Thank you for taking time out of your day to visit the website for the Chesapeake Chapter of the American Society of Safety Professionals.  I hope that everyone had a great holiday and enjoyed some much-needed time with family and friends.  With the holidays behind us, it is a great time to ‘re-foucs.’

With all of the challenges and distractions that we face in today’s world, it is often difficult to be truly present in the moment. It is important to recognize, and adjust, when our minds are not fully focused or present on the task at hand. All too often, we are physically present somewhere, but our focus and attention are not. We have all been in this position.  For example, when driving, we may zone out for a few moments, only to realize that we have driven several miles, yet have no recollection of the drive. This kind of disconnect from the present moment can be extremely dangerous when at work or at home.  Consider the following tips to help you re-focus:

• Take note of how well you are focusing and where your mind is at. From there, make the conscious choice to improve your focus and attention, if needed.
• When you are part of a discussion or receiving directions, make sure you are actively listening to the person speaking.
• Eliminate distractions
  • Take a deep breath, before you
• Identify any personal concerns that are causing your mind to wander and not be fully present at work. If it is not possible to eliminate them, talk about them with your supervisor so they can help you address them accordingly.

It can be challenging to truly be present in the moment. Distractions such as; family obligations, politics, long hours, family, and overall stress may plague our ability to be fully engaged in the task at hand. Being present and focused is only possible when we take a step back and consider all of the steps necessary to complete that task. 

Also… every 30 minutes, take 30 seconds, and look 30 feet around you to improve your focus and situational awareness.

Lastly…

2025 elections will be taking place in the coming months, and we are hoping to see some new names on the ballot!  Don’t let the many benefits that ASSP has to offer pass you by!  The Chesapeake Chapter is one of the most active chapters in the nation, with monthly chapter ‘hybrid’ lunch and learns and multiple social events that take place during the day and in the evenings.  In addition, we are actively recruiting members to serve on many committees.  Regardless of the commitment that you can make, your assistance is needed and appreciated.   If you are interested in being more active in the chapter, please reach out to me directly. Thank for taking the time to visit the website for the Chesapeake Chapter of the American Society of Safety Professionals.

James Woodward Sr.

ASSP Chesapeake Chapter President

Thank you for taking time out of your day to visit the website for the Chesapeake Chapter of the American Society of Safety Professionals.  I hope that everyone had a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.  It is hard to believe that 2025 is right around the corner and the holiday season is upon us.

If you celebrate the Holidays, there are some unique hazards in your home that you may not have considered. These hazards include:

• A giant tree in the middle of your living room
• Tiny lights plugged in throughout the inside and outside of your home
• Lit candles in your home for eight consecutive nights
• A dozen or more family members gathered in your kitchen singing carols, arguing about politics, and/or eating way too much
• The potential for a fat man in a red suit to slide down your chimney to bring your children presents

With that in mind, consider the following tips:

• Be sure to inspect your lights and look for frayed wires or other damage to cords
• Be sure to check the filter on your furnace and replace regularly
• Keep outdoor lights off of the ground and away from metal rain gutters
• When you prepare your Holiday Dinner, ensure that the food is thoroughly cooked
• Store leftovers in sealed plastic containers and heat them to their required temperatures
• If you have a fresh cut Christmas tree, be sure to water it routinely and keep it away from open flames such as candles or fireplaces
  • A tree that is not properly watered is at greater risk of catching fire, which can result in an entire house becoming engulfed in a matter of minutes

The official start of winter is on the horizon.  Before you know it, the holiday season will have come and gone.  Don’t let the many benefits that ASSP has to offer pass you by!  Regardless of the industry that you work in, ASSP has something for you.  In addition, we are looking for assistance on one of our many committees.  While many of our volunteers spend 8 or more hours per month, in their volunteer roles, many others spend less than 2 hours.  Regardless of the commitment that you are able to make, your assistance is needed and appreciated.   If you are interested in being more active in the chapter, please reach out to me directly. Thank for taking the time to visit the website for the Chesapeake Chapter of the American Society of Safety Professionals.

