2019 Oregon GOSH Conference, March 4

Registration is open for the Oregon Governor’s Occupational Safety and Health (GOSH) Conference, to be held March 4-7, 2019, at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. With 160 workshops and sessions, the conference – the largest of its kind in the Northwest – offers a comprehensive set of learning opportunities in workplace safety and health. “This event provides a unique chance for organizations to rejuvenate their commitment to on-the-job safety and health,” said Michael Wood, administrator of the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA). “Everyone from professionals in the field to employers, supervisors, and workers can use GOSH as a resource in helping build and maintain safe and healthy workplaces.” Keynote speaker Dale Lesinski will present “Safe 4 the Right Reasons” on Tuesday, March 5. Lesinski is the vice president of sales and training for DiVal Safety Equipment in Buffalo, N.Y. The company is an international leader in safety supplies and training. A member of the National Safety Council’s executive board and of the American Society of Safety Professionals, Lesinski will use his keynote presentation to show why the standard approach to employee safety – such as rules, policies, and procedures – leads to disappointing results. His presentation will delve into human nature, illustrating why people take certain actions and why they don’t act in ways they should. Lesinski said he wants attendees to gain “a new perspective on their personal safety and understand that they should adopt safe habits for themselves, not because the company forces them.” Along with urging attendees to make safety a personal value, Lesinski said he wants them to “watch out for one another, and, when they see something unsafe, they must say something to abate the hazard.” Oregon OSHA encourages safety committee members, emerging environmental health and safety professionals, safety managers, and human resources personnel to mark their calendars for the 2019 GOSH Conference. In addition to topics for general industry and safety committees, the event will offer session tracks on many specialties, including: Construction; Motor vehicle safety; Safety and health leadership;    Workplace violence; Communication and training; Emergency preparedness and response; Emerging industry: Cannabis; Craft brewing; Ergonomics; Food industry; Environmental and hazardous waste. Meanwhile, registration for the Columbia Forklift Challenge – a hallmark of the GOSH Conference – is open to participants. On Wednesday, March 6, trained forklift drivers will compete for cash in an obstacle course designed to test their skills and safe operation. The GOSH Conference is a joint effort of the American Society of Safety Professionals  Columbia-Willamette Chapter, Oregon OSHA, and labor and businesses in Oregon and southwest Washington. For more information on the conference schedule, events or to register, go to http://oregongosh.com/.