EHS Today’s Safety Leadership Conference is the premier education and networking opportunity for environment, health and safety leaders. The 2023 Safety Leadership Conference will be held September 18-20, 2023, in Orlando, Florida, at the Orlando World Center Marriott (there will also be a virtual component held in December). The theme for this year’s conference is “Establishing a Culture of Safety Excellence.”
We need your participation to make this conference a success, so we’re issuing an open Call for Speakers. Here’s how you can help move the industry forward: We’re seeking EHS professionals with practical experience in managing and leading safety operations at their companies or organizations. In particular, we’re looking for safety leaders who are willing to share best practices in keeping their workforces safe, as well as lessons learned in what works and what doesn’t. Our goal is to have a diverse roster of safety professionals speaking on the most current and compelling topics related to workplace safety.
We welcome submissions from consultants or vendors as well, but such proposals will only be considered if paired with a co-presenter who is an active safety professional at their company. We are also open to proposals for panel discussions involving two or more speakers.
We will be offering sessions focused on five broad areas of safety excellence: Risk Management, Regulatory Compliance, The ROI of Safety, Safety Technology, and Training & Engagement. Descriptions for each track follow. Each session will be 30 minutes in length. The deadline for proposals is March 17, 2023.
2023 Sessions and Topics
Risk Management
Insights and best practices on improving an organization’s safety culture, focusing on the role of safety leadership at both the local and organizational level. Potential topics include (but are not limited to):
• Establishing and maintaining a culture of safety
• The role of safety professionals in ESG (environmental, social and governance)
• Ergonomics
• Building effective safety teams
• Reducing musculoskeletal disorder injuries
• Wellness & Total Worker Health
Regulatory Compliance
Speakers in this track offer their insights into what safety leaders need to know to ensure their organizations remain in compliance with the latest rules and regulations. Potential topics include (but are not limited to):
• What to do when OSHA investigates your company
• Workplace drug testing
• The changing regulatory climate and what you need to know
• Workers’ compensation
• Environmental requirements
The ROI of Safety
One of the most compelling features of SLC is the sharing of best practices (and sometimes worst practices) between safety professionals, including case studies of what worked and what didn’t. Potential topics include (but are not limited to):
• Transformational safety leadership: People, public trust and profits
• Best practices from past winners of EHS Today’s America’s Safest Companies award
• Survivor stories—aftermath of safety accidents
• Emergency management
• Transportation and fleet safety case studies
• How to overcome complacency
• Business continuity
Safety Technology
Strategies on how to integrate safety technology into the workplace to reduce injuries and illnesses, focusing on real-world applications of both new and time-tested solutions, as we offer a look at the future of safe work. Potential topics include (but are not limited to):
• Smart PPE
• Cybersecurity
• Wearables & mobile devices
• Safety management systems
• Artificial intelligence
• Safety data and analytics
• Robots and automation
Training & Engagement
The effectiveness of any safety program relies on gaining the trust and buy-in of employees. The session will focus on emerging trends in safety management, focusing not only on physical safety but also psychological safety, mental health awareness, and other real-world concerns in the workplace. Potential topics include (but are not limited to):
• Diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI) initiatives
• Mental health awareness
• Workplace violence
• Women in safety
• Suicide prevention
• Developing and retaining talent
To Receive Preference in the Review Process, Proposals Should:
• Focus on how to create a safety culture in the workplace.
• Engage the audience in a highly creative or interactive way.
• Be applicable to safety professionals in various industries, at companies of all sizes.
• Provide practical takeaways attendees can either implement immediately or that drive robust discussions about new ways to improve operations.
Benefits of Speaking
As a speaker, you’ll receive one (1) complimentary full conference pass to Safety Leadership Conference 2023 (which includes full access to all activities and events within the event); your name published on promotional material, website, and program; recognition as a leader in your field; and a discounted conference rate for your colleagues.
How to Submit
If you are an EHS professional and would like to share your professional experiences and program successes with a larger audience, we encourage you to respond to our Call for Speakers. We particularly would like to hear from you if your company is a previous winner of the America’s Safest Companies award.
Click here to submit your proposal. Submissions will be evaluated by editorial staff members and chosen based on the topic relevancy and related speaker experience. We will be reviewing all applicants on their own merits. We encourage POC, women, LGBTQ+ and people of all experience levels—regardless of age or title—to apply if you have a compelling story to share. The deadline for proposals is March 17, 2023.
Can We Help?
If you have any questions on the form or process, you can contact Heather Wainio, conference & speaker manager, at [email protected].