CBIA 2023 Safety & Health Conference

CBIA’s Safety & Health Conference covered the topics that continue to challenge safety and health personnel, including relationship management techniques that build greater trust with employees and navigating the consequences of marijuana legalization. 

Top OSHA and CONN-OSHA officials shared the challenges they encountered during the past year while assisting companies with maintaining safe workplaces. They also addressed new agency initiatives planned for next year. 

Attendees also learned practical information on holistic approaches to workplace safety, health, and wellbeing with the Total Worker Health program, and factors to consider when purchasing automatic external defibrillators.

Agenda

7 am | Breakfast & Networking

8 am | Opening Remarks

• Phillip Montgomery, Director, Compensation Services & Safety, CBIA

8:10 am | OSHA/CONN-OSHA: State of Safety

• Galen Blanton, Region 1 Administrator, OSHA
• Joshua Hawks-Ladds, Partner, Pullman & Comley
• John Rosa, Director, CONN-OSHA

OSHA and CONN-OSHA officials share the challenges they encountered during the past year while assisting companies with maintaining safe workplaces. Officials will also address new initiatives planned for the next year. This moderated session offers attendees an excellent opportunity to address personal concerns and get insights for their safety programs. 

9:15 am | Networking Break

9:30 am | Safety Leadership: Making the Connection

• Brian Grossguth, Continuous Improvement Manager, Myoshi America, Inc. 

Safety managers realize that preaching to employees the federal safety guidelines is not enough. We explore the use of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management techniques to develop greater trust with employees.

10:30 am | Total Worker Health: A Holistic Approach to Workplace Safety, Health & Wellbeing

•  Jennifer Cavallari,  Associate Professor of Public Health Sciences, University of Connecticut School of Medicine 

Total Worker Health is a new, expanded approach to workplace safety and is supported by CPH-NEW, a Total Worker Health for Excellence funded by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. It considers a broader range of risk factors—both on and off the job—for worker safety and wellbeing. This session presents the rationale for this approach, with examples of integrated policies and practices.

11:40 am |  Automated External Defibrillators: Factors to Consider

The on-field incident with Buffalo Bills football player Damar Hamlin vividly raised national consciousness about the need for immediate responses for cardiac arrest cases. Automated external defibrillators are an important response tool, although the decision to have one on site should not be made casually. There are a number of factors for companies to consider, as we discuss in this session.

• Jason Race, Owner/Lead Instructor, Proactive Safety

12 noon | Lunch & Networking

1 pm | Safety in Connecticut: I Can’t Believe They’re Doing That!

• Moderator: Chad McCulley, VP, USI Insurance Services
• Chip Darius, President, Safety Priority Consultants
• Christopher Mayne, EHS Project Manager, GZA Environmental, Inc.
• Ryan Polizzo, SVP, Loureiro Engineering Associates, Inc.

We explore the safety challenges that Connecticut companies most frequently struggle with as seen through the eyes of three prominent safety consultants. Hear how experts advise and assist Connecticut companies about maintaining safe workplaces and managing OSHA inquiries.

2 pm | High on the Job: Dealing with Marijuana Legalization

• Emily Gianquinto, Special Counsel, McCarter & English

Connecticut’s legalization of adult recreational marijuana brought a host of new issues and concerns for safety and HR professionals. In this session, we look at the law’s immediate impact and how best to maintain compliance while protecting  workplace safety. Gianquinto shares client experiences and her advice for navigating this new challenge.

3 pm | Adjourn