Welcome to the Chesapeake Chapter of the American Society of Safety Professionals and thank you for taking the time to visit our web page.  The cool, crisp weather is in the air, and summer is officially behind us.  In just a few weeks, forty-eight states will turn the clocks back one hour, from daylight savings time to standard time, and we will slowly transition from fall to winter.  However, prior to that, many Americans will celebrate Halloween by sending their little ones out to trick treat, trunk or treat, or stay home and pass out candy.  Here are some tips to consider to keep you safe on Halloween

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 princess
• 20% of celebrators will dress their pet
• Box office earnings for horror movies exceeded 750 million dollars in 2019
• 6.9 million dollars has been spent on pumpkin spice products since the end of August

On a more serious note…

• Every year, approximately 7,450 pedestrians died in traffic or non-traffic incidents
• 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
• Have Fun!

In the next couple of weeks, the chapter has multiple events planned, some of which offer a virtual or in-person option.  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.

Ned Fitter
ASSP Chesapeake Chapter President

Happy Fall.  The start of the fall season has a different meaning for many of us.  For many 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 Myrtle Beach.  Many Americans consider the Labor Day holiday to be the end of season, while the official conclusion came on 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.

Ned Fitter
ASSP Chesapeake Chapter President

Happy New Year!  As we turn the calendar over to the 2022-2023 chapter year, I think this is a great time to take a moment to thank Jim Kane for his service as chapter president, for the past two years. Jim’s leadership skilled enabled our chapter to sustain consecutive successful years, despite having to navigate through the global pandemic that directly changed the way in which we interact with one another. Moving forward, the Chesapeake Chapter will continue to provide many different avenues for our members to connect and flourish as safety professionals.

As we move into the new chapter year, we have several plans in the works, for our members to continue to grow and benefit from the many tools that ASSP has to offer.  In order to continue to provide these opportunities, we are looking for volunteers to help in our many committees. As committee members, you will in engage with other safety professional and be able to build your network of safety peers.  Please reach out to me directly, if you are interested in helping us out.  I look to forward to meeting all of our members this year, and growing our chapter.

Ned Fitter
ASSP Chesapeake Chapter President

My, my how time flies, to think we are near the end of another activity year – 2021-2022. April was certainly a month filled with events and achievements for the Chesapeake Chapter of ASSP. The Professional Development Conference (PDC), held on April 28 at Johns Hopkins was a well-accepted success. Although paired down slightly, and still hybrid (face-to-face and virtual) there were interesting topics, presented by knowledgeable speakers. With over 80 face-to-face attendees networking opportunities abounded.  Of course, I must also recognize our trade show vendors who through their sponsorship helped make this event possible while displaying an array of products and services most desirable to our attendees. Please support them as they support us.

Our sincere appreciation goes out to the members of the PDC organizing committee, who worked so hard to make this year’s PDC another success.  Not only did they have the challenges associated with planning and conducting an event of this nature, but still under Covid restraints, they exhibited flexibility and rational judgement in keeping the event within the means and resources of the partnering organizations. Well done my Friends!

Another personally rewarding and humbling experience at the 2022 PDC, was my honor to present three awards to outstanding Chapter members who have given selflessly to our organization and to the entire Safety Profession. These awards are for their support of the chapter and their leadership promoting the safety profession. I was honored to present the following awards:

The President’s Award – Craig Lowrey
The Veditz Award – Paul Esposito
The Safety Professional of the Year (SPY Award) – James Woodward

These professionals gave their time and efforts to help make the Chesapeake Chapter a success while promoting their fellow safety colleagues. How about you? Feel passionate about safety and the profession? Want to put your talents and skills to work for you and your fellow professionals. The Chesapeake Chapter is just the place to do it. Expand your network, hone your leadership skills while having a positive impact on the field. Make new friends while expanding your professional experience, looks good on your resume as well.

A special thanks and note of appreciation to the Executive Committee that does the work of the Chapter while setting course for a future. This is definitely a team effort, and your time, energy, understanding and professionalism is unsurpassed. Thank you for your service to the Chesapeake Chapter.

Stay Safe & Healthy!

Yours truly,

James F Kane (Jim)
Chesapeake Chapter President

Well the time is finally here, our much anticipated “2022 Chesapeake AIHA/ASSP Educational Seminar”, affectionately referred to as the Chesapeake PDC, is just a couple weeks away.  The April 28, 2022 event is being offered in both a face-to-face and virtual venues. The face-to-face seminar will be held at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, for more information on the seminar look HERE.  There is still time to register, but the clock is ticking so please don’t delay; click this link to REGISTER.