James Woodward
ASSP Chesapeake Chapter President

Thank you for taking time out of your day to visit the website for the Chesapeake Chapter of the American Society of Safety Professionals. Now that Halloween is in the rear-view mirror, many Americans are planning for the Thanksgiving holiday. Whether you enjoy a large family dinner, sitting on the sofa watching football all day, or scouring the aisles for those black Friday deals… most of us will likely have to travel at some point. In fact, the Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving sees more motorists on the roadways than any other day.  With that said, here are some tips to keep you safe while traveling:

• Perform a vehicle maintenance check
• Pack a winter safety kit
• Avoid driving during peak times
• Make routine pit stops
• Get plenty of rest, prior to driving
• Allow ample time to reach your destination
• Have entertainment available to keep children occupied

In addition to high traffic on the roadways, Sunday after Thanksgiving is typically the busiest day at airports. Here are some air travel tips:

• Arrive at the airport at least 1.5 hours prior to domestic flights and 2 hours prior to international flights
• Travel on the day of the holiday to save a few bucks getting to your destination
• Consider an extended stay and travel back the Tuesday or Wednesday after the holiday to save even more
• Pack enough… but not too much
• Consider shipping holiday gifts, rather than packing them
• Be aware of the TSA requirements
• Register with TSA pre-check to save time at the terminal

The official start of winter is on the horizon. Before you know it, the holiday season will have come and gone and passed us by! Don’t let the many benefits that ASSP has to offer pass you by! Regardless of the industry that you work in, ASSP has something for you. In addition, we are looking for assistance on one of our many committees. While many of our volunteers spend 8 or more hours per month, in their volunteer roles, many others spend less than 2 hours. Regardless of the commitment that you are able to make, your assistance is needed and appreciated. If you are interested in being more active in the chapter, please reach out to me directly. Thank for taking the time to visit the website for the Chesapeake Chapter of the American Society of Safety Professionals.

James Woodward Sr.
ASSP Chesapeake Chapter President

Happy Halloween!  Thank you for taking the time to visit the website for the Chesapeake Chapter of the American Society of Safety Professionals.  Next week, more than 41 million children, in the United States, will celebrate Halloween by going trick-or-treating!  Please keep the following in mind to keep you and your community safe:

Statistics

• 175 million Americans plan to celebrate Halloween this year
• More than 41 million children will go trick or treating this year
• The average American will spend $86.79 on Halloween festivities
• 3.8 million children will dress as their favorite character
• 20% of celebrators will dress their pet
• Box office earnings for horror movies exceeded 750 million dollars in 2022
• 6.9 million dollars has been spent on pumpkin spice products since the end of August

On a more serious note, in the United States…

• In 2023, more than 7,300 pedestrians died in traffic or non-traffic incidents
  • This is a 52% increase over the last decade
• 18% of those deaths occurred at road crossings or intersections
• Children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year

Tips for Trick or Treating

• A responsible adult should accompany young children on the neighborhood rounds
• If your older children are going alone, plan their route with them
  • Agree on a specific time that they should return home
• Teach your children never to enter a stranger’s home or car
• Instruct children to travel only in familiar, well-lit areas and stick with their friends
• Tell your children not to eat any treats until they return home
• Children and adults should never walk while looking at their cell phones or electronic devices
• A responsible adult should inspect all candy prior to allowing anyone to eat it
• Any candy that is not in a wrapper or has a wrapper that has been tampered with should be discarded immediately

Tips for Motorists

• Avoid driving during Trick or Treat hours, if possible
• Slow down in residential areas and obey all traffic signs and signals
• Drive at least 5 MPH below the posted speed limit to give yourself extra time to react to children who may dart into the street
• Don’t utilize your high beams as they make it difficult for on-coming traffic to see trick or treaters
• Watch for children walking on roadways, medians, curbs, sidewalks and streets with no sidewalks
• Watch for children crossing the street who cross mid-block or between parked cars
• Watch for trick or treaters who may dart from behind cars or other obstructions
• Carefully enter and exit driveways
• Don’t park in the street if you don’t have to
• Use extra caution when backing up
• Turn on your headlights to make yourself more visible- even if the sun is still out
• Be Alert, Be Safe, Be Aware

2024 is FLYING BY very quickly, but that doesn’t mean that you have to let the many benefits that ASSP has to offer pass you by!  Regardless of the industry that you work in, ASSP has something for you.  In addition, we are looking for assistance on one of our many committees.  While many of our volunteers spend 8 or more hours per month, in their volunteer roles, many others spend less than 2 hours.  Regardless of the commitment that you are able to make, your assistance is needed and appreciated.   If you are interested in being more active in the chapter, please reach out to me directly. Thank you, again, for taking the time to visit the website for the Chesapeake Chapter of the American Society of Safety Professionals.

