Pre-Conference Sessions
The Region VI ASSP Professional Development Conference (PDC) offers pre-conference sessions that provide hands-on, in-depth training on the latest trends and best practices in safety and health, equipping attendees with practical tools for immediate application. These sessions are available in 2-hour, 4-hour, and 8-hour formats. Register for one or multiple pre-conference sessions by going to the Register button at the top of this page.
| Courses | Registration Price | CEUS |
|---|---|---|
|
PCS-1 HOP Bootcamp for All Ages! Paul English, CSP, CIT, CHST 9/15 | 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
$200 | TBD |
|
PCS-2 The People Element in Ergonomics Petya Georgieva, MS, CSP & Karen Cooper, CSP, CPE 9/15 | 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
$200 | TBD |
|
PCS-3 Seeing is Believing: Embracing and Navigating Diverse Realities Josh Russell, CSP 9/15 | 12:30 – 2:30 PM |
$100 | TBD |
|
PCS-4 Training for Adult Learners Fred (Ted) Launsby 9/15 | 3:00 – 5:00 PM |
$100 | TBD |
|
PCS-5 Fitting the Worker Through Better Design Heather S. White CPE, ASP 9/15 | 12:30 – 5:00 PM |
$200 | TBD |
|
PCS-6 Have You Assessed the Risk to Worker Well-being? Pam Walaski, CSP, FASSP 9/16 | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
$400 | TBD |
|
PCS-7 Risk 360: Navigating Risk Management & Leadership Carleen C. Patterson, ARM-P, CIC, CRM 9/16 | 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
$200 | TBD |
|
PCS-8 Ultraviolet Radiation Safety for the OSH Professional Ben Edwards, MS, CHP, CLSO 9/16 | 12:30 – 2:30 PM |
$100 | TBD |
|
PCS-9 Master Class on Substance Abuse & Safety Adele Abrams, Esq., CMSP 9/16 | 3:00 – 5:00 PM |
$100 | TBD |
HOP Bootcamp for All Ages!
Date: 9/15
Time: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Description
Learn about the 5 principles of Human and Organizational Performance, HOP. This philosophy will help you understand how your organization learns from incidents while identifying several different types of safety clutter that are preventing learning.
Speaker
Paul English, CSP, CIT, CHST has been in Safety, Security and Emergency Services for over 30 years. He has worked for Fortune 100 companies including Nestle and Ford Motor Company. He holds both a BS from Eastern Kentucky University in Fire and Safety Engineering Technology as well as MS in Safety, Security and Emergency Management. He recently completed his doctoral studies at Texas State University in Adult Education. His dissertation, Reframing Organizational Learning for Occupational Safety was published in August 2024. He is broadly interested in organizational learning with particular emphasis on how occupational safety is learned within organizations, specifically how decisions are made by organizational leaders to influence, improve, and change workplace incident outcomes to decrease injuries, illnesses and reduce risk for employees. His current research focuses on double loop learning in occupational safety within organizations and the disparities between safety practitioners and organizational leaders. As a safety practitioner with over thirty years of experience, his passion for this research stems from years of statistical process control of incident data, to form corrective actions that help an organization “move the needle” in occupational safety.
The People Element in Ergonomics
Date: 9/15
Time: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Description
Ergonomic-related injuries remain a significant challenge across various industries. This session delves into the fundamentals of ergonomics and explores the best practices for implementing effective ergonomic programs. Our focus will be on fostering relationships and addressing resistance to change. We will equip you with valuable resources to support your ongoing journey towards ergonomic excellence.
Speakers
Petya Georgieva, MS, CSP & Karen Cooper, CSP, CPE
Petya holds MSIH from UCM and has over 15 years of combined experience from GM, Nissan, Peloton, and Clarios. She is customer focused, driven, and adaptable EHS leader with diverse portfolio of safety excellence achievements, who specializes in providing practical business solutions for compliance and sustainability through traightforward strategic
approach.
Karen Cooper, CSP, CPE - As a Director of Environmental Health & Safety at L3Harris, Karen Cooper plays a pivotal role in mitigating risks across the global EHS landscape and is the ergonomics working group co-lead. Her tenure at L3Harris is marked by her leadership of a diverse, cross-functional team dedicated to establishing standards and providing guidance for both novices and experts in the field, in ergonomics and other critical EHS topics. Prior to joining L3Harris, Karen was the Manager of Safety and Medical at Nissan North America, a specialist at Kohler company and a researcher at Universities of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Louisville supporting small businesses as part of a Susan Harwood Training Grant.
