Thanks to BSI Representative Glenn Vitale, safety has always come first at BSI. But Vitale also plays a vital role in the Sports Production Safety Group part of the Sports Video Group (SVG). The goal of this safety team is to minimize risk for clients and maximize safety for employees through consistent education and training for all industry workers.This industry-wide safety program relies on representatives from all the major networks and service providers (BSI being one) to help them achieve their goal in setting policies for the industry, providing consistent training, monitoring companies to make sure they are in compliance with government regulations (OSHA, EPA, DOT) and, most importantly, to ensuring the safety of employees and protecting them under all conditions.
The Sports Production Safety Group has also created a web site and encourages all of our industry colleagues to utilize the courses they offer online at www.spsgonline.com. These safety courses are a comprehensive offering shared by a variety of industry leaders.
Upon completion of a course, an individual receives a certificate stating they have completed their training. Completion of this training makes an individual more desirable for hiring, as employers can trust they know how to work under the safest conditions. For a full list of courses and to register, simply click on the website above.
An Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Specialist at BSI for the past five years, Glenn has helped pioneer the way in creating and implementing these safety measures -from fall protection for trailers, to electrical training, to equipment protection. In fact, he put BSI at the forefront of safety by implementing many of these programs before the Sports Production Safety Group was even formed. He single-handedly wrote all the safety courses for the company. Before joining BSI, he was at CBS in Los Angeles where he acted as Safety Coordinator for 10 years.
Safety has always been a top priority at BSI, and we were the first company to have fall protection installed on the roof of our production trailers. We dont just train employees in safety, explains Glenn. We work with the engineers of sports arenas in the beginning stages of design, so that they understand the specific safety needs of our people.
With workers climbing on the roofs of trailers 20-feet high in the air in order to install antennas, this was a vitally important safety measure. Glenn was able to design and create a rail system featuring harnesses and lanyards that prevent staff members from falling from a trailer roof. As the pioneer of this effort, BSI is proud that other networks are continuing to adopt this necessary system.
It is this focus on safety that sets BSI apart. Clients know we are safety oriented, says Glenn, so the risk of service interruption due to personal injury is minimized. Of course, at the same time, we are helping to protect BSIs and our clients most important assets, the men and women of our crews. At BSI, the best technology in the world is coupled with this outstanding safety and employee training program, to provide our clients with the best service possible.
