We’re in for Safety 2010. Are you?”

Besides being a catchy campaign, the ads for ASSE’s upcoming conference send a strong message: ASSE’s professional development conference and exposition this June 13-16 in Baltimore will bring together the best in the SH&E community and it’s something that every SH&E practitioner should be part of.

Issues of the day
Attendees at this year’s conference will earn 1.8 CEUs (1.7 without the lunch on Wed., June 16) while learning strategies for succeeding in the face of the changes currently reshaping the economy and the world. Sessions will cover the broad range of areas SH&E professionals must address each day— from safety management and regulatory issues to ergonomics, human behavior, training and risk management. The conference will also feature practice area tracks in construction and mining, industrial hygiene, healthcare, fire protection and security. In addition, an executive track has been added to help attendees better understand how to align SH&E with business goals, examine SH&E issues from a global perspective and address corporate social responsibility.

Fresh voices
Safety 2010 will give attendees the opportunity to hear from new voices in safety—more than 100 new speakers were selected this year. They will deliver fresh perspectives on a range of topics, such as managing workers’ compensation during downsizing, calculating return on investment, promoting self-motivation among employees and applying photography skills in safety. Other new topics include obesity’s impact on workers’ compensation, a look back at the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, employee maintenance programs and how podcasts can be used to improve safety.

View from the Executive Summit
Among the returning conference favorites is the Executive Summit, which will bring together a panel of corporate executives to discuss their expectations for safety and for SH&E professionals; key issue roundtables, which will address topics such as onboard recorders, prevention through design, LEED certification, OSHA’s multiemployer policy, combustible dust and audit protocols; and technical tours, which will take participants to locations such as the applied physics lab at Johns Hopkins University, Camden Yards, Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems and the USNS Comfort medical treatment facility.

Pre- and post-conference social networking — and a Comment Wall
It’s about networking, too. Safety 2010 will provide many opportunities for attendees to meet new contacts and renew old friendships. Upon registering, each attendee will receive a link to SafetyNet 2010, a site that allows those planning to attend the conference to network and communicate with each other before and during Safety 2010. The site features a video tour that demonstrates how SafetyNet works, and a chat room where registrants can talk to others currently online. Attendees can search for colleagues and associates, and use the “Comment Wall” to leave a message on the person’s profile.

Other networking opportunities include the usual array of receptions and luncheons, and the ASSE Service Center. In addition, ASSE’s Chesapeake Chapter will sponsor two nights outs—an Orioles baseball game on June 12 and an outing to Baltimore’s National Aquarium on June 14.

Annual expo
The annual exposition also provides great opportunities to network while learning about the latest products and services in the SH&E industry. For a complete list of vendors that will be in Baltimore, be sure to visit ASSE’s virtual exposition at www. SAFETY2010.org where you will find the expo floor plan, booth numbers, company information and a tool for creating a personalized exhibitor list.

Extend your education
Leading up to Safety 2010 and for several days afterward, ASSE will deliver a full slate of seminars— 42 in total—through which attendees can earn an additional 4.9 CEUs.

In addition, the International Society for Fall Protection will hold a symposium June 16-17. Expert presentations and panel discussions will address topics such as engineered system design, models for fall arrest testing and industrial rope access techniques. The results of a comprehensive study on the use and performance of Y-lanyards will be presented as well.

All in all, ASSE’s Safety 2010 will be the place for SH&E professionals to be this June. Are you in?