Seeing is Believing: Embracing and Navigating Diverse Realities
Date: 9/15
Time: 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Description
In this dynamic and immersive workshop, we will embark on a journey to explore and understand the intricate ways in which perception shapes our understanding of the world. Through a series of engaging and thought-provoking activities, participants will delve into the realms of sensory perception, selective attention, memory and expectation, cognitive biases, emotion's role in perception, and the influence of cultural and social factors. This exploration will not only highlight the diverse ways in which individuals perceive and interpret reality but will also foster empathy and appreciation for different perspectives. By the end of the session, participants will be equipped with invaluable insights into how their perceptions are formed and influenced, empowering them to become more effective and empathetic professionals and humans. They will leave with enhanced communication, decision-making, and collaboration skills, crucial for thriving in diverse and dynamic professional environments. The understanding gained from this class will enable them to approach challenges and opportunities with a more open, inclusive, and innovative mindset, driving positive change in their professional spheres and beyond.
Speaker
Josh Russell, CSP
Joshua Russell, CSP, serves as the Sr. Manager of Environmental Health & Safety for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). Josh has worked in the field of EH&S for 20 years, and holds his Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety and Health. He has taken part in numerous leadership development programs and has spent several years defining his leadership style and conducting research to determine what leadership traits and behaviors are most conducive to high performance, high engagement, and long-term retention of employees. In addition to his work as a safety professional, Josh is also a board member of the Northern Virginia Chapter of the American Society of Safety Professionals and a co-host of the Illusion of Safety podcast.
Training for Adult Learners
Date: 9/15
Time: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Description
My approach to adult education is rooted in the understanding that adult learners thrive in engaging, practical, and goal-oriented environments. I use real-life scenarios, hands-on activities, and collaborative discussions to make learning relevant and immediately applicable. Respecting the experience adults bring, I like to foster interactive sessions that build on existing knowledge while introducing new skills. By focusing on active participation and personalized feedback, I create a supportive environment where adult learners can confidently develop and apply their abilities.
Speaker
Fred (Ted) Launsby
For the past eight years, I have been the training leader at a large company, where I conduct engaging and informative training classes each week. My expertise encompasses various critical areas, including hours of service compliance, Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, and the safe handling of hazardous materials.
Over the last two years, I have also had the privilege of serving as an OSHA instructor, offering both 10- and 30-hour courses focused on workplace safety and health. Furthermore, I have extensive experience in specialized training, having led courses on confined space technical rescue and completed an intensive 40-hour HAZWOPER (Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response) program. My work has contributed to fostering a safer and more knowledgeable workforce.
Fitting the Worker Through Better Design
Date: 9/15
Time: 12:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Description
Many workstations are designed, purchased and installed with little to no consideration for who will be using it and what tasks will be performed. By considering the worker and the work tasks, different workstation choices may be made. Join this session to learn about anthropometry and workstation design in both the office and non-office environments.
Speaker
Heather S. White, CPE, ASP
Heather White is a Master Ergonomist for the Ergonomics Center housed in the Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at North Carolina State University. She provides ergonomics evaluations, training programs and process development expertise to companies in a broad range of industries including manufacturing, food processing and packaging, semiconductors, biotechnology and the office environment.
Heather earned a BS in Applied Mathematics from Appalachian State University and a Master of Industrial Engineering from North Carolina State University. She holds a CPE certification through the Board of Certification in Professional Ergonomics and an ASP certification through the Board of Certified Safety Professionals. Heather serves ASSP as the Ergonomics Practice Specialty Secretary, the Region VI as Assistant Regional Vice President - Member & Chapter Affairs Chair, and the Tarheel Chapter Awards and Honors Chair.
Have You Assessed the Risk to Worker Well-being?
Date: 9/16
Time: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Description
The importance of managing risk to worker well-being has emerged, led by NIOSH’s Total Worker Health® Program as well as the publication of ISO 45003-2021. This hands-on workshop will help attendees learn how to adapt the risk assessment process and tools to assess and manage this emerging risk.
Speaker
Pam Walaski, CSP, FASSP
Pam Walaski, CSP is Senior Program Director with Specialty Technical Consultants, Inc. and a temporary faculty member for the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Safety Sciences Department. She is a Professional Member of ASSP, currently serving a 3-year term as Director At-Large. She was previously a member of the Society Finance and Nomination & Elections Committees, served on CoPA and was Vice Chair of CoPS. She was also the Administrator of the Consultants Practice Specialty and Keystone Area Director for Region VIII.
Pam is a regular contributor to ASSP’s Professional Safety and won 3rd Place in the 2017 Professional Paper Awards. Her most recent article The Role of Indicators in OSH Performance Measurement was published in August 2020. She is Section Coordinator for Occupational Safety & Health Management Systems Section for the 3rd edition of The Safety Professionals Handbook scheduled for publication in 2021. Her book Risk and Crisis Communications; Methods and Messages was published by John Wiley & Sons in 2011 and she was an editor on the Consultants Business Development Guide, published by ASSP in 2015.
