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration activities with respect to distracted driving, medical certification for holders of commercial drivers licenses, the Unified Carrier Registration Act, Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010, and other timely topics.

Tangible Benefits of Employee Wellness
(Joint with HRM)
Any employee can work more safely and productively when well and in good physical condition. A bonus is reduced healthcare costs. Therefore, HR and utility safety professionals should fully support an employee wellness program. But how can you build employee participation and justify the cost to management? Jay Groves, director of Vanderbilt’s Dayani Center for Health & Wellness, will share how to measure tangible benefits and track effectiveness of employee health initiatives. Results often exceed a company’s expectations.

DOT Safety Regs & Audits
Are you up to date on all the latest DOT commercial driver and vehicle regulations? How about regulations on securing loads? Do know all the things your CDL drivers can be cited for during a roadside inspection? The list goes on and on, and this session will answer these questions and much more. Session leader is Jon Cook, a former commercial motor vehicle driver and owner-operator, with over one million miles to his credit. For 42 years he has been involved in various aspects of commercial transportation.

Updating Written Safety Plans Yearly
The world is not stationary; neither should your safety procedures and policies be. As equipment and work procedures change, preventive measures for avoiding accidents must be updated. Charles Southerland, director of Management Services, Morristown, TN, Utility System, will share the reasons and the best methods for updating your utility’s written safety plan annually. He has led several of TVPPA’s utility safety classes as instructor.

Effective Grounding
The theory and application of grounding de-energized power lines continue to be hot topics in the utility industry, because accidents caused by improper grounding continue to occur. Huel Gunter, senior product specialist with Honeywell’s Salisbury division, will review the “Equi-Potential Zone” and the hazards for utility personnel at the worksite, whether on a structure or on the ground. His utility industry experience spans 36 years, including time as a lineman.

Being a Survivor in Tomorrow’s Workplace
(Joint with HRM)
How do you plan for tomorrow when you’re overwhelmed by the demands of today? How do you carve out a leadership niche within your organization? Veteran businessman and humorist Fred Landiss, vice president of F&M Bank, answers these questions and more. As the 12th largest bank chartered in Tennessee, much of F&M’s growth has been attributed to the offbeat but powerful strategies Landiss spearheaded. He will share how to survive and be successful in an unpredictable and hectic workplace.