It’s 2019 and the robots haven’t taken over...yet. Despite wild internet theories and predictions that robotics and automation would take jobs away from Americans, especially in the labor and trades, the United States is actually looking at a large skills gap in the trades and an even larger number of unfilled jobs.
Today’s changing workforce and regulations involving temporary workers was the topic Melanie Nykamp, a senior risk management consultant, and Greg Clone, a supervisor of regional risk management.
There are new and changing risks associated with the aging workforce, unskilled workers and issues such as opioid abuse and distracted driving, Nykamp said.
Speakers Carmen Julia Castellon of US Cellular and Jorge Otalora of Hoar Construction, LLC discussed Tuesday how storytelling can benefit safety training.
Storytelling is a great way to get the attention of trainees while getting important safety information across, they said. This session discussed what makes good stories and how to use them to convey lessons learned.
During a flash session Monday on the expo floor at Safety 2019, Don Leonard of the MARCOM Group discussed microlearning and how it can be used for training, using mobile devices, how it can improve productivity and how to involve employees in content creation.
Microlearning can be described at three- to five-minute online courses that are video-based with a test and are aimed at smartphone users.
Total Worker Health is an area of emerging importance for safety professionals in which ASSP has designated a task force. When done right, the benefits to business and to employees include lower risk, collaborative employee-employer engagements and fewer injuries, ASSP says. In short, TWH can lead to a more sustainable workforce.
One year after adopting a new organization name as part of a larger rebranding strategy, the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) has introduced a new name – Safety Focus – for its annual immersive, week-long education event. The announcement was made Monday by ASSP President Rixio Medina, CSP, CPP, at the Safety 2019 Professional Development Conference and Exhibition.
“We are aligning all of our events to the new brand,” Medina said.
What is keeping you from speaking up? Phillip Ragain of the RAD Group asked that very question Monday at Safety 2019. He said a surprising number of forces inhibit us when we should speak up to stop an unsafe activity.
Ragain discussed the various factors that suppress safety interventions and detailed the steps for overcoming these inhibitors.
An informative session Monday dealt with a topic many people are familiar with, regardless of their job: Stress. “How to prevent, reduce and cope with stress in the workplace” was presented by Jim Allivato of ATI Worksite Solutions. “Stress is a normal psychological and physical reaction to the demands of life,” Allivato said. He discussed the various forms of stress and what they mean.
The general session speakers over three days at Safety 2019 aim to motivate attendees to look beyond assumptions and seize opportunities.
The first on Monday morning is Nicole Malachowski speaking on “The Power of Challenging Assumptions.” She believes the best organizations and leaders create cultures that engage and harness the diverse ideas, talents and abilities of every person, and in which challenging assumptions and the status quo drives extraordinary success.
While educational is a must, making connections is often the most valuable aspect of attending Safety 2019.
The conference is expected to draw 5,000 OSH professionals, each bringing unique experiences and expertise to the conference. This is a great opportunity to meet and converse with like-minded safety professionals, look for potential employers and employees, and expand your knowledge.
RSS
