Maintaining A Safe Work Environment and Protecting the Employee

The Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce Presents a three-part series “Making Sure It is Safe to Reopen” as part of the Chamber’s Workforce and Business Resources Series: Connecting You With What You Need to Know. The Program is Courtesy of The Human Resources and Government Affairs Committees.

The Middlesex Regional Chamber of Commerce and Middlesex County Bar Association/Foundation jointly presents a series on what all small, medium and large businesses need to know in order to safely and legally re-open. The series also focuses on how to re-open in a manner that reduces risk and liability. The program will begin by educating business owners on how to develop a formal business reopening plan in accordance with Governor Murphy’s directives meeting CDC and OSHA standards. The second part will cover how to safeguard customers/clients while limiting legal risk and the third part will discuss how to protect employees and reduce the risk of Workers’ Compensation claims.

Our 1-Hour Program Will Cover:

• Part 3 – Maintaining A Safe Work Environment and Protecting the Employee
  • Reducing Workers’ Compensation Liability

Panelists: Michele Haas- Hoagland Longo, Brian Shea- Stark & Stark and Steve Valentine- Partners Environmental

Free for Members (Limited to 50)

Non-Members – $10 – Please E-Mail kathy@mcrcc.org.

Meet Your Panelists

Michele Haas,
Partner,
Hoagland, Longo, Moran, Dunst & Doukas

Michele G. Haas is Partner in the firm, concentrating her practice in Workers’ Compensation. She has served various clients, including State Farm Insurance Company and Hartford Insurance Company and municipal entities, including the Middlesex County Utilities Authority and the Townships of Edison, Ewing, Hamilton, and Piscataway. Michele is also the Co-Chair of the firm’s Cannabis Law Group. She is committed to remaining at the forefront of legal considerations relevant to the cannabis industry.

She is Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Workers’ Compensation Law Attorney. This certification is granted to attorneys who meet the standards set by the Attorney Board on certification and who are able to demonstrate sufficient levels of experience, education, knowledge, and skill in Workers’ Compensation practice.

Michele has a long standing history with Justice James H. Coleman, Jr., Workers’ Compensation American Inn of Court. She is Co-Chair of the Workers’ Compensation Committees of both the New Jersey Defense Association and the Middlesex County Bar Association. Michele has also given several lectures and written articles concerning Workers’ Compensation Law around the state and region for the Insurance Council of New Jersey, the CEU Institute, and various other entities.

Brian Shea,
Shareholder,
Stark & Stark

Brian W. Shea is a Shareholder and member of Stark and Stark’s Workers’ Compensation Group where he represents injured workers in claims for workers’ compensation benefits.

Mr. Shea brings extensive knowledge of workers’ compensation claims handling to the office as a result of years representing injured workers, having been Senior Counsel for the State of New Jersey’s Uninsured Employer’s Fund and an attorney for an insurance defense firm representing self-insured employers, insurance carriers and municipalities. Having seen cases from various angles through all stages of litigation allows Mr. Shea to help guide his clients through the workers’ compensation process and secure the benefits they rightfully deserve.

He is a member of the New Jersey a Council on Safety and Health and active member of the State and Mercer County Bar Associations. Mr. Shea enjoys volunteering his time in the community through different organizations. On several occasions Mr. Shea has been named to the New Jersey Super Lawyers Rising Stars list issued by Thomson Reuters.

Stephen Valentine,
Executive Director,
Partners Environmental

Stephen Valentine is an Executive Director for Partners. Mr. Valentine is a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) with more than 25 years of experience in industrial hygiene and safety management. His time has been split between both general industry and construction consulting (22 years) and safety management (3 years) in general industry.

Mr. Valentine has a solid understanding of safety and health program implementation at the corporate levels, and all the way down to the local facility operations. His role as the Director, Industrial Hygiene and Safety, includes senior/principal level safety and health consulting services, management of EHS outsourcing, coordination of the professional safety and health staff, and management of strategic projects and project deliverables.

Thank You to Our Program Sponsors

Thank You to Our Program Partner