2024 NSC Safety Congress & Expo Kicks Off with Keynote on Breaking Barriers
The 2024 NSC Safety Congress began with a keynote by blind adventurer Erik Weihenmayer, focusing on overcoming barriers in workplace safety challenges.
- By Robert Yaniz Jr.
- Sep 17, 2024
The 2024 NSC Safety Congress & Expo kicked off on Monday, September 16, with an inspiring keynote address by Erik Weihenmayer, a world-renowned blind adventurer. The session, titled "The No Barriers Life," ran from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., setting the tone for a week focused on overcoming challenges in workplace safety and beyond.
Weihenmayer, who made history as the first blind person to summit Mt. Everest and kayak the Grand Canyon, shared his powerful philosophy of the "No Barriers Mindset." Drawing from his own experiences, he guided attendees through the process of transforming real obstacles into opportunities for growth and success. His insights aligned with the complex challenges so often faced by safety professionals.
NSC President and CEO Lorraine Martin also spoke at the opening session, reinforcing the theme of resilience and leadership in occupational safety. Martin's remarks helped connect Weihenmayer's message to the NSC’s broader mission: “eliminating the leading cause of preventable death and injury,” according to the organization’s website.
The opening keynote emphasized the event’s broader focus on innovation and resilience, underscoring the idea that the only true limits are the ones we place on ourselves. As safety professionals prepare to navigate evolving risks, Weihenmayer’s message challenged them to approach the future with a bold, barrier-breaking mindset.
The 2024 NSC Safety Congress & Expo continues on until Sept. 18, 2024. More information on the event is available on the website.
About the Author
Robert Yaniz Jr. is the Content Editor of Occupational Health & Safety.