PARK RIDGE, IL — As safety and health professionals take on the challenge of preparing their organizations for pandemic recovery and a possible second wave of the virus, the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) is working to educate the industry on best practices. ASSP’s Safety 2020: Virtual will feature a general session in which safety experts discuss the impacts of COVID-19 and recommend strategies to keep workers safe and healthy during this extraordinary time.

The one-hour session on June 24 – “Applying Systems Thinking Through Your Pandemic Planning” – will be presented by Danyle Hepler, CSP, CESCO, CPEA, technical specialist and corporate health and safety manager at Haley & Aldrich; and Victor Toy, CSP, CIH, FAIHA, president and principal for Insyst OHS.

Systems thinking is a fundamental principle of occupational safety and health management system standards that help safety professionals solve complex issues at their companies. While the pandemic creates new challenges for businesses around the world, systems thinking can provide comprehensive solutions. The session will also offer ideas to help safety and health professionals guide operations at their organizations as the health crisis evolves.

“The pandemic has created an opportunity for safety and health professionals to show our versatility and value because we understand how safety impacts the entire business,” said ASSP President Diana Stegall, CSP, CFPS, ARM, SMS, CPCU. “We know what new policies and procedures are needed to bring workers back to their jobs safely and keep them healthy moving forward.”

ASSP’s signature conference and exposition shifted to a virtual experience June 23-25 while maintaining the educational content and valuable insights that occupational safety and health professionals need to advance both their workplaces and careers. Participants will find solutions to their top safety challenges while learning from many of the industry trendsetters who were scheduled to present in Orlando.

In addition to three general sessions and two plenary sessions, Safety 2020: Virtual will deliver 60 education sessions on various workplace safety topics, each including a Q&A with the speaker. There will also be daily networking opportunities and an interactive virtual exposition that will showcase the latest product innovations.

Participants can earn up to 6.5 continuing education units (CEUs) for their career advancement – nearly four times as many as the in-person event. All sessions presented during the virtual experience will be accessible to attendees for 60 days post-event.

Safety and health professionals are encouraged to visit the Safety 2020: Virtual website for the full lineup of speakers and sessions. The event’s early registration rate has been extended through June 5.

About ASSP – Working together for a safer, stronger future
For more than 100 years, the American Society of Safety Professionals has been at the forefront of helping occupational safety and health professionals protect people and property. The nonprofit society is based in the Chicago suburb of Park Ridge. Its global membership of nearly 40,000 professionals covers all industries, developing safety and health management plans that prevent injuries, illnesses and deaths. ASSP advances its members and the safety profession through education, advocacy, standards and a professional community. Its flagship publication, Professional Safety, is a longtime leader in the field. Visit www.assp.org and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.