NSC Safety Congress & Expo 2025 Set for Denver with Education, Keynotes and Expo
The NSC Safety Congress & Expo returns Sept. 15–17 with educational opportunities, keynote addresses, a large expo floor, and networking events designed to help safety professionals address today’s workplace challenges.
- By David Kopf, Stasia DeMarco
- Sep 08, 2025
The 2025 NSC Safety Congress & Expo is scheduled for Sept. 15–17 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. Professional Development Seminars will be held Sept. 12–14 and Sept. 17–18, offering additional opportunities for extended learning. The event is organized by the National Safety Council and brings together occupational safety and health professionals from a wide range of industries.
Conference Overview
The program includes a mix of keynote sessions, technical presentations, professional development seminars, and an expo hall showcasing safety products and services. Organizers expect attendees from across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and more than 70 other countries. For many workplace health and safety professionals, the Congress represents an opportunity to engage with peers, update professional certifications, and learn about developments in safety practices.
Educational programming is a central component. The Congress will feature more than 150 educational sessions, including over 25 professional development seminars and more than 130 technical and educational sessions. In addition, Learning Lab sessions and Safety Huddles will be hosted on the expo floor. These formats are designed to complement longer workshops and provide attendees with opportunities for both in-depth learning and informal discussion.
Education and Training
Professional Development Seminars (PDS) will take place before and after the main event. These range from half-day workshops to four-day courses and cover a variety of subjects, including risk assessment, regulatory compliance, safety leadership, and health management. Attendance provides participants with continuing education units, which many professionals rely on to maintain certifications.
The technical session program will run concurrently with the main conference. These sessions cover subjects such as emerging safety technologies, strategies for reducing musculoskeletal disorders, case studies from high-risk industries, and updates on workplace safety regulations. Presentations are designed to serve professionals at all experience levels, from new practitioners to seasoned managers. Many sessions feature panel discussions and interactive elements that encourage participation.
Learning Lab sessions are scheduled on the expo floor and provide hour-long presentations with practical takeaways. These are intended as opportunities for attendees to hear about new developments, research findings, and applied strategies outside the classroom setting. Safety Huddles, by contrast, are 20-minute sessions designed for small-group conversations on targeted safety issues. These formats emphasize flexibility and accessibility.
OSHA Top 10 Session
One of the most closely watched sessions at the NSC Congress is the release of OSHA’s annual list of the Top 10 most frequently cited workplace safety standards. For fiscal year 2025, the announcement will be made on Sept. 16 at 11:30 a.m. by Eric Harbin, OSHA’s regional administrator in Dallas. The session provides an overview of the agency’s most common citations from the previous year. It gives employers and safety professionals valuable insight into the areas where enforcement activity is concentrated and where workplaces most often fall short of compliance requirements.
This presentation has traditionally been one of the most well-attended sessions at the Congress, as it highlights recurring problem areas and helps attendees benchmark their own safety programs against national data. Harbin, who has served in various OSHA roles since 1997, will bring his extensive experience in enforcement and policy to the discussion.
Keynote Sessions and Campbell Institute Forum
The opening keynote on Sept. 15 will feature Chaunté Lowe, a four-time Olympian and breast cancer survivor. Her presentation, “Decision-Making to Win at the Game of Life,” will explore how decision-making habits can be developed and strengthened. Drawing from her experiences as an athlete and public speaker, Lowe will focus on resilience, adaptability, and the importance of maintaining clarity in challenging circumstances.
Later that morning, the Campbell Institute Forum will examine the use of leading indicators to advance EHS performance. The forum will address the evolving role of ASTM standards in classifying serious injuries and fatalities and in guiding prevention strategies. The discussion is expected to provide practical steps organizations can take to integrate leading indicators into their safety systems.
On Sept. 16, Amanda Wood Laihow, acting OSHA Assistant Secretary, will deliver the Occupational Keynote. Laihow will address current safety challenges faced by U.S. workers and employers. Her remarks will be followed by a conversation with Lorraine Martin, NSC President and CEO, providing attendees with perspectives from both regulatory and organizational leadership.
The same day, Brian Fielkow, executive vice president of risk resources at Acrisure, will present the Leadership Keynote. His session, “Engaged, Aligned, Accountable: Leading People Safely During Times of Tremendous Change,” will cover the impact of regulatory shifts, workforce changes, and economic pressures on safety programs. He will offer approaches for connecting safety to business objectives and building accountability across organizational levels.
The final keynote, on Sept. 17, will be delivered by Chris Barton, founder of the music-identification app Shazam. In his session, “Bringing Impossible Ideas to Life,” Barton will share experiences from his career as an entrepreneur and inventor. His presentation connects to the Congress’s Safety Innovation Challenge, an event where attendees can vote on emerging technologies to highlight during the closing program.
Expo Floor
The expo floor will operate Sept. 15–17 and feature approximately 1,000 exhibitors. It will showcase a wide range of safety products, services, and technologies. Dedicated expo hours will give attendees time to walk the floor without conflicting with educational sessions.
Key features include:
- NSC Central, the primary hub for resources and information.
- The Safety Technology Pavilion, which will feature solutions aimed at reducing musculoskeletal disorders through technology.
- The New Product Showcase, which will highlight innovations in safety equipment and services, culminating in the Best in Show Awards.
- The Wellness Lounge, which provides a place for attendees to relax and recharge.
- The Time Out Café, a space for informal meetings and networking.
- Learning Labs and Safety Huddles hosted on the expo floor.
- The Digital Passport to Prizes program, which encourages engagement with exhibitors.
Exhibitors range from established global companies to first-time participants in the new exhibitor pavilion. Product demonstrations and presentations will occur throughout the three days.
Special Events and Networking
Networking opportunities are scheduled throughout the event. First-Time Attendee Meetups and International Meetups will provide structured occasions for participants to connect. Division and Section meetings will cover topics such as industry trends, best practices, and regulatory issues. These meetings are open to NSC members and, in some cases, non-members for an additional fee.
The NSC Awards Recognition event, held on Sept. 16, will honor Rising Stars of Safety, ASC Scholars, and other award recipients. These awards recognize contributions to safety leadership and innovation.
Another special feature is the Mosaic Wall, an interactive art installation created collaboratively by attendees. Throughout the Congress, participants will contribute tiles to form a completed image, symbolizing their collective engagement in safety.
The Green Cross Celebration will take place Sept. 15 at the Denver Botanic Gardens. This evening event will include entertainment, dinner, and the presentation of the Green Cross for Safety Awards. Attendance requires a separate ticket and preregistration.
The Bottom Line
The 2025 NSC Safety Congress & Expo will provide opportunities for safety professionals to expand their knowledge, explore new products, and engage with peers. By combining technical education, keynote presentations, and an extensive expo floor, the event continues to serve as a key gathering for those responsible for workplace health and safety across industries. Learn more at https://congress.nsc.org.
This article originally appeared in the September 2025 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.