EHS Conference Day 1

OSHA: Updates and Issues

Join us for our Opening Session with Karena Lorek, the Area Director of OSHA's Kansas City Area Office. Karena will discuss the latest OSHA activities to improve workplace safety, including updates on regulatory priorities, enforcement actions and outreach initiatives. The session will also include an interactive Q&A featuring questions submitted live by our attendees.

Karena Lorek - Area Director, OSHA Kansas City Area Office

Karena Lorek is the Area Director for the Kansas City Area Office, covering the western 2/3 of Missouri. Prior to becoming an Area Director, she was the Assistant Regional Administrator for OSHA Region VII Whistleblower Protection Program. Karena has also served as the Acting Deputy Director of the Directorate of Enforcement Programs in Washington DC. Karena has worked for OSHA for over 17 years; Karena started her OSHA career in Cleveland, Ohio. Prior to her career with OSHA, Karena was in Federal Law Enforcement with US Secret Service and US Federal Air Marshall Service. She also was an investigator for Ohio Bureau of Worker’s Compensation conducting safety and health inspections.

Panel Discussion:

Identifying, Implementing & Maintaining Sustainability Initiatives

Sustainability is a hot topic in manufacturing right now, and the new generation of workers value companies with strong sustainability programs. In this session, we will hear from Doug Neidigh about a free resource that can help manufacturers identify sustainability initiatives, Glyn Strong about products that serve as potential sustainability solutions, and Carl Kicklighter about his company's leading sustainability program and how it is maintained.

Moderator

Randy Niederer - Energy Ambassador, Cambridge Air Solutions

Randy is the Energy Ambassador for Cambridge Air Solutions and has spent the past 17 years in the HVAC industry holding leadership roles for both residential and commercial HVAC manufacturers. As the Energy Ambassador he travels North America working with both electric and natural gas utilities on next generation HVAC technologies for the warehouse and manufacturing sector. Randy is currently a board member for Energy Solutions Center, St. Louis Building Exchange and chairs the Public Affairs committee at the Airconditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Institute.

Panelists

Doug Neidigh - Sustainability Coordinator, Missouri State University

Doug Neidigh is the Sustainability Coordinator for Missouri State University. He has over 25 years of experience in environmental management, energy management, and sustainability. Over his career, Doug has worked in private manufacturing, state and local government, consulting, healthcare, and academics. Doug is a Registered Environmental Manager (REM) with the National Registry of Environmental Professionals (NREP), and a Certified Energy Auditor (CEA) with the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE).

Glyn Strong - Co-Founder, Green CHP

Glyn Strong is a 25+ year business veteran in commercial and industrial solar solutions, renewable energy, construction, and real estate. His enthusiasm for solar energy developed early in his career while helping real estate clients renovate their properties to improve cost-effective energy performance. Since then, Glyn has helped build and scale several energy and solar startups with an emphasis on business development and sales. Today, Glyn is a PVT evangelist, helping businesses unlock previously unattainable cost savings and energy efficiency levels. Glyn has never met a stranger. He travels the US promoting the cost-saving and energy-efficiency benefits of renewable solutions, developing strong relationships with municipalities, designers, architects, GCs, MEPs, businesses, school districts, and many others along the way. When Glyn is not helping clients reduce their total energy spend, you can find him enjoying time with his family and cheering on a St. Louis Cardinals or Kansas City Chiefs game.

Carl Kicklighter - Director of Plant Operations, Vital Farms

With over 18 years of experience in the manufacturing world, Carl has spent the last 3.5 years helping support Vital Farms mission of improving the lives of people, animals, and planet through food. Throughout his career Carl has supported and led a wide range of departments including but not limited to Engineering, R&D, Supply Chain, and Management. Carl graduated from Missouri State University with a B.S. in Industrial Management before going back and completing his Masters of Business Administration. He is also a graduate of Leadership Springfield and currently serving on the Springfield Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. When he’s not working, you’ll find Carl enjoying the outdoors, especially Table Rock Lake, or spending time with his wife and two young girls.

Ergonomic and Human Factor Applications of AI Technology: Misconceptions, Current and Future Applications

In this presentation, we will define AI technology, discuss common misconceptions and current and future applications in the field of ergonomics and human factors. We will review traditional methods of collecting and quantifying ergonomic risk factors and discuss the value and limitations of new data collection and analysis methodologies. We will also discuss the application of AI technology in the mitigation of injury and human error.