James Woodward
ASSP Chesapeake Chapter President

Happy Fall! The start of the fall season has a different meaning for many of us. For some chapter members, the Region VI Professional Development Conference symbolizes the end of summer, and it was a pleasure to interact with many of you who were in attendance, in Virginia Beach. Many Americans consider the Labor Day holiday to be the end of season, while the official conclusion is September 22, with the autumnal equinox. 

Regardless of how you mark the end of summer and the beginning of fall, the kids are back at school, the leaves are changing, and pumpkin spice… well… everything, is on the store shelves. As the season changes from summer to fall, there are some additional precautions that you can take to keep you and the community safe, while on the roadways:

• Be on the lookout for school zone signals and ALWAYS obey the speed limits.
• When entering a school zone, be sure to slow down and obey all traffic laws.
• Always stop for school busses that are loading or unloading children.
• Watch out for school crossing guards and obey their signals.
• Be aware of and watch out for children near schools, bus stops, sidewalks, in the streets, in school parking lots, etc.
• Never pass other vehicles, change lanes, make u-turns, or text while driving in a school zone.
• Avoid using a cell phone, unless it is completely hands-free, while driving in a school zone.
• Unless licensed to do so, never use handicap or emergency vehicle lanes or spaces to drop off or pick up children at school.

The summer months passed us by very quickly and there is no doubt that we will be talking about winter weather safety before we know it. Don’t let the many benefits that ASSP has to offer pass you by! Regardless of the industry that you work in, ASSP has something for you. In addition, we are looking for assistance on one of our many committees. While many of our volunteers spend 8 or more hours per month, in their volunteer roles, many others spend less than 2 hours. Regardless of the commitment that you are able to make, your assistance is needed and appreciated. If you are interested in being more active in the chapter, please reach out to me directly. Thank for taking the time to visit the website for the Chesapeake Chapter of the American Society of Safety Professionals.

James Woodward

ASSP Chesapeake Chapter President

Back to School!  It’s that time of year again.  In case you hadn’t noticed, fall is just around the corner!  Since local retailers now start putting out Halloween decorations in July, you are probably already aware! 

Now that schools are back in session, it’s a good time to consikder School Bus Safety and keeping yourself, your family, and the community safe as the kids head back to school!

STOP FOR SCHOOL BUSES

Many students rely on school buses to get them to and from school safely.

Did You Know School buses are the most regulated vehicles on the road; they’re designed to be safer than passenger vehicles in preventing crashes and injuries; and in every state, stop-arm laws exist to protect children from other motorists.

If you are driving, remember these simple rules

• Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. You should slow down and prepare to stop your vehicle.
• Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off. You must stop your car and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop-arm is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving, before you can start driving again.
• Even when lights aren’t flashing, watch for children, particularly in the morning or mid-afternoon, around school arrival and dismissal times. Be alert as you back out of a driveway, or drive through a neighborhood, school zone or bus stop.

Parents – Talk Bus Safety with your Children

Your child should arrive at the bus stop at least 5 minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive. Teach them to play it SAFE:

• Stay at least ten feet — five giant steps — away from the curb.
• Always wait until the bus comes to a complete stop and the bus driver signals for you to board.
• Face forward after finding a seat on the bus.
• Exit the bus after it stops and look left-right-left for cars before crossing a street.

The Chesapeake Chapter is one of the most active chapters in ASSP.  We have monthly meetings, which are a combination of hybrid and in-person meetings.  These meetings are a blend of technical knowledge, tours of facilities, and social/networking meetings.  We also team up with the American Industrial Hygiene Association’s Chesapeake Section for a professional development conference.

All of this could not be accomplished without the hard work and dedication of the volunteer members of our executive committee (EC), which meets just once a month.  However, we need your help!  Currently, the EC is in need of members to fill some very important roles on our many committees.  Most of these roles only require a few hours of your time, each month.  If you are interested, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at any time.  All chapter members are welcome, and encouraged, to sit in on an EC meeting.

I hope to see you soon at an upcoming Chesapeake Chapter event.

Thank You,

James Woodward Sr.
ASSP Chesapeake Chapter President