What You Need to Know: Health & Safety Plans at ASSP Safety 2021
The American Society of Safety Professionals has outlined an extensive plan to keep Safety 2021 attendees safe and healthy at the conference and expo this year.
- By Sydny Shepard
- Aug 23, 2021
Conferences for safety professionals have so many benefits. There’s the education, networking and exploring new products on the expo floor that make your time away from the office or worksite worth the trip. For many, however, the ongoing pandemic continues to make travel plans uncertain.
For safety pros looking to head to Austin, Texas for the American Society of Safety Professional’s Safety 2021 Professional Development Conference & Exposition this year, you might be interested to learn what policies and procedures they have in place to ensure the safety and health of all of those who decide to choose the in-person attendance route.
According to ASSP’s Policies & Procedures, the Society has set up thorough Health & Safety Plans to mitigate the risk of infection during the in-person event. For all individuals planning to attend the conference, in order to pick up your badge you will need to provide proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours prior to checking in. The ASSP will ask attendees to wear a face covering when inside the convention center as well as follow good hygiene practices, including washing hands frequently, using hand sanitizer and maintaining physical distancing when possible.
The ASSP will also be doing a few things to help keep the conference as safe and healthy as possible, including contactless badge printouts, spaced seating in sessions, regular cleaning at the convention center and communicate clearly with attendees about any updates about protocols regarding COVID-19.
The Society also thought it best to not provide a traditional conference lunch as part of the event. Instead, ASSP will be directing attendees to a variety of food trucks that will provide plenty of food options for individuals to enjoy outdoors. The conference timeline has been adjusted to allow for adequate time for lunch each day.
In order to minimize the risk of transmission, ASSP will not be holding board, council or committee meetings, nor will they be hosting any lounges, receptions, dinners or retreats. Educational sessions will be limited to a specific capacity limit and seating will be based on a first come, first-seated basis.
The ASSP made it a point on their website to say that the pandemic is a very fluid situation and that they will remain in tune with the national and local news regarding the virus to shift policies and procedures closer to the event.
Keep an eye on the ASSP Safety 2021 website for more information.
About the Author
Sydny Shepard is the former editor of Occupational Health & Safety.