The name Mel James is synonymous with safety at L&I. In 1982, OSHA began the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP), and in the mid-1990s, after much work and dedication, Mel brought VPP to Washington State.

Mel passed away on May 3, 2015. In his honor, we established the Melvin E. James Honorary Lectures on Safety, which continue Mel's legacy of making safety a top priority in the workplace.

Previous seminar summaries