Safety 2025 Lines up Keynotes, Innovations and Critical Conversations on Worker Well-Being
From mental health to safety tech, ASSP’s Orlando conference will gather thousands of safety professionals July 22-24 for sessions, an expansive expo, and networking to advance workplace safety.
- By David Kopf, Stasia DeMarco
- Jul 16, 2025
The American Society of Safety Professionals’ (ASSP) Safety 2025 Professional Development Conference and Exposition is just around the corner, slated to take place July 22-24, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.
The annual event is expected to draw thousands of safety and health professionals from around the world. As industries face evolving risks and standards, this year’s conference is designed to address key topics, foster professional development, and provide opportunities for discussion and networking.
Diverse Educational Sessions
Like previous years, Safety 2025 will offer a broad educational program designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of occupational safety and health professionals. With more than 200 concurrent sessions, attendees can explore a range of topics tailored to various experience levels and industry sectors.
Each one-hour session is reviewed by the ASSP Professional Development Conference Planning Committee, ensuring high-quality content delivered by experts with real-world experience. The sessions are categorized by experience level—beginner, intermediate, advanced, and executive—and organized into tracks such as Business and Leadership Skills, Risk Assessment and Management, Total Worker Health, and Safety Management Systems.
Key topics include:
- Risk Management and Assessment: Strategies for identifying and mitigating workplace hazards.
- Technological Innovations: The role of artificial intelligence, robotics, and wearable technology in enhancing safety protocols.
- Mental Health and Well-being: Approaches to fostering psychological safety and addressing mental health challenges in the workplace.
- Regulatory Compliance: Updates on safety regulations and best practices for maintaining compliance.
Notable sessions include “Saving Your Safety Culture with No-Blame Accountability,” focusing on building a culture of trust and accountability, and “From ‘Add Diversity & Stir’ to Meaningful Change,” which addresses effective diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies in the workplace.
By attending these sessions, professionals can earn up to 1.5 continuing education units (CEUs), contributing to their ongoing professional development and certification requirements. also, attendees can earn additional CEUs with pre- and post-conference courses.
Expo Highlights
Spanning over 120,000 square feet, the expo will feature more than 650 exhibitors showcasing the latest in occupational safety and health (OSH) products, services, and technologies. Expo hours are:
- Tuesday, July 22: 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, July 23: 8:30 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.
- Thursday, July 24: 9:00 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Some key features of the expo include:
ASSP Marketplace and Foundation Booth (Booth #1566). This central hub offers attendees the opportunity to browse the latest ASSP technical publications and gear, learn about new and revised ANSI/ASSP Standards, and engage with authors of recent publications. Visitors can also support the ASSP Foundation through donations and explore ways to get involved in advancing the safety profession. Adding a touch of fun, the booth will feature personalized badge ribbons and a photo backdrop for memorable snapshots.
Career Advancement Center (Booth #880). Designed for professionals at all stages of their careers, the Career Advancement Center will provide networking opportunities with hiring managers from leading companies such as Amazon, Boeing, and Grainger. Attendees can also gain valuable insights into higher education options from institutions like Columbia Southern University and Texas A&M University. To help professionals polish their image, the center will offer professional headshot services for updating LinkedIn profiles.
Parade to Prizes. This interactive game encourages attendees to visit participating exhibitor booths to collect stamps. Completed cards can be submitted for a chance to win prizes.
Safety Apparel and PPE Fashion Show. Presented by ASSP’s Women in Safety Excellence (WISE), this fashion show addresses the importance of properly fitting personal protective equipment (PPE) and showcases the latest designs aimed at enhancing comfort and compliance.
Flash Sessions and Tech Talks. These 15-minute sessions, conducted by exhibitors and sponsors, offer quick insights into safety challenges, research findings, and best practices. Schedules will be available in the Safety 2025 app.
Keynote Speakers and General Sessions
A cornerstone of this premier event is its trio of compelling general sessions, each designed to inspire, educate, and equip safety professionals with actionable insights to enhance workplace safety and worker well-being.
Opening Keynote: Shasta Nelson on Building High-Trust Relationships. Kicking off the conference on Tuesday, July 22, from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. ET, renowned relationship expert Shasta Nelson will deliver the opening keynote. With over 15 years of experience translating the science of human connection into practical strategies, Nelson has collaborated with organizations like Google and LinkedIn to foster healthier workplace dynamics. Her keynote will delve into the importance of cultivating high-trust, resilient relationships to improve employee retention, engagement, and collaboration.
Panel Discussion: Addressing the Silent Hazard of Mental Health. On Wednesday, July 23, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. ET, the conference will spotlight the critical issue of mental health in the workplace with a panel titled “The Silent Hazard: Mental Health, Suicide Prevention and the Role of EHS Professionals.” Moderated by Linda M. Tapp, CSP, ALCM, CPTD, the session will feature experts Georgia Bryce-Hutchinson, LMFT, MSEE, CPLC; Wesley L. Wheeler, SMS, CESCP, MSP; and Christina Trahan Cain. The discussion aims to equip EHS professionals with practical strategies to recognize warning signs, reduce stigma, and integrate mental well-being into existing safety programs, especially in high-risk industries like construction.
Closing Keynote: Liz Bohannon on Fostering Workplace Connection. Concluding the general sessions on Thursday, July 24, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. ET, entrepreneur and bestselling author Liz Bohannon will present the closing keynote. Drawing from her experience as a Top 1% VC-Backed Female Founder and her innovative framework, The Community Quotient™, Bohannon will share actionable strategies to create authentic, relationship-driven organizations. Her insights aim to empower teams to prioritize human connection, enabling them to achieve greater collective success.
Networking Opportunities
Safety 2025 will serve up a smorgasbord of networking opportunities for occupational safety and health professionals. From structured events to informal gatherings, attendees can connect with peers, industry leaders, and potential employers throughout the conference:
Tuesday Night Social: Live! at the Pointe. Kick off the conference at the Tuesday Night Social, held at Live! at the Pointe Orlando from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. ET on July 22. This event provides a relaxed atmosphere to unwind after the first day, featuring local libations, appetizers, and live entertainment. Tickets are available for purchase during the registration process.
Lunchtime Meetups. During each lunch break, ASSP’s common interest groups and practice specialties host informal meetups in the Expo Hall dining area. These gatherings provide an opportunity to connect with fellow professionals who share similar interests and learn more about the programs and initiatives offered by various ASSP communities.
Key Issue Collaboration Sessions (KICS). KICS are roundtable discussions facilitated by volunteers, focusing on pressing topics in the safety profession. Open to professionals at all experience levels, these sessions encourage the exchange of ideas, experiences, and solutions to common challenges. Details on session times and locations will be available in the Safety 2025 app.
ASSP Community Meetups. Throughout the conference, various ASSP communities plan additional meetups, offering more chances to network and engage with peers in specific sectors or with shared interests. Some events may require advance registration, so attendees are encouraged to check the conference website or app for the latest information.
With its diverse offerings, the Safety 2025 Expo promises to be a dynamic environment for professionals to explore innovations, expand their networks, and advance their careers in the field of occupational safety and health. Visit https://safety.assp.org/ to learn more.
This article originally appeared in the July/August 2025 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.