Our India, Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh chapters collaborated to hold a professional development conference Feb. 14-15, 2019, in Delhi, India, with a theme of addressing emerging challenges in the environment, health, safety and sustainability profession. The event objectives were to help OSH professionals keep pace with changes and trends in business, technology and policies to maximize their value to their organizations, and learn from the experience of OSH professionals from other countries and companies. Sessions covered topics such as the impact of business changes on the profession, the application of technology in safe driving, industrial hygiene, environmental and sustainability governance, best practices in oil and gas, and the role of safety and human resources in effective OSH implementation.

ASSP President Rixio Medina spoke at the conference, which was attended by about 150 participants representing various industry sectors. The event was inaugurated by Sri Abhay Damleji, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highway, Government of India, and guests included Jitendra (Jitu) C. Patel, CPEA, ASSP Fellow, an emeritus professional member of the Society’s Arizona Chapter and member of ASSP’s International Practice Specialty; Ashok Garlapati, CSP, CFIOSH, QEP, Vice President of ASSP’s Region IX, and professional member of the Society’s Kuwait Chapter and member of ASSP’s International and Oil, Gas, Mining and Mineral Resources practice specialties; and Subba Rao Palagummi, Area Director, ASSP Region IX, a professional member of the Society’s Andhra Pradesh Chapter, and member of ASSP’s Construction, International, and Oil, Gas, Mining and Mineral Resources practice specialties. 

At the conference, Swamynathan Subramanian, CSP, RMP, CMIOSH, SIIRSM, a professional member of ASSP’s International Chapter, was presented the chapter’s Occupational Safety and Health Award. Bhavin Trivedi, a member of the Society’s India Chapter, and Ajay Sachdeva, a professional member of ASSP’s Maharashtra Chapter and chair of the conference, were awarded the chapter’s Outstanding Significant Contributing Volunteer Award.