OSHA Administrator David Michaels, former Alcoa CEO Paul O'Neill and behavioral-safety guru E. Scott Geller are among the high-profile keynote speakers on the agenda for the 2013 National Safety Congress and Expo.
The National Safety Congress and Expo runs from Sept. 28 through Oct. 4 in Chicago.
Monday, Sept. 30
The opening session on Day 1 will include keynote presentations by Janet Froetscher, president and CEO of the National Safety Council, and retired U.S. Navy Capt. Mark Kelly, who led the Space Shuttle Endeavour's final mission in 2011. The theme of the opening session is "Leading Safety into the Future."
During the mid-morning session on Day 1, three high-ranking manufacturing executives are scheduled to take the stage in an executive forum, which is titled "Leveraging the Big Picture – Seizing Opportunities by Identifying, Minimizing and Managing EHS and Enterprise Risk."
The executive forum will feature David Shipman, president of fragrance and flavor maker Firmenich Inc.; James Weigand, president of DuPont Sustainable Solutions; and David Eherts, vice president and chief safety officer of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.
Tuesday, Oct. 1
Geller, along with popular motivational speaker and author Charlie Morecraft, will kick off Day 2 with a joint keynote presentation, the theme of which is "The Human Side of Injury Prevention."
During lunch on Day 2, O'Neill, Michaels and NIOSH Director John Howard will address "The Future of Workplace Safety and the Impact on the Safety Profession" in an occupational keynote session.
As the chairman and CEO of Alcoa from 1987 to 1999, O'Neill leveraged workplace safety to make dramatic improvements in the company's financial results. O'Neill later served as the U.S. secretary of treasury under George W. Bush.
An afternoon keynote session on Day 2 will address "how the hidden epidemic of prescription-drug overdoses and fatalities are hurting your company's bottom line and making your workplace less safe." The session will include Gil Kerlikowske, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Wednesday, Oct. 2
Dale Lesinski, vice president of DiVal Safety Equipment, will offer the leadership keynote on Day 3. Lesinski will discuss "why employees must value their personal safety," according to the National Safety Council. The presentation promises some "ah-ha and ha-ha moments."
At a Glance
What: National Safety Congress and Expo
Where: McCormick Place (West Building), Chicago
When:
Congress – Sept. 28 through Oct. 4
Expo – Sept. 30 through Oct. 2