Prioritizing the safety and health of all attendees, the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) has moved its signature event to a new date and location while making it a hybrid experience for the first time. The Safety 2021 Professional Development Conference and Exposition will take place Sept. 13-15 both online and in-person in Austin, Texas, enabling attendees to access continuing education like never before.

“It will be a dynamic occupational safety and health education and networking experience, and we are incorporating heightened safety and health measures to protect all attendees,” said ASSP President Deborah Roy, M.P.H., RN, COHN-S, CSP, CIT, FASSP, FAAOHN. “We are excited about what we have in store for industry professionals worldwide.”

ASSP will combine the in-person event at the Austin Convention Center with an engaging virtual component that features mobile compatibility to offer unprecedented access to the 60th annual conference. The new framework replaces the Society’s original plan to present Safety 2021 in Denver in June.

“Expect a conference experience that is mindful of the public safety and health challenges we continue to face due to the pandemic,” Roy said. “We’ve all missed being together in person, and we’ll provide safe opportunities for safety professionals to learn and reconnect with one another to enhance their careers. For example, face coverings will be mandatory.”

In addition to requiring attendees to wear face coverings at the convention center, ASSP is working diligently to integrate many safeguards into its new plan and continues to monitor pandemic-related developments in Austin. Furthermore, if the public health situation doesn’t improve as expected, the Society has the flexibility to shift the conference to an all-virtual event.

ASSP’s annual event – the nation’s largest conference and expo for occupational safety and health professionals that debuted in 1962 – highlights best practices, industry trends and the latest product innovations. Concurrent sessions presented by industry trendsetters provide practical information that safety professionals can use today and in the future to protect workers, enhance business operations and advance their careers. At the in-person expo, companies will reveal cutting-edge safety solutions to top industry challenges through hands-on demonstrations.

By attending the live event in Austin, safety professionals will earn up to 1.2 continuing education units (CEUs) for their career advancement. After the conference, those who attended in-person will have access to all the online sessions that provide an additional 6.0 CEUs, enabling them to earn up to 7.2 CEUs total. Virtual-only registrants can earn up to 6.0 CEUs. Safety 2021 registration will open in late spring.

The conference’s popular general and plenary sessions that aim to inspire, entertain and inform will be streamed live so that in-person and online attendees experience them together in real time.

Safety and health professionals can stay informed of the latest Safety 2021 developments and upcoming registration details by visiting ASSP’s conference web page at safety.assp.org.