Registration is now open for the Oregon Governor’s Occupational Safety and Health
(GOSH) Conference, to be held March 4-7, 2013, at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland.
With more than 150 workshops and sessions, it is the largest event of its kind in the Northwest.
“One of the challenges employers of all types face is how to make safety a true reality in the
workplace,” said Oregon OSHA Administrator Michael Wood. “This event offers tried-and-true
guidance for achieving success in your safety and health program, whether you operate a small
business or a large manufacturing company.”
Keynote speaker Jeff “Odie” Espenship will present “Getting Back to Basics is Vital to Superior
Performance — It’s the Little Things that Matter” on Tuesday, March 5, 2013. An author,
renowned speaker, and former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, Espenship will motivate audience
members to rethink and refocus their work behavior.
“By setting high expectations, by speaking up, by listening to what is not being said,
by overcoming complacency (the silent killer), by never assuming, and by communicating
to understanding helps us achieve new heights in life and leadership,” said Espenship.
On Thursday, March 7, the conference features a moderated panel discussion with recipients of
the Portland Business Journal Healthiest Employer Award. Top organizations will share insights
into what makes their wellness programs effective and offer tips for tackling challenges and
other best practices. Nationally recognized expert Ron Goetzel, director of the Emory University
Institute for Health and Productivity Studies, will also speak Thursday on his research around
what makes wellness programs effective.
Other general topics covered at conference include:
- Safety committee training
- What to expect from an OSHA inspection
- Safety leadership and workplace culture
- Advanced accident investigation
The conference will also feature session tracks on specialties such as utility work, construction,
emergency preparedness and response, agriculture, and health care.
Back by popular demand is the Columbia Forklift Challenge and registration is now open to
participants. Trained forklift drivers will compete for cash in an obstacle course designed to test
their skills and safe operation on Tuesday, March 5, 2013.
The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA), a division of the
Department of Consumer and Business Services, is partnering with the Columbia-Willamette
Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers to sponsor the conference.