A Recap of Notable Speakers — Occupational Health & Safety

Safety+ Symposium 2023: A Recap of Notable Speakers

The annual safety event hosted a number of standout sessions.

• By Robert Yaniz Jr.
• Sep 22, 2023

The Voluntary Protection Programs Participants’ Association (VPPPA) Safety+ Symposium 2023 in Orlando saw the participation of an estimated 2,000 environmental, health, safety and sustainability (EHS&S) professionals. The recently concluded event showcased a variety of standout speakers, addressing pressing issues in the realm of occupational safety.

Here are some of the standout sessions:

Gilbert Aceves, safety specialist and VPP coordinator at NRG Energy, took the stage on Sept. 18 to discuss the complexities of contractor onboarding. His workshop was titled “Are Contractors the Weakest Link?” and offered insights into the challenges and solutions related to the contractor onboarding process, site requirements and job scope.

Later that same day, Tom West—M?kuSafe’s vice president of marketing—provided a discussion into Human and Organizational Performance (HOP). His session, “How Wearable Safety Tech Can Supercharge HOP Initiatives While Reducing Incidents & Claims,” highlighted the potential of wearable technology to enhance safety management practices.

On Sept. 19, board-certified workplace violence and threat assessment specialist Dr. Steve Webb led a standout workshop of his own. “Saving Lives One Threat at a Time: Are you Ready?” emphasized the importance of adopting a “learner mindset” to proactively address and combat workplace violence. Webb is also the author of a book titled Education in a Violent World.

Concurrently, Julie Parkhill, industry director of ATI Worksite Solutions, led attendees into the world of MSD-related (musculoskeletal disorders) injuries. Her workshop, “How to Create a Scalable and Sustainable Solution for Reducing MSD-related Injuries,” introduced attendees to innovative strategies for the mitigation and prevention of such injuries.