Live educational events and conferences have joined the long list of activities significantly altered by the pandemic. Our OccHealthSci and Oregon Healthy Workforce Center Outreach Team traditionally dedicates significant time to attend and present at these events, as well as exhibit our resources. While we continue to understandably learn about events that will remain virtual this year, and some that have been cancelled, we keep our fingers crossed that others will be able to safely be held in person. The good news? There continue to be many opportunities for education, learning and networking in the final months of 2021.
Presenting at and exhibiting our health, safety and well-being resources last week at the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) Safety 2021 Conference was an odd but pleasant opportunity for me. Ordinarily, I attend close to twenty live educational events each year for the purpose of learning, presenting and exhibiting. Prior to gearing up for Safety 2021 last week, where my colleague Leslie Hammer, Ph.D., and I were invited to participate in the Plenary Panel on Well-Being, and to exhibit in the Expo, my last live event was 18 months ago at Eugene’s Cascade Occupational Safety and Health Conference. I commend ASSP for doing what it took to make this large conference as safe and protective as possible. Mandatory masks, vaccinations and COVID-19 tests, and distancing were enhanced by small innovations, such as designing a way to set up our exhibit for self-serve learning, if needed.
Listed below are upcoming live and virtual learning opportunities for those interested in safety, health and well-being. While we are sad to learn that the Central Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Conference was cancelled, we are pleased to share these scheduled events.
Washington Governor’s Industrial Safety and Health Conference (virtual)
September 28 – October 20, 2021 (dates when virtually available)
Oregon Public Health Association (OPHA) Annual Conference (virtual)
October 11-12, 2021
Southern Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Conference (virtual)
October 19-21, 2021
Sponsored by Southern Oregon Chapter ASSP and Oregon OSHA
Northwest Occupational Health Conference (virtual)
October 20-22, 2021
Sponsored by the Pacific Northwest Section of AIHA
OccHealthSci Fall 2021 Symposium (virtual)
Work-Life Challenges and Integration in the Context of COVID
November 19, 2021
Sponsored by OccHealthSci, Oregon Healthy Workforce Center, PSU Occupational Health Psychology Program
Western Pulp, Paper and Forest Products Safety and Health Conference (currently scheduled live)
November 30-December 3, 2021
Red Lion Hotel on the River, Jantzen Beach, OR
In addition, there are monthly mostly virtual (and many are low or no cost) meetings sponsored by various local and regional occupational safety and health associations including:
- Columbia Willamette Chapter ASSP
- Mt. St. Helens Section, CWC-ASSP
- Santiam Section, CWC-ASSP
- Broken Top Chapter ASSP
- Cascade Chapter ASSP
- Southern Oregon Chapter ASSP
- Pacific Northwest Section AIHA Local Education Committees
- Oregon State Association of Occupational Health Nurses
- RIMS Oregon Chapter
- Portland SHRM (Human Resource Management Association)
Whew! That’s a full selection for us to choose from. We hope you find something that catches your eye.
