Spring Thaw Schedule



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Time Topic/Speaker
8:00 Welcome.
Opening remarks to kick off the 2023 Spring Thaw conference.
Charley Rea, CalCIMA
8:10
Fallen Miners Remembrance.
Welcome remarks and tribute to those who have lost their lives in work-related accidents.
Robert Dugan, CalCIMA
8:25 MSHA Overview.
MSHA’s national leadership reviews its initiatives on enforcement, regulation, and education.
Miles Frandsen, San Bernardino Field Office Supervisor, MSHA (Ont)
Brian Goepfert, Director of Education, Policy, Development, MSHA (Sac)
9:10
Silica Health Safety Panel.
  • MSHA will review silica initiative, best practices for monitoring, etc.
  • SESPE will review a model program from industrial sand producers and effective monitoring and control for operators
  • NIOSH will review important research exploring the possible use of networks of dust sensors in mining, specific monitoring techniques, and the latest on dust control approaches.
Jennifer Van Wey, Industrial Hygienist, MSHA (Ont/Sac)
Scott Cohen, P.E., CIH, Project Manager, Sespe Consulting, Inc. (Ont/Sac)
Justin Patts, Lead Mechanical Engineer, NIOSH (Ont/Sac)
Milan Yekich, Mechanical Engineer, NIOSH (Ont/Sac)
10:10 Break.
10:25 What Did You Say?
Communications and conflict management skills for the workplace and everyday use.
Libby Pritchard, National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (Ont/Sac)
11:10 Site-Specific Training for Customers, Vendors and Visitors Panel.
This panel of mine operators will share examples of how companies are addressing site-specific training for customers, truckers, vendors, and visitors.
Mike Herges, Graniterock (Ont/Sac) 
Carson DeVinny, Granite Construction (Ont)
Carlos Mascote, 3M (Ont)
Chris Bryan, Castle Mountain Joint Venture (Ont/Sac)
Don Roland, Granite Construction (Sac)
12:00 Lunch.
12:50 CalOSHA Mining & Tunneling Overview.
A review of current issues and safety concerns as seen from CalOSHA
Diane Fionda, Field Safety Engineer, CalOSHA (Ont)
Allen “Blake” Brown, Safety Engineer, CalOSHA (Sac)
1:25 Fit for Work Panel.
This panel will share new perspectives and developments on fitness for work.
 
Cannabis in the Workplace – What you need to know about California’s cannabis testing law.
Brian Hawkins, Stoel Rives (Sac)
 
Alertness Technology – New technology to monitor alertness. Learn more about impairment research and how it can help with the management of impairment in the field.
Antonio Visconti, Sobereye (Ont/Sac)
 
Sleep & Performance – This talk will discuss the latest on sleep and its impacts on safety.
Meagan Neal, P.W. Gillibrand (Ont/Sac)
2:25 Break.
2:40 Elements of a Risk Assessment, or Work Plan

Tom Lavera, Vulcan Materials (Ont)
Jonathan Arthur, Vulcan Materials (Ont)
James O'Brien, Vulcan Materials (Sac)
Adam Love, Vulcan Materials (Sac)
3:05 Concrete Plants – Applying 5S at Your Maintenance Shop.
Learn how the 5S system improves safety around heavy equipment, heights, maintenance, and housekeeping
Daryl Charlson, Safety Manager, Cemex (Ont/Sac)
3:30 Conclude
  Agenda subject to change