Alabama Governor’s Safety and Health Conference Agenda

 

Alabama Governor’s Safety and Health Conference
Date/Time Friday, August 22, 2025
8:00 am – 4:00 pm Pre-Conference Workshop: Sampling Workshop for Industrial Hygiene and Workplace Safety (separate registration required)
Pre-Conference Workshop: OSHA 7115 Lockout/Tagout (separate registration required)
Date/Time Saturday, August 23, 2025
8:00 am  – noon Pre-Conference Workshop OSHA 7105 Evacuation and Emergency Planning (separate registration required)
Date/Time Sunday, August 24, 2025
2:00 – 6:00 pm Vendor Registration/Check-in
3:00 – 7:30 pm Conference Registration/Check-In (Hotel check-in begins at 4:00 pm)
5:30 – 7:00 pm Welcome Reception
Date/Time Monday, August 22, 2025
7:00 – 8:00 am Conference Breakfast Buffet
8:15 – 8:30 am Opening, Welcome, and Pledge

8:30 – 8:45 am Introduction of Keynote Speaker
8:45 – 9:45 am Keynote Presentation
Billy Parker
9:45 – 10:45 am Break in the Exhibit Hall
10:45 am – noon Breakout Sessions Group I 
Session 101 A Strategy to Drive Employee Engagement: Rethink How People Work
Donna Chetta, Wellness Dimensions, LLC
Session 102 What the H?!? (Exploring the “H” in EHS – Introduction to Industrial Hygiene)
Jared Choat, Alabama Technology Network
Session 103 Interlanguage Communication Strategies
Chad Peterson, GSP, Seretta Construction, Inc.
Session 104 Preventing Mass Attacks in Our Communities
Robert Grooms, United States Secret Service
Session 105 New to Safety, Part 1
Danny Smith, SafeStart
Butch Owens, (retired) Golden Flake/Utz Snack Foods
Session 106 ADEM NPDES Update/ABCs of ADEM Rulemaking and AEPACS
Scott Jackson, ADEM
Lynn Roper, ADEM
Session 107  Technology as a Proven Preventative Safety Solution
Paul Thurber, Everguard.ai
Session 108 Enhancing Fleet Safety Policies and Procedures One Employee at a Time
Mitch Stone, Mitchell Grocery Corporation/B&G Supply Inc Co
Jimmy Floyd, B&G Supply Inc Co
12:00 – 1:00 pm  Conference Luncheon
1:30 – 2:45 pm Breakout Sessions Group II 
Session 209 Leading with Purpose: How New Safety Leaders Can Embrace Servant Leadership for Greater Impact
Scott Gaddis, Intelex Technologies
Session 210 Exoskeletons: Considerations for Supporting Workers
Mark C. Schall, Jr, Auburn University
Yadrianna Acosta-Sojo, Auburn University
Session 211 Excavation and Trenching by the Numbers
Dennis Keplinger, Professional Safety Training LLC
Session 212 Geospatial and Statistical Analysis for Quantifying the Impact of Hurricanes on Occupational Health and Safety
Solomon Sesesie Ajasa, The University of Alabama
Session 213 New to Safety,  Part 2
Danny Smith, SafeStart
Butch Owens, (retired) Golden Flake/Utz Snack Foods
Chris Hicks, CSP, Brett/Robinson
Session 214 The Hidden Cost of Inefficiency: Ways to Reduce Waste and Save Money
Kevin Covington, The University of Alabama SafeState
Session 215 Full Heart Safety (Developing your Safety Culture)
Spencer Harris, AC Legg
Session 216 An Exploration of AI Use in Workplace Hazard Analysis
Claude Santiago, The University of Alabama SafeState
2:45 – 3:00 pm Break
3:00 – 4:15 pm Breakout Sessions Group III
Session 317 Leading from the Front: Transforming Workplace Safety Through Leadership Excellence
Robert Purvis, City of Daphne, Alabama
Session 318 Regulatory Compliance in the Occupational Hygiene World
Kristy Olive, CIH, CSP, EnSafe
Chase Murphy, EnSafe
Session 319 Why Do My Employees Have to be Told to Wear PPE Daily?
Angie Bowen, Bradley Plumbing & Heating, Inc.
Session 320 Fire Hazards: Protecting Workers vs. Facilities, Insights from Research and Case Studies
