Highlights: 2015 NSC Congress & Expo

"In safety, we often only have 20/20 vision after an event occurs.”

Deborah A.P. Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council, shared this insight before a crowd of 4,000 people at the Opening Session of the 2015 NSC Congress & Expo in Atlanta.

During the event, which took place from Sept. 26 through Oct. 2, more than 14,000 safety professionals from all over the world came together to “Build Safer Workplaces” – the theme of this year’s show. Attendees had the opportunity to listen to keynotes from nationally recognized safety leaders and motivational speakers, participate in more than 120 Technical Sessions, and join in on more than 25 Professional Development Seminars. On the Expo Floor, more than 1,000 exhibitors showcased their products and services.

Hersman urged attendees to take the opportunities available to them to “ensure safety glasses are calibrated correctly” and empower workers to identify hazards. “Don’t wait until you have a workplace incident,” Hersman cautioned.

“Simple behaviors can have a big impact,” Jeff Woodbury, outgoing chairman of the NSC Board of Directors, told the crowd. And incoming Chairman John Surma added that although hazards vary, the top priority – sending workers home safely – never changes.