Key Takeaways:

Understand the role of AI in the field of ergonomics and human factors.
Discuss traditional ways of collecting, analyzing and interpreting musculoskeletal risk data.
Discuss early ergonomic risk analysis tools and their limitations.
Discuss current and developing ergonomic risk analysis tools.
Discuss developing technology and applications for quantifying and interpreting musculoskeletal risks in the future.
Discuss the application of AI technology in the mitigation of injury and human error.

Mark Heidebrecht, MSE, ACSM-EP, CHFP - Managing Partner, Ergonomics International

Mark Heidebrecht has more than 20 years of experience and has provided forensic and expert witness services in the areas of biomechanics, human factors, ergonomics and work physiology. He has testified in more than 65 State Court and US Federal Court cases including the Federal OSHA hearing regarding the National Ergonomic Standard. Heidebrecht is a certified Ergonomist/Human Factors Professional and board-certified Exercise Physiologist. His expertise includes the implementation of ergonomic risk reduction processes, biomechanical analysis, upper/lower body ergonomic assessments, human factors analysis, physical demand analysis, job matching, work physiology and job specific functional testing.

3M Fall Protection Demonstration Truck

(special session from 9:45 - 11:45AM)

See what it takes to be safe at heights with 3M's fall protection Demonstration Truck. During this special, 2-hour session, attendees will experience on-site, hands-on fall protection demonstrations. Emery McReynolds of Shur-Sales will demonstrate actual drop-tests with force measuring instruments so attendees get a sense of the basics of the arresting forces they (or their employees) may experience during a fall.

This provides an excellent introduction to what 3M | Shur-Sales refers to as the ABC's of fall protection:

Anchorages, Body Support, Connectors, Descent & Rescue, Education, Fall Protection for Tools

Emery McReynolds - Outside Sales Representative, Shur-Sales

Emery McReynolds grew up in southeast Kansas. He attended the University of Nebraska at Kearney and graduated with his bachelor’s degree in Industrial Distribution. He spent 10-years working in industrial distribution with general and mechanical contractors. Emery started at Shur-Sales in 2017. As a past MMA fighter, Emery brings the same competitive spirit to industrial safety. He has a “no-quit” attitude and customers love his interactive fall protection demonstration. When Emery is not working, he is busy camping, driving his jeep, and spending time with his friends and family.

Arc Flash Hazards and Mitigation

An estimated 30,000 arc flash incidents occur a year. These incidents have the potential to cause more than just monetary damage. Shane McAnally covers these hazards and what you can do to mitigate them in this breakout session.

Shane McAnally - Project Safety Technician, SMC Electric

Shane McAnally is a Project Safety Technician and Occupational Safety professional at SMC Electric. He specializes in assessing and managing industrial safety hazards.

Serious Injury & Fatality Prevention in Manufacturing

Over the last 20 years, organizations continue to improve reportable incident rates, yet those same organizations are continuing to see steady serious injury & fatality rates. In this session, we will discuss the foundational concepts around SIF and introduce steps organizations can take to eliminate SIF exposures.

George Bower, CIH, CSP - Vice President & Executive Consultant, DEKRA

George Bower has over 20 years of progressive high-level experience in occupational safety and health, working in the automotive, primary metals, plastics, heavy equipment, chemical, health care, aviation, telecommunications, and pulp and paper industries. “World-class safety organizations start with the end in mind (that is, their future state). Think zero injuries, eliminating SIF exposures, or high employee engagement. I’m passionate about helping organizations identify this future state, pave the path forward, and walk alongside them toward their goal of excellence.” Bower is an executive consultant in DEKRA’s consulting practice. His team focuses on projects dealing with culture change, serious injury and fatality (SIF) prevention, safety- leadership development, increasing hourly-employee safety participation, and assessing and understanding the systems that influence exposure. George is committed to helping organizations achieve sustainable safety and health excellence through accountable leadership, detailed planning, effective training, clear and concise policies and procedures, systems-based auditing, and the completion of corrective actions. He is an expert in many fields of safety and health management, including industrial hygiene, safety management systems, safety auditing and corrective-action development, SIF prevention, leadership development and employee engagement, root-cause analyses, safety policy and procedure development, and job-hazard analyses. Before joining DEKRA, George was the senior safety and industrial hygiene consultant at S&ME, where he was responsible for providing key clients with strategic safety and health leadership. Before that, George served as the safety, health and industrial hygiene director at the WestRock (formerly KapStone) Charleston mill, a location with over 700 employees. There, he was responsible for setting the strategic direction and improvement of the facility’s safety performance. George is certified as an industrial hygienist by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene and certified as a safety professional by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of South Carolina. George resides in Charleston with his wife and three children. In his spare time, he enjoys backpacking, tennis, pickleball, and traveling to the Caribbean.

