EHS Today is conducting Q&As with speakers scheduled to present at the Safety Leadership Conference in Atlanta, Sept. 11-13. Todd Logsdon is a partner with Fisher Phillips and he will be co-presenting with Barry Spurlock, assistant professor, Eastern Kentucky University. Their session is scheduled for the Compliance Track.
EHS Today: What is the title of your presentation for EHS Today’s Safety Leadership Conference 2017?
Todd Logsdon (TL): "Navigating the Changing Currents of OSHA and Employment Law: What it Means for Today’s Safety Professional."
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EHS Today: Can you offer us a description of your presentation and how it relates to safety leadership?
TL: This session explores what the recent whirlwind of OSHA rule and policy changes mean to safety professionals in light of a new administration. Changes involving recordkeeping, increased penalties, post-accident drug testing, whistleblower investigations, temporary employees and other matters will be addressed.
In addition to the changing OSHA landscape, safety professionals have to be keenly aware of employment law landmines so they can spot issues and strategically avoid mistakes. Accordingly, the presentation will explain key employment laws and developments in this area that touch the peripheral responsibilities of today’s safety leaders. The presenters, both seasoned safety professionals and attorneys, will engage participants with hypotheticals to enhance application of content, and also present information from a safety professional’s perspective.
EHS Today: Why is the topic of your presentation of interest to you and why is it important to SLC attendees?
TL: Staying on top of changes in the EHS legal landscape is a requirement to be able to lead your organization in this field.
EHS Today: Please share an example of a personal or professional experience you’ve had related to safety leadership or the topic of your presentation.
TL: As former safety professionals turned attorneys, the presenters have been responsible for safety leadership of past companies, as well as assisting current safety leaders with staying abreast of the ever-changing legal landscape and the development of strategies related to compliance and beyond.
EHS Today: What are the takeaways you hope to leave with attendees?
TL: After completing this session, participants will be able to:
- Articulate, with detail, how the recent developments with OSHA affect their organization;
- Spot and distinguish potential OSHA and employment law risks in their organization’s (or client organization’s) safety and injury management practices; and
- Apply some fundamental strategies for minimizing risk for OSHA and employment law liabilities.
EHS Today: What do you think are some of the most pressing EHS and risk management issues facing corporate leaders and safety professionals in 2017 and beyond?
TL: A lack of certainty regarding the state of many regulations, policies and practices for OSHA and other related agencies in light of the many changes made by the last federal administration, on-going litigation over certain laws and policies, and the potential changes that may take place under the current administration.
(EHS Today's 2017 Safety Leadership Conference and America’s Safest Companies Award Program will take place Sept. 11-13 in Atlanta, GA at the Hilton Atlanta. This event is designed to share best leadership, risk management, compliance and safety practices with EHS professionals hoping to achieve world-class safety at their companies. The conference features 28 sessions across four performance tracks; Safety & Risk Management, Compliance, Construction Safety and Safety Technology.)