Safety Front And Center Next Week In Pendleton

The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services will host a two-day event early next month, trying to put a spotlight on the importance of workplace safety and health.  The 17th annual Blue Mountain Occupational Safety and Health Conference, slated for June 2nd-3rd at the Pendleton Convention Center, will address farm and electrical safety to safety committee and personal protective equipment.  The conference is a collaborative effort by Oregon OSHA and the Safety and Health Advocates Recommending Progress Alliance [SHARP], as well as employers and employees in northeast Oregon.

The workshops on Monday, June 2nd, include such topics as traffic control and first aid certifications, implementation of Process Safety Management, and how to respond to serious injury or illness at work.  Monday's schedule also offers sessions in Spanish, including building an effective safety culture, identifying hazards, and conducting best practices for safety committees.

On Tuesday, June 3rd, Jennifer Serne will deliver the keynote presentation: “What Was I Thinking?! Cognitive Biases in Human Error and Decision-Making." Serne is associate professor and program director of safety and health management programs at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA.  She will delve into common cognitive biases that contribute to poor decision-making and accidents, and how organizations can use proven mitigation methods to reduce human error and accidents. 

Several Topics Important To The Farming Community Will Be Covered 

Organizers added the Conference will cover a variety of topics, including: 

• Effective Accountability Systems
• Electrical Safety for the Non-Electrician
• PTSD Impacts on the Workforce
• Farm Safety Blueprint: Machine Guarding and Energy Control Essentials
• I Have My Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Now What?
• Effective Safety Committees
• Safety Leadership on the Front Lines
• Is That Confined Space Permit Required? Yes or No?
• Workplace Stress/Burnout: What Health and Safety Professionals Can Do
• The Worker Protection Standard and Chemical Safety and How it Relates to Your Vineyard and Winery 

 Registration for the preconference workshops on Monday, June 2, is $50. Registration for the conference on Tuesday, June 3, is $125, which includes lunch. Click Here to register.  If you have questions about the 17th annual Blue Mountain Occupational Safety and Health Conference, call (503) 947-7411.

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.com