How do you overcome road blocks when changes need to be made? Gentle pressure applied relentlessly is Pam Carter’s motto. Pam is an Occupational Health, Safety & Wellness Manager with Albemarle County. She has done a fantastic job moving the County from a struggling risk management program to one that is running well.  As one of VML Insurance Programs’ recent watch member graduates, Pam was the driving force in moving the County back to their preferred member status.  The watch program is geared towards members who are struggling with several years of elevated loss ratios and limited evidence of effective risk management programs. 

When Pam was hired at Albemarle County almost two years ago they were already in the watch program. Coming in at this time was a daunting task for her, but she started by taking a look at the Workers’ Compensation data to determine where the accidents were occurring and started from there. She hit the ground running working towards turning things around.  In a very short time, Pam was able to assist the County in organizing their program and training efforts to achieve her goal of reaching preferred member status once again.

Pam started her career as a registered nurse but wanted more variety.  Every few years she would try a different area of nursing.  Her career changed to occupational health when she accepted a position with GE working in environmental health and safety.  Here she developed a love for safety and the prevention of worker injuries instead of focusing on the treatment of the injury.  GE was involved in the OSHA voluntary protection programs (VPP).  The VPP promote effective worksite-based safety and health.  In the VPP, management, labor, and OSHA establish cooperative relationships at workplaces that have implemented a comprehensive safety and health management system.  Approval into VPP is OSHA’s official recognition of the outstanding efforts of employers and employees who have achieved exemplary occupational safety and health.

The number one key to Pam’s success lies with the commitment and support management has given her to allow the development and implementation the safety programs that were needed.  She has used many of the resources available through VML Insurance Programs to assist in her efforts.  She is a regular attendee of the risk management and safety workshops sponsored by VML, acting as a host at one of our most recent training sessions.  Why reinvent the wheel when you can network and borrow as much as you can from others who have already been there?  She also attends the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Conference held every June sponsored by the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry.  This is a great opportunity to learn and discover many new ideas and solutions as presented by her peers in the business of safety.  There are many resources; training, program development, and personnel, available to those who are seeking assistance with developing and improving their risk management programs. Pam’s number one mantra of the day is, still gentle pressure applied relentlessly to get the job done.