Wolves Can't Fly

Dan Meers is widely known as KC Wolf, the official mascot of the Kansas City Chiefs. Back in November of 2013, Dan was practicing a stunt involving a bungee cord and a zipline when he fell from a height of 75 feet into the stadium seats. Despite suffering serious injuries, Dan kept his spirits high through recovery and now shares his experience with hundreds of groups each year. The main takeaway from his story? Well, you'll have to join us to hear that!

Dan Meers - KC Wolf Mascot, Kansas City Chiefs

Dan Meers goes to work each day like many other men, dressed in a suit. The only difference is that instead of wearing a tie with his suit, Dan wears a tail. You see, Dan is a professional mascot. Dan began his career in 1986 at the University of Missouri – Columbia. Dressed as the school mascot, Truman Tiger, it didn’t take long for Dan to establish himself as one of the top college mascots in the nation. After finishing second in 1988, Dan was selected the nation’s #1 college mascot at the 1989 National Collegiate Mascot Championships. As graduation approached, Dan began to receive offers to use his talents at the professional level. After graduating with honors, Dan decided to trade in his tiger stripes for bird feathers and began his professional career as Fredbird, the mascot for the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team. Although many thought Dan’s “bird legs” were a perfect match for his costume in St. Louis, Dan stayed only a short time. He was offered a job in professional football and decided to exchange his bird suit to become a wolf. Today Dan is widely known as KC Wolf, the official mascot of the Kansas City Chiefs. He travels throughout the United States and the world entertaining thousands of people both in and out of costume. Dan is in high demand not only as a mascot but also as a humorous and motivational speaker to audiences of all ages. His enthusiasm, optimism and love for life are contagious and makes Dan an inspiration to all those he meets. Dan lives in Kansas City, MO with his wife, Cam and their 3 children, Mycah, Aaron, and Mallory.

Leading with Safety

In spite of efforts and initiatives to prevent injuries and illnesses, organizations continue to struggle with incident prevention. In this session, we will focus on the role that leadership plays in “righting the safety ship” and how effective leadership directly correlates to safety performance.

George Bower, CIH, CSP - Vice President & Executive Consultant, DEKRA

George Bower has over 20 years of progressive high-level experience in occupational safety and health, working in the automotive, primary metals, plastics, heavy equipment, chemical, health care, aviation, telecommunications, and pulp and paper industries. “World-class safety organizations start with the end in mind (that is, their future state). Think zero injuries, eliminating SIF exposures, or high employee engagement. I’m passionate about helping organizations identify this future state, pave the path forward, and walk alongside them toward their goal of excellence.” Bower is an executive consultant in DEKRA’s consulting practice. His team focuses on projects dealing with culture change, serious injury and fatality (SIF) prevention, safety- leadership development, increasing hourly-employee safety participation, and assessing and understanding the systems that influence exposure. George is committed to helping organizations achieve sustainable safety and health excellence through accountable leadership, detailed planning, effective training, clear and concise policies and procedures, systems-based auditing, and the completion of corrective actions. He is an expert in many fields of safety and health management, including industrial hygiene, safety management systems, safety auditing and corrective-action development, SIF prevention, leadership development and employee engagement, root-cause analyses, safety policy and procedure development, and job-hazard analyses. Before joining DEKRA, George was the senior safety and industrial hygiene consultant at S&ME, where he was responsible for providing key clients with strategic safety and health leadership. Before that, George served as the safety, health and industrial hygiene director at the WestRock (formerly KapStone) Charleston mill, a location with over 700 employees. There, he was responsible for setting the strategic direction and improvement of the facility’s safety performance. George is certified as an industrial hygienist by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene and certified as a safety professional by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of South Carolina. George resides in Charleston with his wife and three children. In his spare time, he enjoys backpacking, tennis, pickleball, and traveling to the Caribbean.

