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
- 2024 VPP Seminar
- Introduction - Craig Blackwood & Joel Sacks
- Mental Health in the Workplace - Frank King
- Causal Analysis (RCA): A practical guide to learn faster than we fail - Brian Hughes
- The Value of Safety Committees - Chris Ansell
- 2023 VPP Seminar
- Introduction - Darren James & Joel Sacks
- 50 Years of the WISHA - Rick Gleason
- Safety and the Negativity Bias - Justin Molocznik
- Mental Health as a Workplace Concern - Mandi Kime