The signature event of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) attracted 6,164 workplace safety and health professionals last month in one of the biggest successes for the global event. Factoring in a livestream session and the exhibitor representatives in the expo hall, more than 9,700 people participated in the Safety 2025 Professional Development Conference and Exposition in Orlando.

“We continue to see an immense desire from safety professionals to network with colleagues and stay current on best practices, industry trends and the latest product innovations,” said ASSP President Linda Tapp, CSP, ALCM, CPTD. “The turnout was exceptional and made Safety 2025 a significant success in many ways.”

The registered attendance at the Orange County Convention Center from July 22-24 has only been surpassed by ASSP’s sold-out Safety 2024 in Denver. It is one of America’s largest annual conferences for the advancement of workplace safety and health that began in Chicago in 1962.

Boosting Safety 2025’s popularity was a dynamic expo with 683 vendor booths that covered more than 134,000 square feet. It was the largest expo in ASSP history. The extensive product showcase was a key component of the overall experience, incorporating popular elements such as tech talks, flash sessions, a career advancement center and the Runway Apparel and PPE Fashion Show.

“Our expo hall is highly engaging and reflects the growing partnerships we have with many companies to provide practical safety solutions,” Tapp said.

Safety 2025 welcomed 2,797 first-time attendees, making up nearly half of the total attendance. About one-third of the crowd was non-members. Those who had never been an ASSP member received a free year of membership. The extraordinary results signal future growth for ASSP and the occupational safety and health profession.

“We’re proud to be a global leader in providing professional development for the workplace safety and health community,” Tapp said. “Our event shares case studies and new safety approaches along with vast networking opportunities that help practitioners solve safety challenges and advance their careers.”

The conference surpassed its $15,000 fundraising goal as attendees strongly supported the ASSP Foundation, including a dollar-for-dollar match by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals. The ASSP Foundation promotes occupational safety and health as a career choice and works to build a sustainable talent pipeline in the profession that will help make all industries safer worldwide.

Looking ahead to next year, ASSP’s Safety 2026 will take place June 15-17 in California at the Anaheim Convention Center, the largest exhibit facility on the West Coast. Anaheim is known for its world-famous theme parks and has been called “the epicenter of fun in Southern California.” Its palm tree-lined streets feature plenty of destinations for live music aficionados, adrenaline junkies, self-proclaimed foodies and brew connoisseurs.

Groups planning to attend Safety 2026 can save on the entire conference. More than 150 companies received discounts on this year’s event. To learn about group offers, contact ASSP’s Andy Kraft at akraft@assp.org.