Meet Steve Myers!
When did you start at the OTIEC?
I started in 1999 as a guest instructor while I was with Vermont OSHA teaching students what to expect during OSHA inspections and how the OSHA standards are applicable with General Industry and Construction.
Favorite classes to teach and why?
My favorite classes are the Trainer courses, Respiratory Protection, Excavations, PRCS and Combustible Dust. I enjoy sharing my skills as an educator with safety professionals who are interested in different styles and techniques for teaching not only OSHA 10 and 30 courses, but for also stand alone courses for different OSHA standards. Teaching adults is very challenging and by providing OTIEC students with various adult educational methods, it helps those who take our trainer classes, to better utilize their skills so their students take away and retain what was taught. As Lead Instructor for Respiratory Protection, Co-Lead for Excavations, PRCS and Combustible Dust, these are four challenging courses that I have significant experience in, so it allows me to provide our students with insights on how they can better improve their own programs.
Highlight some of your previous employment, background, how did you end up in safety
Very early I worked in municipal government in Vermont, where VOSHA enforced their regulations with the government at local and state levels. I found safety very interesting from an early age when I met a compliance officer in 1977 after an incident occurred where I worked.. Recognizing the importance of safety, I made a major career move and became a compliance officer with VOSHA, which led me into whole new direction. I was the only compliance officer in Vermont at the time to educate private sector employers OSHA standards. I was highly regarded by employers in Vermont and it was suggested that I look into consulting. When I decide to shift gears and worked with a close and dear friend who had started her own consulting business eventually moving on and opened my own consulting business which allowed me to travel throughout the country and work with clients to improve their safety culture.
From your bookshelf – safety, leadership, etc – What do you recommend?
Safety 24/7 – Building an Incident-Free Culture written by Gregory M. Anderson and Robert L. Lorber, Ph.D
Extreme Ownership written by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin.
A fun fact about yourself/anything else you want to add
I love spending time outdoors with my wife Sue and our pup Autumn. I like to ski, hike, golf, read and travel. I have some hobbies that I want to spend more time on such as photography and videography as I semi-retired at the end of 2023, closing my consulting business. I continue to work for KSC/OTIEC and am looking forward to full retirement in the future.