Learning, Networking & a Lively Nightlife in the Crescent City

Next month, the National Safety Council (NSC) continues its 100+ year tradition of staging the world’s largest annual safety event, the NSC Safety Congress & Expo. Thousands of safety, health and environmental professionals from a range of industries will descend on the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans to learn about new technologies, products and services and to network with their colleagues from around the globe. The Congress & Expo runs from October 23rd through the 25th. The Professional Development Seminars will take place from October 20-22 and 25-26.

There are dozens of educational sessions – which can earn participants CEUs. The offerings include:

• Atmospheric Hazards Within Confined Spaces: What You Don’t Know CAN Hurt You
• The Undeniable Appeal of Risk
• Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene
• ¿Comprende? Overcoming the Language Barrier in Safety
• Coaching: The Secret Power of Safety Leaders
• Electrifying Your Company Fleet Safely
• Coaching: The Secret Power of Safety Leaders
• Workplace Violence: What Really Happens?
• Engage: Implementing Safety Technology Across Your Enterprise
• Lone Workers: Identifying and Mitigating Your Company’s Risks
• Breaking Down Silos and Revolutionizing Injury Prevention Through Value Co-Creation
• Emerging Technologies in Ergonomics: The Path Forward

There are also 1.5-2-hour-long Keynote Sessions featuring safety experts and innovators, as well as more than 100 technical sessions that feature case studies, trending topics and personal stories.

New this year: a First Look New Exhibitor Pavilion that allows first-time exhibitors to showcase their products in a highly visible area in the convention center. According to the NSC, attendees have cited getting to see new products and services as the number one reason for going to the show.

The NSC Safety Technology Pavilion will also have something new: a Safety Innovation Challenge that addresses upper extremity work, including repetitive movement, overhead work and vibration. This immersive experience enables people to interact with technologies and chat with experts to:

• Learn about this top MSD risk
• Discover technology solutions available to solve the risk
• See how to get a company ready to adopt technology
• Make the business case to leadership
• Pilot a technology solution

Division and Section meetings at the NSC Congress & Expo will bring NSC member company employees together to learn about emerging issues in their industries, connect with other safety professionals, and add their experience and expertise to the Council. ​The Commercial Vehicle/Fleet Section; School Bus/Transit Section; Transportation Safety Division; Construction & Utilities Division; Business & Industry Division; Young Professionals Division; Women’s Division and Government & Public Sector Division will explore topics like best practices, safety leadership, industry trends and regulatory updates.

When the convention day is done, New Orleans offers an abundance of live music venues, restaurants representing a plethora of cuisines, architectural gems and museums. The Cresent City is well known for its nightlife, and bars in the French Quarter remain open quite late. Visitors can hear live jazz, blues or Zydeco music; view stately mansions during a tour of the French Quarter or the Garden District or visit popular tourist sites like the Chalmette Battlefield at the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. Starting the day with a deep-fried sweet beignet from Café Du Monde and ending it with a stroll down the always-boisterous Bourbon Street will truly put a New Orleans stamp on the experience. Other options: an airboat ride; a trip to the National WWII Museum or a Haunted Ghost, Voodoo, Vampire and Mystery Tour. WMHS