Pam has been a general session presenter at the ASSP PDC every year since 2005 and is an instructor for the ASSP Risk Assessment Certificate program. She also provides workshops on risk management, and other topics for ASSP and private clients.
Pam received the Region VIII Safety Professional of the Year Award in 2018, the Charles Culbertson Volunteer Service Award in 2015 and the CoPS Safety Professional of the Year in 2014.
Risk 360: A Comprehensive Guide to Navigating Risk Management, Leadership, and Life Challenges
Date: 9/16
Time: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Description
This 4-hour pre-conference session will cover a myriad of topics from leadership, negotiating, total cost of risk, and lessons learned. Attendees will determine their own leadership style and the pros and cons of each style. They will also use their personality types to understand how their own personality can directly impact their negotiations—both personally and professionally. Safety Professionals play a critical role in a robust risk management program and your entity’s total cost of risk. This session will review the TCOR elements and why safety is critical to the process. Finally, the “10 things I wish I knew then—Life lessons and things to live and work by.
Speaker
Carleen C. Patterson, ARM-P, CIC, CRM
Carleen is the national Public Entity and Higher Education Practice Leader. She works with higher education and public entity clients across the United States providing insurance brokerage and risk management expertise.
She has been in the insurance industry since 1988 and joined Alliant Insurance Services, Inc. in January, 2020. Prior to Alliant, Carleen served in a similar role for a large, international broker. She has risk management, claims, and insurance brokerage experience; and has spent the last 25 years specializing in self-insurance and insurance brokerage and consulting for large public entity clients
She was the recipient of the 2011 and 2012 Risk & Insurance Power Broker award. She is a member of several national risk management-focused associations, including Public Risk Management Association (PRIMA).
Carleen earned her BS in Education from the University of South Dakota. She is licensed as an insurance agent/producer in Texas and many other states and holds the Associate in Risk Management, Associate in Risk Management for Public Entities, Certified Insurance Counselor, and Certified Risk Manager designations.
Ultraviolet Radiation Safety for the OSH Professional
Date: 9/16
Time: 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Description
Exposure to ultraviolet radiation causes more public heath issues than any other form of radiation. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a prevalent occupational hazard in industries ranging from manufacturing and healthcare to construction and research laboratories. This course equips Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) professionals with the knowledge needed to assess and mitigate UV exposure risks in the workplace.
Speaker
Ben Edwards, MS, CHP, CLSO
Ben Edwards is a retired certified health physicist and certified laser safety officer with several decades of experience in industry, academia, and medical settings. He has a B.S. physics degree from the University of North Carolina and a M.S. in occupational health & safety from East Carolina University.
Master Class on Substance Abuse & Workplace Safety
Date: 9/16
Time: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Description
While California may have been in the marijuana legalization vanguard, both recreational and/or medicinal use of cannabis are now legal in a majority of states even as it remains an illegal drug at the federal level. Where it is legal, a crazy quilt of laws at the state, county and even municipal level creates challenges for multi-state employers seeking to craft a comprehensive substance abuse prevention and drug testing protocol. Questions of what constitutes "impairment" and how testing should be performed add challenges and implicate both HR and OSHA management. Fitness-for-duty approaches are gaining popularity as are new testing methodologies, even as courts are ruling that employers must pay for cannabis used to treat workers' compensation conditions. This session will provide insight into the various aspects of substance abuse and on-the-job impairment prevention in a world of legal marijuana and increasingly complex and conflicting regulations and case law. The speaker, an attorney, safety professional and employment law professor, will also provide recommendations for practice that balance employee rights to medical treatment and off-duty legal use against safety-sensitive needs and regulatory limitations on when and who may now be tested.
Speaker
Adele Abrams, Esq., CMSP
Adele is an attorney, safety professional and trainer who is president of the Law Office of Adele L. Abrams P.C. in Beltsville, MD, Charleston, WV, and Denver, CO, a multi-attorney firm focusing on safety, health and employment law nationwide. As a certified mine safety professional, Adele provides consultation, safety audits and training services to MSHA and OSHA regulated companies. Adele is a regular columnist for numerous magazines on legal, employment, mine and occupational safety/health issues, and is co-author of several books related to mining, construction, employment law, and occupational safety and health. She is a member of the Maryland, DC and Pennsylvania Bars, the U.S. District Courts of Maryland, DC and Tennessee, the U.S. Court of Appeals, DC, 3rd and 4th Circuits, and the United States Supreme Court. She is a graduate of the George Washington University’s National Law Center, and earned her B.S. in Journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park. Her professional memberships include the American Society of Safety Professionals, National Safety Council, the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association, Associated Builders and Contractors, the Industrial Minerals Association-North America, and the American Bar Association. In 2017, she received the NSC’s Distinguished Service to Safety Award.