Ohio Safety Congress & Expo Comes to Columbus March 28-30

The Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) announced the 76th annual Ohio Safety Congress & Expo will take place March 28-30 at the Columbus Convention Center. The event is free of charge to the public.

After 75 years and more than 150,000 attendees, Safety Congress is reportedly the second largest occupational safety and health event in the nation.

“Safety Congress is a significant event for Ohio because it actively promotes a culture of health and safety within the workplace,” BWC Administrator/CEO Bill Mabe said. “Additionally, it serves as a risk management strategy for businesses that can learn how protecting employees from injuries can lead to a healthier bottom line.”

Each year, Safety Congress introduces a slate of new presenters and unique topics that advocate for a safer workplace and 2006 will be no different. Protecting Our Youngest Workers is a new seminar that focuses on creating a road map to safely transition younger employees into the workplace and help them understand how to avoid hazards that could lead to serious injury. The four-hour session will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., March 30.

Safety Congress also will dedicate a portion of its program to the unique challenges faced by small businesses that often have fewer resources at their disposal. Therefore, many of the seminars on March 29 will focus on helping craft solutions to better control workplace injuries and associated costs.

Additionally, several nationally recognized speakers will present in the general sessions. The Water Coolers will take the stage at 10:45 a.m. on March 28 to present a humorous look at some of the issues we face in the workplace each day. On March 29, Randy Snow will recount the devastating workplace incident that changed his life forever.

On March 30, Lynne Lancaster and David Stillman will present strategies to increase production among employees from different generations, and Dr. Will Miller will close by talking about the challenges of multitasking and balancing the responsibilities of work and life.

Collectively, there are more than 150 hours of educational sessions ranging from high-level safety strategies to techniques for use by specific industries. Also, more than 200 exhibitors will take the floor in the expo marketplace to offer tools and tips on how to protect Ohio workers from being injured at work.

For additional information on Safety Congress, including information on seminars, continuing education, the expo area and advance registration, visit BWC’s Web site at ohiobwc.com or call 1-800-OHIOBWC. Attendees also can register onsite.