Jan 13th, 2017
Jackson State Community College will host the American Society of Safety Engineers' Safety & Workers' Compensation Conference on Feb. 9 in the auditorium of the McWherter Building.
Attendees will include human resources personnel, supervisors and occupational safety and health professionals from a variety of industries. Admission is $75. Guests are eligible to receive continuing education units and do not have to be members of the American Society of Safety Engineers to attend.
"Many well-known experts in the field will be joining us to give presentations as well as participate in question-and-answer panels," said Anthony Shelton, president of the society's Golden Circle Section/Northwest Tennessee Region, which encompasses Madison County. "The stories and examples they share will offer additional tools and strategies that can help you understand your role, overcome organizational obstacles and ultimately be more effective for your company."
Speakers include representatives from the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration and U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The state officials will cover a brief description in the process to identify, select and properly safeguard machinery to protect employees and others in the work area. The federal officials will open a general discussion and answer questions from the audience.
Other speakers include workers' compensation and occupational health and safety experts, who will discuss recent changes in the law. Examples include new regulations and enforcement practices related to mandatory reporting, record keeping, whistleblower protection, electronic filings, retaliation and drug testing policies. Also, penalties for many infractions will increase, and some are set to triple.
"There are many changes and updates with OSHA that will be addressed during the conference," said Carol Bivens, vice president of the society's local chapter. "The folks attending will be able to give some clarity and answer questions that manufacturers will have. Anyone who has anything to do with safety will be able to benefit."
Bivens said organizers are planning to turn the conference into a quarterly event.
The February conference is from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Attendees must RSVP in advance. To register, visit www.jscc.edu/asse.
Events sponsors are Jackson State and the Tennessee College of Applied Technology. Students from the schools can attend for free.
The American Society of Safety Engineers is a global association of occupational safety, health and environmental professionals with 37,000 members working to create safer work environments by preventing fatalities, injuries and illnesses.