Beyond Compliance: Inside VPPPA Safety+ 2026
Aug. 30–Sept. 2 in Nashville, Tenn., VPPPA Safety+ will bring together safety professionals for four days of leadership, education and hands-on learning focused on strengthening workplace safety.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- Jul 01, 2026
For more than four decades, the Voluntary Protection Programs Participants' Association (VPPPA) has built its annual Safety+ Symposium around a simple idea: workplace safety is driven not only by compliance, but by leadership, collaboration and continuous improvement.
That philosophy will be on full display Aug. 30–Sept. 2, when safety professionals, frontline workers, executives and government representatives gather at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville for the 2026 VPPPA Safety+ Symposium. The annual event is designed to help organizations strengthen safety and health programs through education, networking and practical learning experiences that attendees can apply long after they return to work.
Unlike conferences focused primarily on regulatory updates, Safety+ emphasizes the people, leadership and systems that sustain world-class safety performance. This year's program reflects that mission through an executive CEO panel, an opening keynote centered on resilience, OSHA outreach training, interactive demonstrations, Innovation Stations and VPP site tours.
Leadership at Every Level
A highlight of the conference will be the CEO Panel, where three corporate leaders will discuss how safety influences organizational success.
Matt DeSoto, CEO of MITER Brands; Robert Hart, President and CEO of AECOM Construction Management Services; and Ryan Odendahl, President and CEO of The Kwest Group will share how leadership commitment shapes safety culture, employee engagement and business performance.
For safety professionals, the session offers a valuable opportunity to hear directly from executives responsible for integrating safety into enterprise strategy. Rather than focusing solely on regulatory compliance, the discussion is expected to examine how organizations build cultures where safety becomes a core business value and a driver of operational excellence.
As workplace risks become more complex, executive support remains one of the strongest predictors of successful safety programs. The panel underscores the growing recognition that safety is no longer viewed simply as a compliance function but as a strategic investment in people and organizational performance.
The Human Side of Safety
The conference's opening keynote shifts the conversation from organizational leadership to personal resilience.
Ryan Campbell's remarkable story has inspired audiences around the world. After becoming the youngest pilot to fly solo around the globe, Campbell survived a devastating airplane crash that left him paralyzed. Rather than allowing the accident to define him, he rebuilt his life and now speaks internationally about resilience, mindset and overcoming adversity.
His keynote is expected to explore themes that increasingly resonate with today's safety professionals, including mental resilience, avoiding complacency and maintaining focus in high-risk environments. As organizations continue expanding their emphasis on human performance and psychological well-being, Campbell's message serves as a reminder that resilience is as important to workplace safety as technical knowledge and regulatory compliance.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Education remains the cornerstone of the Safety+ Symposium, but learning extends well beyond traditional conference sessions.
Among the featured offerings is OSHA 10-Hour Outreach Training, giving attendees an opportunity to complete foundational instruction in hazard recognition, worker rights, employer responsibilities and OSHA standards while attending the conference.
The symposium also places a strong emphasis on experiential learning. Innovation Stations and live demonstrations allow attendees to interact with emerging technologies, equipment and safety solutions rather than simply hearing about them in presentations.
VPP site tours provide another unique learning opportunity by giving participants an inside look at organizations recognized through OSHA's Voluntary Protection Program. These visits allow attendees to observe mature safety and health management systems in action while exchanging ideas with peers from a variety of industries.
Additional educational offerings include technical workshops, deep-dive sessions and forums that encourage discussion between labor and management representatives. Together, these experiences are designed to provide practical ideas that attendees can adapt to their own organizations.
Connections That Last
Networking has long been one of the defining characteristics of Safety+, bringing together professionals from every level of an organization—from frontline workers and safety managers to senior executives.
Throughout the four-day event, attendees can connect during the exhibit hall grand opening, regional meetings, networking receptions, labor-management forums and the annual awards ceremony. While the educational sessions provide technical knowledge, these informal conversations often become just as valuable, allowing participants to exchange ideas, discuss challenges and build professional relationships that continue well beyond the conference.
More Than a Conference
As the workplace continues to evolve, so do the expectations placed on safety professionals. Today's leaders are expected to understand emerging technologies, communicate effectively with executives, strengthen organizational culture and engage employees while navigating an increasingly complex regulatory landscape.
The 2026 VPPPA Safety+ Symposium reflects that evolution by bringing together leadership development, technical education and hands-on learning in a single event. Whether attendees are looking to earn OSHA outreach training, hear directly from industry executives, gain inspiration from Ryan Campbell's keynote or explore new technologies and best practices, the conference is designed to reinforce one of VPPPA's enduring principles: safety excellence is achieved through continuous learning, collaboration and a commitment to protecting every worker.