Ask Me Anything: Technology, Data and the New Reality of Workplace Safety
Date: Thursday February 19, 2026 at 2:00pm ET - 1:00pm CT - 11:00am PT
Facility safety is increasingly shaped by technology, from connected building systems and sensors to data-driven tools that help identify risks before incidents occur. For safety and facility professionals responsible for complex environments, these technologies are changing how hazards are detected, decisions are made, and prevention is approached. The focus is shifting from reactive response to proactive risk management that supports both safety outcomes and operational performance.
In this live Ask Me Anything session, IFMA Fellow and Facilities Senior Project Manager Marshall MacFarlane will join Occupational Health & Safety Executive Editor David Kopf for an interactive discussion on key technologies influencing facility safety today. Drawing on nearly three decades of experience across manufacturing, higher education, municipal government, and the tech sector, Marshall will share practical perspectives on how connected systems, real-time monitoring, and data-driven tools are being used to improve visibility, enable earlier intervention, and support safer facility operations.
This interactive conversation is designed for safety and facility professionals looking for real-world insight. A significant portion of the session will be driven by audience questions, so attendees are encouraged to bring their questions about implementation challenges, frontline adoption, data use, privacy considerations, and how facility safety technology can improve both risk prevention and business performance. The goal is to help participants understand what’s realistic, what’s effective, and where technology can truly add value in facility safety programs.
Register for this free webinar!
DATE: Thursday February 19, 2026
TIME: 2:00PM ET - 1:00PM CT - 11:00AM PT
Speakers:
Marshall MacFarlane, Facilities Senior Project Manager, Bell Bank and IFMA Fellow
Marshall MacFarlane is a Facilities Senior Project Manager with Bell Bank and International Facility Management Association (IFMA) Fellow with nearly three decades of experience. Marshall has worked in manufacturing, higher education, municipal government and the tech sector. He is a Past President of the Greater Phoenix Chapter of IFMA.
Marshall is a Millwright/Industrial Mechanic by trade, and in manufacturing was an award-winning safety director and ISO Internal Auditor. Marshall is a Canadian Army Veteran and has been a freelance writer and editor since the mid-1980’s. Marshall has degrees in Public Administration and Emergency Management, and has extensive experience in Emergency Planning, Facilities Management and Security Operations. He is a frequent presenter many topics including Business Continuity Planning, Maintenance and Leadership. Marshall lives in Queen Creek, Arizona with his wife Karole and three crazy dogs.
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Brian Benson, Director of Solutions Engineering, Voltex
Brian’s work centers on applying Voxel’s computer vision and AI platform to help safety teams proactively identify risks (e.g., unsafe behaviors, ergonomic issues, vehicle hazards) and reduce incidents in industrial environments like warehousing and logistics. Before joining Voxel, Brian built extensive experience in operations and logistics, including roles such as Operations Supervisor and Warehouse Manager early in his career, and later leadership positions including Distribution Manager and General Manager at major logistics firms.
Brian Benson’s journey reflects a blend of hands-on operational leadership in logistics and strategic engineering oversight in AI safety technology, positioning him at the intersection of real-world safety challenges and advanced technological solutions in the modern workplace.
Moderator:
David Kopf, Executive Editor and Publisher, OH&S
A career business media professional, David Kopf has led OH&S since January 2023. He has been with OH&S’s parent company 1105 Media since 2007, previously publishing and editing titles for the post-acute healthcare market. Prior to that, Kopf has served in various editorial capacities in the telecommunications, data communications, banking and power sports industries. Kopf is committed to reinforcing and expanding OH&S’s value and range of services for workplace safety professionals, and the Executive Q&A webinar series is the latest example of that initiative.
Sponsors:
For high-risk industries, Novara is the safety and operational risk management software that empowers organizations to resolve issues before they become incidents. The combination of Novara’s software and training content helps organizations minimize risk so they can focus on what’s important—their core business. Learn more at www.novara.com
FacilityOS The global leader in facility, asset and visitor management, FacilityOS streamlines and automates facility, asset and visitor management operations to achieve regulatory compliance, enforce safety protocols and drive site security requirements. FacilityOS has earned the trust of millions of users across 50+ countries through its bold vision and commitment to putting clients first. www.facilityos.com
Becklar Workforce Safety provides innovative mobile applications, powerful devices, and award-winning monitoring as an end-to-end solution for companies to protect employees who work alone, at height, or in other dangerous environments. Becklar Workforce Safety Solutions reduce corporate risk by providing a variety of health and safety tools for employees that meet or exceed OSHA regulations. www.becklar.com
Ansell is a global leader in safety solutions and manufactures personal protective equipment for industrial and healthcare workplaces. Over 10 million workers in 100+ countries trust Ansell brands like HyFlex®, Ringers®, MICROFLEX®, TouchNTuff®, GAMMEX®, and AlphaTec®. Committed to a safer future, Ansell drives innovation to predict, prevent, and protect against workplace risks while promoting sustainable practices. Learn more about Ansell and its products at www.ansell.com
Date: Feb 19, 2026
Time: 11:00 am PT
Duration: 1 hour
