For several years I have been attending EHS expos. They generally are kicked off by a rotating group of speakers who have an impressive list of companies and organizations to which they consult on EHS matters. My issue is when, if ever, have they been in the field or in the plant observing day to day activities? Many are academics. I get it, they are mostly consulting on management and organizational issues, but currency in day-to-day production activities would, in my mind, make them more relevant. But that is not the topic of this article.
Generally, in my observations and discussions, the attendees are from companies that pay their way to and from, along with hotels and meals while there. The benefits are impressive – CEU points for EHS certification holders, attending some cutting-edge presentations and seeing the latest safety technology on the expo floor.