NSC Announces Keynote Presentations for 2024 Safety Congress & Expo

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Safety Council is thrilled to announce its keynote presentations for the 2024 NSC Safety Congress & Expo, the world’s largest annual gathering of safety professionals. With inspirational keynotes each day of the conference, attendees will walk away from these energizing sessions equipped with the learning experiences, connections and cutting-edge technologies needed to navigate the ever-evolving safety industry.

Taking place this year at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, the 2024 NSC Safety Congress & Expo features insightful keynote sessions and speakers:

The "No Barriers" Life from 8-9:30 a.m. ET on Monday, Sept. 16, features World-Class Blind Adventurer Erik Weihenmayer, who understands better than most that barriers are real, not merely perceived, and that obstacles encountered can either stop us in our tracks or we can figure out a way to harness them and propel ourselves to new places. In this opening session, he will take audiences on a journey to discover the tools and insights to develop what he calls the “No Barriers Mindset,” what it takes for individuals, teams and organizations to turn into the storm, convert challenges into greatness and reach for nearly impossible goals.

Driving Change: SIF Model in Action from 10:30-12 p.m. ET on Monday, Sept. 16, is a must-attend for professionals seeking to enhance their strategic planning and execution capabilities, and for those interested in exploring new methodologies for driving organizational change and success. A dynamic forum where industry experts showcase the Council’s Serious Incident and Fatality (SIF) prevention model, the Campbell Institute Forum is where participants will gain valuable insights into the practical application of this innovative approach and learn how NSC collaborated with an organization to develop and implement a tailored strategy, measure its impact and incorporate feedback for continuous improvement.

A Tale of Two Safeties: BBS and HOP from 8-9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 17, features Tim Page-Bottorff, MS, CSP, CIT, senior safety consultant at SafeStart, and Corrie Pitzer, founder and CEO of Safemap International. In this occupational keynote, they will explore the differences, misunderstandings and quarrels between Safety I and Safety II, two schools of thought that focus on safety but in opposite ways.

Psychologically Safe Workplaces: What Can We Agree On? from 10-11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 16, features insights from Scott Hoesman and Nakia J. Green of inQUEST Consulting, who have over 25 years of experience in building inclusive workplaces. This dynamic, interactive keynote will explore how to create work environments where everyone can thrive, focusing on strategies to ensure psychological safety for employees, customers and partners, as well as address navigating the complex issues surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion. Additionally, a panel of NSC member employers will discuss their progress, followed by an opportunity for participants to develop actionable steps to improve psychological safety in their own workplaces.

Safety As A Core Value from 2-2:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 16, will provide attendees the opportunity to hear directly from Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Douglas L. Parker on the safety challenges facing American workplaces, and the opportunities for employers and safety professionals to work together to increase the culture of safety in the United States. When safety is understood as a core business value, needed stakeholders come together to brainstorm and implement occupational safety solutions to eliminate injuries and fatalities in workplaces. Parker will also be joined by NSC President and CEO Lorraine Martin for a fireside chat with time for questions from the audience. Following the keynote, there will be a press avail for members of the media in attendance.

The Future of Human-Robot Interaction from 8-9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 18, features Dr. Kate Darling, leading expert in social robotics & MIT Media Lab and research scientist. In this closing keynote, Dr. Darling examines why people fear some robots and empathize with others, while also prompting — and answering — questions about what society’s relationship with these robots could look like in the future. What follows is in part an examination of the technology itself, but ultimately, offers a window into how it’s poised to change the way we relate to each other and our own humanity and why it matters.

“As new safety challenges continue to redefine the ways in which we live and work, there’s no better place to make meaningful connections, discover the latest safety innovations and be inspirated by engaging presentations than the NSC Safety Congress & Expo,” said Martin. “Together, we can make people safer, prevent injuries and save lives, from the workplace to anyplace. We look forward to welcoming thousands of professionals committed to doing just that to Orlando next month.” 

Since its inception, the NSC Safety Congress & Expo has featured industry-leading technology, education and networking opportunities for those in safety and related fields across the globe. With more than 25 professional development seminars, over 125 targeted technical and educational sessions, an expo floor for more than 950 exhibitors, and exclusively presented insights and awards, the NSC Safety Congress & Expo is the place to be this September.

Professional development seminars run Sept. 13-15 and Sept. 18-19, and the conference and expo run Sept. 16-18. Visit congress.nsc.org to learn more and click here to register.

About the National Safety Council
The National Safety Council is America’s leading nonprofit safety advocate – and has been for 110 years. As a mission-based organization, we work to eliminate the leading causes of preventable death and injury, focusing our efforts on the workplace and roadways. We create a culture of safety to not only keep people safer at work, but also beyond the workplace so they can live their fullest lives.