In other exciting Chesapeake Chapter news, the votes are in for the Chapter Officers for activity year 2022-2023, and the winners are:

• President – Edward Fitter (Ned)
• 1^st Vice President – James Woodward
• 2^nd Vice President – OPEN
• Secretary – Tony Lenzi
• Treasurer – James Kane (Jim)
• Delegate – Paul Esposito
• Director – Craig Lowry

Congratulations to our new officers, we look forward to another successful year under your guidance. However, Chapter Officers are only a part of the team that keeps the Chesapeake Chapter running and providing valuable benefits to our members.  There are also committees that handle much of the planning, research, organizing and implementation for the Chapter. These committees are comprised of members, just like you, who want to contribute to the success of the chapter, and reap the rewards of being a participating member of a premier safety organization. Please take a look at our website and see what part of the organization interests you, where you can make a positive difference and how you can advance yourself in your professional development. The benefits are many, including expanding your knowledge, networking with other professionals, honing your leadership skills, and a good point on your resume as well.

Here is a summary of some of the committees that may interest you; the Chapter relies on committees to provide valuable services to our members.  These committees plan and determine our activities for the upcoming year.  Some examples are:

• Programs – Arrange our technical programs
• PDC – Plans and conducts our annual Professional Development Conference
• Government Affairs – Tracks and informs on legislation and other actions
• WISE – Women in Safety Excellence
• Membership – Staying in tune with our members
• Awards & Scholarships – Support and Recognition of Members
• Nominations and Elections – Continuity of Leadership

As you can see there are many interests covered and your assistance with these helps ensure the success of the Chapter.  Become a part of the team and learn the inner workings of the Chapter and Society. If interested, please contact any Board member, you can find us on our website.

Welcome to our new members and Student Members, we look forward to working with you as our Chapter grows.  Thank you to all our current members and special thanks to our Chapter Leaders, we must, and do, work as a team to achieve our goals. I hope everyone stays warm, safe, and healthy.  I look forward to seeing you all soon.

Stay Safe & Healthy!

Yours truly,

James F Kane (Jim)
Chesapeake Chapter President
American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP)

Wow, March already and spring is starting to spring here at the Chesapeake Chapter of ASSP. We have a busy month ahead as we prepare for a number of upcoming events while continuing with our regular monthly business and Technical Presentation. This month’s technical session on March 24 will be an Update of MOSH activities and plans presented by the Maryland Commissioner of Labor and Industry, Mr. Matt Helminiak.  We look forward to a very informative update from Matt.  For more on this virtual event please visit our website at https://chesapeake.assp.org/events/chesapeake-assp-virtual-chapter-meeting-2/.

Today is our monthly Executive Committee (EC) Meeting where we discuss and conduct the Chapters business. All members or those interested in joining are invited and encouraged to attend and see how the Chapter operates.  There are opportunities for all members to participate and you can see how you can not only contribute but help chart the path of the Chapter moving forward. This is a volunteer organization and the success of the Chapter and Society lies with the membership itself.

On that note, the Chapter is developing its slate of candidates for the upcoming 2022-2023 activity year.  The Officer Committee is directly elected by the Chapter Members.  The elected positions include President, 1^st & 2^nd Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, Delegate and Director.  All eligible members are encouraged to nominate themselves or others for these positions. You will be warmly welcomed to the Board as a contributing member of the leadership team. Of particular interest id the 2^nd Vice President Position which remained open this year but is a vital part of the team and needs candidates to fill it.

As well as elected officials, the Chapter relies on committees to provide valuable services to our members.  These committees plan and determine our activities for the upcoming year.  Some examples are:

• Programs – Arrange our technical programs
• PDC – Plans and conducts our annual Professional Development Conference
• Government Affairs – Tracks and informs on legislation and other actions
• WISE – Women in Safety Excellence
• Membership – Staying in tune with our members
• Awards & Scholarships – Support and Recognition of Members
• Nominations and Elections – Continuity of Leadership

As you can see there are many interests covered and your assistance with these helps ensure the success of the Chapter.  Become a part of the team and learn the inner workings of the Chapter and Society. If interested, please contact any Board member.

Let’s not forget our upcoming Chapter PDC on April 28, where a full range of safety topics sure to pique interest of professionals from various fields including construction, general industry, academia, industrial hygiene and consulting. There is too much planned to cover here so please go to https://chesapeake.assp.org/events/chesapeake-pdc/ to see the event details. Great sessions and great networking.  This year the PDC will be both in person and virtual so all can attend and participate.

Welcome to our new members and Student Members, we look forward to working with you as our Chapter grows.  Thank you to all our current members and special thanks to our Chapter Leaders, we must, and do, work as a team to achieve our goals. I hope everyone stays warm, safe, and healthy.  I look forward to seeing you all soon.

Stay Safe & Healthy!

Yours truly,

James F Kane (Jim)
Chesapeake Chapter President
American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP)