Take your VPP journey with us! Our Journey Toward Safety Excellence program provides mentoring support, analysis, and resources to help workplaces achieve safety and health excellence. The Journey is designed to support any company, site, or organization looking to enhance their safety and health programs. Whether you're aiming for VPP or just wanting to improve your current safety and health processes, the Journey Toward Safety Excellence has a path for you. Learn more: vpppa.org/journeys/

Join us for our webinar, "Building a Mentally Healthy Culture", on Tuesday October 27, 1:00-2:00 ET. Cal Beyer, CWP, NAC, Senior Director of SAFE Project will be joining us for this important discussion of how a culture of caring and wellbeing can reduce the stigma associated with seeking help for mental health, substance misuse, and suicide prevention. Mental health is an invisible crisis in many workplaces. A rising number of workers and their families are experiencing rising levels of stress, anxiety, and worry.Learn how to build a mentally healthy culture. Discover the three V's of leadership: -Vocal -Visible -Vulnerable Identify what your company can do to help promote mental wellbeing and reduce human capital risks among your workforce. Register today: bit.ly/4ADplp0

Today is the FINAL DAY to submit a proposal for VPPPA's 2027 Safety+, taking place in Indianapolis August 22-25. Workshop themes include: -Leadership: From the C-Suite to the work floor, what does it mean to be a safety leader? -Journeys: Share lessons learned or momentous accomplishments in your personal or worksite's journey toward improved safety. -Culture: What knowledge, skills and tools can improve safety culture for a multigenerational and multilingual workforce? -Specializations: Share insights, challenges or trends facing construction, PSM, industrial hygiene, electrical and small business. Submit your proposal today: safety.vpppa.org/call-for-wo… #safetyplus27

Our workshop proposal deadline has been extended for VPPPA's 2027 Safety+, taking place in Indianapolis August 22-25. This is the final week to submit a proposal. Submissions are due October 9 to be considered. Workshop themes include: -Leadership: From the C-Suite to the work floor, what does it mean to be a safety leader? -Journeys: Share lessons learned or momentous accomplishments in your personal or worksite's journey toward improved safety. -Culture: What knowledge, skills and tools can improve safety culture for a multigenerational and multilingual workforce? -Specializations: Share insights, challenges or trends facing construction, PSM, industrial hygiene, electrical and small business. Submit your proposal today: lnkd.in/dbfcYq7C #safetyplus27

October is National Ergonomics Month, and we’re kicking off Work That Fits with industrial ergonomics. When a task creates too much demand, the first question shouldn’t always be, “How can the worker do this better?” Start with the work. Can the task be raised? Can the reach be shortened? Can the load be supported? Can the grip be improved? Can the process be changed? Industrial ergonomics is about reducing unnecessary demand by changing the task, tools, layout, or environment so the work better fits the person doing it. Our goals should always focus on preserving capacity so people can keep doing demanding work safely, teaching them how to recover well, and create an environment that invites peak performance. October is National Ergonomics Month. Instead of asking your employees to bend to meet the work, how can you lead a workplace that fits? #VPPPA #FeelGoodFridays #WorkThatFits #Ergonomics #NationalErgonomicsMonth #IndustrialErgonomics #PeopleFirst #TheCatamountDifference #CatamountConsulting

Our workshop proposal deadline has been extended for VPPPA's 2027 Safety+, taking place in Indianapolis August 22-25. Submissions are due October 9 to be considered. Workshop themes include: -Leadership: From the C-Suite to the work floor, what does it mean to be a safety leader? -Journeys: Share lessons learned or momentous accomplishments in your personal or worksite's journey toward improved safety. -Culture: What knowledge, skills and tools can improve safety culture for a multigenerational and multilingual workforce? -Specializations: Share insights, challenges or trends facing construction, PSM, industrial hygiene, electrical and small business. Submit your proposal today: safety.vpppa.org/call-for-wo… #safetyplus27

We are now accepting VPPPA National Board of Director Applications. The VPPPA National Board of Directors is seeking to fill the following vacant positions: - Director from a Site without a Collective Bargaining Agent: November 2026 - August 2028 - Director-at-Large (Odd Year): November 2026 - August 2027 - Director-at-Large (Even Year): November 2026 - August 2028 VPPPA Board Members play a vital role in shaping both the present and future of the association as we work to raise the standard for a safe and healthy workplace. They represent member companies across industry and are each passionate about advancing health and safety excellence through collaboration, mentorship, and education. For more information on eligibility and application submission, visit: vpppa.org/about/board-of-dir…

BLOG: VPPPA's 2026 Safety+ – Where the Best Come to Get Better "Safety+ provides an exceptional opportunity for all of us to learn and engage with VPP professionals," said Terry Schulte, VPPPA Chairperson. "Workplaces that have achieved workplace safety and health excellence, leaders, and employees at every level are here to listen and share practical experience in supporting your organization." Read the full article: vpppa.org/blog/vpppas-2026-s…

October is National Ergonomics Month, and the next installment of Feel Good Fridays is all about Work That Fits. Ergonomics is the science of fitting the workplace to the worker — shaping tools, tasks, environments, and expectations around the people doing the work. Throughout October, Catamount Consulting and VPPPA will be exploring ergonomics across industrial work, driving and mobile work, office and administrative work, and the bigger picture of building capacity. Because good ergonomics goes beyond posture. It helps reduce unnecessary demand, preserve capacity, support recovery, and keep people ready for the work ahead. Stay tuned — Work That Fits starts in October. #VPPPA #FeelGoodFridays #WorkThatFits #Ergonomics #NationalErgonomicsMonth #PeopleFirst #TheCatamountDifference #CatamountConsulting

