The 5th annual Safety Fest TN event will be held Sept. 12-16 in Oak Ridge and Knoxville and will feature over 80 free safety and health classes, sessions and demonstrations. In addition to the free classes, a Safety Expo and Safety Demonstrations will take place on Sept. 13 and 14 along with the “Secret City” Fire Officer Conference on Sept. 14 and 15.
The majority of the classes and sessions will be hosted by Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC at the New Hope Center, 602 Scarboro Road, and Oak Ridge Associated Universities at Pollard Technology Conference Center, 210 Badger Ave., in Oak Ridge, but classes are also being offered at seven other area locations including two in Knoxville.
“It’s all about safety and health at work, at home and in the community,” said Michelle Keever, the Safety Fest TN class coordinator from URS | CH2M Oak Ridge LLC. “And what a community. In collaboration and with the irreplaceable help of United Steel Workers Local 9-288, we’re thrilled that 20 seniors at Sunbright School will receive OSHA 40-hour HAZWOPER training.”
Sunbright is a one-campus Pre-Kindergarten through 12 school located in rural Morgan County.
"Safety Fest TN 2016 is bigger than ever and there’s something for everyone,” said Jenny Freeman, chair of the planning committee from Strata-G, LLC. “With a long list of subjects, safety and health professionals, managers, and workers, and members of the public will almost certainly find a class they need.”
Some of the subject areas offered include Arc Flash Hazards, Back Safety, Confined Space Safety, Electrical Safety, Ergonomics, Fall Prevention, Fire Extinguisher Use, Human Performance Improvement, a suite of OSHA certificate classes (10-hour, 30-hour and 40-hour) and more.
Nationally known speaker and safety professional, Joe Estey, will headline the official kick-off Safety Forum Tuesday morning, Sept. 13, in the New Hope Center Auditorium. Mr. Estey is well-known in Tennessee because of his leadership and communication skills, and his practical approach to creating safe workplaces. His presentation, “What’s On Your Mind” will introduce common mental biases that lead to errors during life-threatening events and will provide techniques for improving error detection and personal performance during events.
Attendees come from the largest corporations to the smallest companies; colleges, universities and ocal schools; labor unions; non-profit organizations; federal, state, and local government agencies; and large and small utilities.
“Every part of the community is represented” said Dave Neubauer a Safety Fest TN organizer from CNS. “You get to meet, talk and walk with folks from every level of every sector. It’s a priceless opportunity to learn and network.”
Last year’s event had 850 people registered, representing 172 organizations from 79 cities in six states.
“It’s grown fast. In 2012, less than 300 people came and this year it’s looking like something around 1,000 will attend,” said Tom Wantland, another Safety Fest TN organizer from ORAU. “Obviously we’ve hit a nerve…there’s a demand out there… And, once a year, Safety Fest TN tries to fill that need.”
Safety Fest TN is made possible through a long list of event partners, sponsors and providers.
“Just go check out the website. It’s amazing who’s helping promote safety,” said J.J. Rochelle another Safety Fest TN organizer from Pro2Serve. “And just like the attendees, support comes from across the full spectrum of the community.”
For more information on Safety Fest TN, classes, sessions and demonstrations, and a link to registration please visit https://safetyfesttn.org/. Sponsorship opportunities are available.