Use of Technology in Your Fleet Safety Management and Positioning Your Safety Program to Control Operation Costs

Understanding the fast-changing and ever-evolving technology to support your fleet system can save your company from accidents, injuries and unexpected costs. In this session, James Lombard will share best practices and some of the latest technologies available to manage small fleets (such as a few company cars) and large fleets (such as an entire trucking fleet), all while keeping safety at the forefront.

James Lombard, CSP, ASP - Senior Loss Control Consultant, Higginbotham

James Lombard, CSP, ASP is an experienced Senior Loss Control Consultant with a proven track record in the insurance industry. With a strong background in Operations Management, Environmental Awareness, Safety Management Systems, Management, and Hazard Analysis, James brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his role. James holds a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree focused in Occupational Safety and Health / Environmental Management from Columbia Southern University. His educational background, combined with his hands-on experience, has equipped him with the necessary skills to effectively assess and mitigate risks in various operational environments. Throughout his career, James has demonstrated a commitment to promoting workplace safety and implementing proactive strategies to prevent accidents and injuries. He has a keen understanding of the complexities and challenges associated with managing risk, and he leverages his expertise to develop comprehensive loss control solutions tailored to the unique needs of each organization he serves. As a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) and Associate Safety Professional (ASP), James upholds the highest standards of professional excellence and adheres to industry best practices. His certifications further validate his expertise and demonstrate his dedication to ongoing professional development. With a passion for creating safe and healthy work environments, James is driven to make a positive impact in the organizations he works with. His strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and ability to develop practical solutions have earned him a reputation for delivering results and exceeding client expectations. Whether he is conducting hazard assessments, implementing safety programs, or providing training and education, James approaches each project with professionalism, integrity, and a genuine commitment to helping organizations achieve their safety and risk management goals. James Lombard, CSP, ASP is a trusted advisor and a valuable asset to any organization seeking to enhance their safety culture and minimize risk. With his extensive knowledge, practical approach, and dedication to excellence, he is a sought-after consultant in the insurance industry.

Reasonable Suspicion: Recognizing "Under the Influence"

(special session from 1:30 - 2:45PM)

If you attended last year's EHS Conference, you heard from John Throckmorton as he presented this topic shortly before recreational marijuana usage was passed in Missouri. Recreational marijuana has been legal for six months, and John is back to share some tips and best practices when it comes to Reasonable Suspicion. Come with questions and leave with answers at this extended breakout session.

John Throckmorton - Senior Training Consultant, Tomo Drug Testing

John Throckmorton is a Senior Training Consultant with Tomo Drug Testing. He has been with Tomo since December 2000, serving as a collection technician, ﬁeld manager, breath alcohol and drug collection trainer, operations manager and account executive. Often referred to as “JT”, John has assisted businesses with the development and implementation of substance misuse testing programs as well as program reviews for compliance with State and Federal regulations. As a Senior Training Consultant, John annually conducts over 100 educational training seminars and webinars. John is a graduate of Baptist Bible College where he met Carol, his wife of 44 years. They have two grown children and three grandchildren. John has been involved in public speaking for over 45 years.

Root Cause Analysis & Accident Investigation

Root cause analysis is the essential process of identifying underlying factors behind accidents to prevent their recurrence. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of root cause analysis methodologies and their application in uncovering systemic issues contributing to incidents. Through interactive discussions, Steve Bell will equip participants with the skills needed to conduct thorough accident investigations, enhance workplace safety, and promote a culture of continuous improvement.

Steve Bell - President & CEO, Employers Health and Safety

With over 24 years experience in the Environmental Safety & Health field, Steve and his company have a proven track record in helping companies achieve lower incident rates, reduced litigation liabilities, as well as minimizing / eliminating any possible OSHA, EPA, DNR, and or DOT Compliance Citations. Steve also promotes working with all state and local agencies in order to achieve total compliance for his customers. “The success of my company comes from working at all levels of the organization to help each and every team member to understand their personal need for following all Environmental Safety & Health Rules and Regulations to help improve the processes of the company as well as to help improve their quality of life for their future."