One week left to submit a proposal for VPPPA's 2027 Safety+! Call for Workshop Proposals is right around the corner with submissions due October 1, 2026 for consideration. Workshop themes include: -Leadership: From the C-Suite to the work floor, what does it mean to be a safety leader? -Journeys: Share lessons learned or momentous accomplishments in your personal or worksite's journey toward improved safety. -Culture: What knowledge, skills and tools can improve safety culture for a multigenerational and multilingual workforce? -Specializations: Share insights, challenges or trends facing construction, PSM, industrial hygiene, electrical and small business. Ready to submit a proposal? Visit safety.vpppa.org/call-for-wo… for more information! #safetyplus27

Take a journey with us! Our Journey Toward Safety Excellence program provides mentoring support, analysis, and resources to help workplaces achieve safety and health excellence. The Journey is designed to support any company, site, or organization looking to enhance their safety and health programs. Whether you're aiming for VPP or just wanting to improve your current safety and health processes, the Journey Toward Safety Excellence has a path for you. Learn more: vpppa.org/journeys/

Happy trails, Nashville! We are off to the races for VPPPA's 2027 Safety+ Symposium in Indianapolis August 22-25. Call for Workshop Proposals is right around the corner with submissions due October 1, 2026 for consideration. Workshop themes include: -Leadership: From the C-Suite to the work floor, what does it mean to be a safety leader? -Journeys: Share lessons learned or momentous accomplishments in your personal or worksite's journey toward improved safety. -Culture: What knowledge, skills and tools can improve safety culture for a multigenerational and multilingual workforce? -Specializations: Share insights, challenges or trends facing construction, PSM, industrial hygiene, electrical and small business. Ready to submit a proposal? Visit safety.vpppa.org/call-for-wo… for more information! #safetyplus27

Join us for our webinar, Rethink the Drink, on Tuesday September 22, 2:00-3:30 ET. Rethink the Drink is a presentation that explores the impact alcohol can have on mental health and suicide risk. The construction industry, in particular, experiences high rates of substance misuse and has a prevalent culture of alcohol use. The goal of this presentation is to raise awareness about the effects of alcohol so participants can make informed decisions about their mental and physical health. We also aim to reduce the stigma around seeking help by encouraging open conversations about substance use and mental well-being. Rethink your relationship with alcohol. Whether it's cutting back, setting limits, or finding healthier coping mechanisms, small shifts can lead to big changes. It's never too late to rethink the way we view alcohol. Whether for yourself, a loved one, or your community, awareness today can save lives tomorrow. Register here: bit.ly/4yESOwS

A great way to close out our Keep Work Moving Feel Good Fridays series. At Safety+, Catamount Consulting’s Alicia and Jason led an interactive Stretch & Flex session that included muscle and nerve mobility, balance system activation, nervous system priming, and brain-body connection work. The group brought great energy, thoughtful questions, and lots of engagement. Thank you to everyone who joined in, moved with us, and helped make this series such a strong finish. #FeelGoodFridays #KeepWorkMoving #VPPPA #SafetyPlus2026 #CatamountConsulting #IndustrialAthlete #Ergonomics #WorkplaceSafety

Today, and every day, we remember.

Congratulations to our Chair's Award of Excellence winners, announced during VPPPA's 2026 Safety+. This award is presented directly from the VPPPA Chair to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the association's mission and community.

Thank you to the MITER Brands Team for attending VPPPA's 2026 Safety+ Symposium! We appreciate Matt DeSoto for being a part of our CEO panel alongside U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor Dave Keeling. Hearing about the benefits of VPP from the C-Suite provided valuable insight.

VPPPA wishes everyone a happy—and safe—Labor Day in the United States. America is built by our front-line workers, and we celebrate their efforts today—and every day.

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and we are excited to highlight a webinar with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention on September 8, 2:00 - 3:00 ET. Join Programs Manager Erin Miles for Talk Saves Lives: Construction. This new program has been adapted for the construction industry, providing risk factors, warning signs of suicide, and strategies to help prevent it. Talk Saves Lives: Construction is designed for construction workplaces, unions, and other audiences working with the construction industry. After attending, participants will be able to: -Describe the impact of suicide in the construction industry -Recognize suicide warning signs -Provide examples of how to approach someone you're concerned about -List ways to seek and offer support and resources for yourself and others September 8 is also 988 day, intended to raise awareness for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Anyone can call, text, or chat 988 anytime, 24/7. It connects users with a skilled, caring, and non-judgmental 988 counselor who will listen, help with savety planning when needed, and connect them with additional resources. Register today: bit.ly/4x9SK7h

Nashville, thank you for everything! It’s time for VPPPA's 2026 Safety+ to hit the road again. Just because the sun is setting on this year’s symposium doesn’t mean we’re too far yonder. We’ll continue working 9-5 on our journey towards safety excellence. Don’t forget that our 2027 symposium is just getting started: workshop proposals for next year’s show are open until October 1 2026. Happy trails, we’ll see you next year in Indianapolis! #safetyplus2026