Rounding Up Safety Professionals for ASSP’s Safety 2021
The American Society of Safety Professional’s kicked off their first in person conference and exposition since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic on Sept. 13 in Austin, Texas.
- By Sydny Shepard
- Sep 13, 2021
Safety professionals from around the country gathered in the green carpeted aisles of the American Society of Safety Professional’s Safety 2021 Professional Development Conference and Exposition on Sept. 13 surrounded by the booths of safety and health product manufacturers and service providers. There was a buzz in the air as professionals connected with one another in person—some for the first time since 2019.
While much was still the same, the face coverings donned by those on the expo floor reminded attendees of the reason why we all gather at safety conferences and expositions each year: to keep employees safe and healthy.
Passing by the booths of popular safety manufacturers, I couldn’t help but to hear the conversations that were ongoing. Many were talking about the issues they are having keeping their workplaces compliant in the face of this continued pandemic, some were talking about shortages in products, others just glad to be speaking to someone face-to-face—a reminder of the isolation some of our workforce has seen in the past year and a half.
No matter the issues that arise when keeping workers protected, you can bet you can find someone dealing with a similar situation at Safety 2021 within (a socially distanced) reach to talk to about effective solutions to some of the most pressing issues at facilities and organizations around the country.
The safety industry has seen the struggle that has rippled through workplaces since March of 2020 and instead of backing down, it stood up strong and held its ground, enabling safety professionals to do the same.
If you are not attending ASSP Safety 2021 this year, you can virtually engage with the show. To find out ways to do so, visit assp.org. You can also follow OH&S’ online coverage of the event at ohsonline.com/live.
About the Author
Sydny Shepard is the former editor of Occupational Health & Safety.