Safety 2008 Kicks Off with Politics on the Table
Time magazine's Washington Bureau Chief Jay Carney is scheduled to kick off ASSE's Safety 2008 this morning, delivering the keynote presentation of the opening general session in an address titled "A View from Washington." 2008 represents a critical political year with significant potential for many changes for SH&E professionals, so the topic is timely and the messenger should make it interesting. Evaluating the current political landscape, Carney will be offering his perspective on the presidency (and the ensuing one), Congress, and the press through insightful observations and amusing behind-the-scenes anecdotes from his vantage as a respected journalist and Washington insider.
Later this afternoon, more representatives from the U.S. capital will take the stage during today's Plenary Session, in which OSHA head Edwin G. Foulke Jr. and NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D. will conduct an occupational safety and health panel discussion. As the leading federal officials in the safety and health industry, the two are expected to share insights on the activities and impact of the government's regulatory, standards development, and compliance assistance efforts and field questions on key issues.
Meanwhile, the Exposition portion of Safety 2008 is in full swing after opening yesterday afternoon. Last year's expo in Orlando broke new ground both for the number of exhibitors (about 400) and the amount of exposition square feet sold (57,950). The official numbers for this year's show have not yet been released, but it seems it will be close. Stay tuned.