Workers and employers across northeastern Oregon can look forward to boosting their knowledge of workplace safety and health in the upcoming 17th annual Blue Mountain Occupational Safety and Health Conference. Set to take place on June 2-3 at the Pendleton Convention Center in Pendleton, the event serves as a hub for education and training across various industries, spotlighting topics from farm and electrical safety to the nitty-gritty of safety committees and effective use of personal protective equipment.
Offering a slew of preconference workshops on key areas, the conference, as reported by the Oregon Newsroom, will address traffic control, first aid certifications, and Process Safety Management implementation. Spanish-language sessions will also be available, providing a space for Spanish-speaking employees to participate fully. They include discussions on building a safety culture and hazard identification, emphasizing the importance of inclusive educational opportunities across language barriers.
Key to the event's draw is the collaborative effort backing it, which includes the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health (Oregon OSHA), the SHARP (Safety and Health Advocates Recommending Progress) Alliance, and local employers and employees. According to the Oregon Newsroom, this alliance signals a shared commitment to improving workplace safety and health standards in the region.
Attendees on June 3 will have the opportunity to hear from Jennifer Serne, an associate professor at Central Washington University, who will discuss "What Was I Thinking?! Cognitive Biases in Human Error and Decision-Making." With an eye on the common missteps that lead to workplace accidents, Serne will explore how cognitive biases affect decisions, providing strategies to mitigate these errors, as the Oregon Newsroom details.
Topics on the conference's roster range from Effective Accountability Systems to the nuances of dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the workforce. Sessions will dig into industry-specific issues, such as chemical safety in vineyards and wineries, and broader concerns like workplace stress and burnout. For those keen to dive deeper, the preconference on June 2 is open at a fee of $50, with the following day's conference costing $125, lunch included.
For more information or to register for the event, interested parties can visit the official conference website or reach out to the Oregon OSHA Conference Section. With the stage set for insightful discussions and valuable learning opportunities, the Blue Mountain Occupational Safety and Health Conference is poised to make a meaningful impact on the region's approach to workplace well-being.