Connected Worker: The Industry 4.0 Missing Link in Achieving Productivity Gains While Reducing Risk

Today’s manufacturing challenges and demands have pressured factory performance tremendously. Plant managers often feel compelled that daily output is all that matters, but safety and productivity don’t have to be at odds. In fact, they are interrelated.

This session will discuss how wearable sensor technology, machine learning (AI), and cloud computing are helping leaders gain real-time insight into work on the front lines, opening the door to efficiency, productivity, and quality gains while also better understanding workplace risk and having a positive culture building impact.

Through a series of case studies, we will examine how data from wearables has led to: work changes and process improvements, integration with advanced manufacturing systems and equipment, environmental hazards detected, eliminating harmful human motion, and benefiting safety culture while respecting employee privacy.

Aaron Johnson - Managing Director of International Business, MākuSafe

Aaron Johnson is the Managing Director of International Business Development for MākuSafe, a West Des Moines, IA-based safety-tech leader. Together with the MākuSafe team, Aaron is focused on helping today’s industry improve employee safety and engagement and provide new opportunities for productivity and the connected worker. Aaron has spent nearly two decades in advanced manufacturing, speaking and teaching the merits of innovative technologies, pursuing excellence, and how challenging the norms can produce better results. His efforts have been published in numerous international trade publications, and he has been invited to speak at global technology events. Aaron and his wife, Rebecca, have four grown children and enjoy time with their family. In addition to traveling, Aaron also enjoys serving his community with time on the local school board and state-appointed commissions. Aaron has a B.A. in Communications from Moody in Chicago and an MBA from Northwest Missouri State, with a concentration in International Marketing.

Physical Demand Analysis v. Risk Analysis:

Understanding the Difference

In this session ergonomics expert, Mark Heidebrecht, will discuss the difference between ergonomic risk analysis, which is used to quantify the risk of injury, and physical demand analysis, which is used to document the physical demands without quantifying risk. Each are important but have very different purposes and applications that every safety professional should know.

Mark Heidebrecht, MSE, ACSM-EP, CHFP - Managing Partner, Ergonomics International

Mark Heidebrecht has more than 20 years of experience and has provided forensic and expert witness services in the areas of biomechanics, human factors, ergonomics and work physiology. He has testified in more than 65 State Court and US Federal Court cases including the Federal OSHA hearing regarding the National Ergonomic Standard. Heidebrecht is a certified Ergonomist/Human Factors Professional and board-certified Exercise Physiologist. His expertise includes the implementation of ergonomic risk reduction processes, biomechanical analysis, upper/lower body ergonomic assessments, human factors analysis, physical demand analysis, job matching, work physiology and job specific functional testing.

The Advantages of Breath Testing for Identifying Recent Cannabis Use

Evolving cannabis laws, combined with the use of legacy drug testing technologies, present new challenges for employers. Workplace drug testing programs have long relied on tests using oral fluid, urine, and hair samples to assess the presence of drugs in an applicant or employee’s system. Yet these test types can render detection windows that may extend days, weeks, or even months after cannabis use.

For an employer in the era of cannabis legalization, a test that detects only recent cannabis use is a more relevant measure to help enforce policies restricting workday use, rather than penalizing employees for use outside of work. This presentation will discuss opportunities to modernize workplace cannabis testing policies to focus on deterring workday use, reducing risks, and promoting the fair treatment of employees. • The unintended consequences of cannabis reform for employers and employees • The relevance of workday use when testing for cannabis • The importance of modernizing workplace cannabis testing policies • The benefits of incorporating a recent use THC test into your testing policy • The ability to recognize risks beyond employee injuries associated with workday cannabis use

Aaron Atkinson - Senior Vice President of Product Marketing, Hound Labs Inc

Aaron Atkinson is the Senior Vice President of Product Marketing at Hound Labs, Inc. He brings nearly two decades of drug testing, healthcare, and marketing leadership experience to the team. Degrees in communications and business administration position him to bring a unique perspective on the business of marketing and the role it plays in assessing, anticipating, and communicating around the needs of the market. His work with our product management and sales teams helps ensure that product functionality, commercial strategies, and marketing messages work in concert

Exclusive Benefits to MAM Members from our Partners

Exclusive Benefits to MAM Members from our Partners

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CONFERENCE AGENDA

Day 1 - September 19, 2023