Christopher Schemel, The University of Alabama SafeState
Session 321 Introduction to OSHA
Jose Gonzalez, OSHA Mobile Area Office
Session 322 ADEM Hazardous Waste Roundtable and 8700-12 Update
Lany Sasser, ADEM
Cory Holmes, ADEM
Session 323 Readiness for Electrical Audit, Accident, or Fatality
David R. Carpenter. PhD, Integrity Institute of Technology
Session 324 Ensuring Safety for Temporary Workers: A Crucial Business Practice to Protect Your Workforce and Minimize Risk
Priscilla Morgan, Aerotek Staffing and Services
Mary Beth Clark, Aerotek Staffing and Services
7:30 – 10:00 pm EVENING NETWORKING EVENT (Casino Night)
Tuesday, August 26, 2025
7:00 – 7:45 am Breakfast
8:00 – 9:15 am Breakout Sessions Group IV
Session 425 Safety Intervention and Assertiveness
Tim Crowley, Alabama Technology Network
Session 426 The Blocking and Tackling of LOTO Understanding Minor Servicing and Alternative Methods
Luke G. Contos, FDRsafety
Session 427 Fall Protection by the Numbers
Dennis Keplinger, Professional Safety Training LLC
Session 428 The Psychology of Risk Homeostasis: Why Smart Technology Makes Us Take More Risks
Mark Pergrem, SAFEmap International
Session 429 Accident/Incident Investigation 101
Danny Warrell, KPA
Mike Tanguay, KPA
Session 430 Navigating EHS Challenges in a Changing Climate and ADEM Air Update
Kalyn Tew, The University of Alabama SafeState
Wes Thornhill, ADEM
Session 431 Preventing Workplace MSDs: The Top 10 Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Justin Shepherd, ErgoScience
Session 432 Developing Emergency Action Plans (EAPs are more than Fire Drills)
Tunzyaan A. Griffin, HGS Engineering Inc
9:30 – 10:45 am Breakout Sessions Group V
Session 533 Resurrecting the Bradley Curve: A Journey to Cultural Interdependence
Scott Gaddis, Intelex Technologies
Session 534 Ergonomics: Detecting, Addressing, and Preventing Poor Behaviors and Work Habits
 Josh Steed, TherapySouth At Work
Ben Angle, TherapySouth At Work
Session 535 Work Zone Safety (Part 1) 
Melissa Bonds-Wilkins, Southern Safety Training and Consulting
Mitzi Skinner, AGC Arkansas
Session 536 Safety and Power Lines, Compliance with Alabama’s Electrical Hazard Clearance Regulations
Troy B. Little, Brooks, Jackson, Little & May, Inc.
Session 537 OSHA Record Keeping
Francisco Garcia, OSHA Mobile Area Office
Session 538 ADEM Communications and Website Update
M. Lynn Battle, ADEM
Session 539 Electrical Safety Made Shockingly Simple
Patrick Liebe, Integrated Safety Solutions
Session 540 The Costs of Workplace Injuries
Ronnie Daniels, Alabama Technology Network 
11:00 am – 12:15 pm Breakout Sessions Group VI
Session 641 Being More Human in the Age of AI: Strengthening Safety Culture Through Authentic Connection
Aaron Perkins, Market-Proven AI
Session 642 How to Build a Hand Safety Program: Reduce Hand Injuries & Improve Worker Safety
Kate Crespo, Superior Glove
Session 643  Work Zone Safety (Part 2) 
Melissa Bonds-Wilkins, Southern Safety Training and Consulting
Mitzi Skinner, AGC Arkansas
Session 644 Harnessing Technology for Safer Workplaces: Opportunities, Risks, and Solutions
Scott Gaddis, Intelex Technologies
Session 645 When OSHA Knocks: Best Practices to Navigate an OSHA Inspection
Todd Logsdon, Fisher Phillips
Session 646 Is Your Chemical Inventory up to Date and Accurate? How Non-Compliance with HazCom Causes EHS Chaos & Recent Updates to the HazCom Standard
Michael Rasbury, The University of Alabama SafeState
Session 647 Why Electricians Are Still Being Injured by Arc Flashes: The Four Horsemen of Arc Flash Injuries
Derek Sang, Bulwark Protection
Session 648 Combustible Dust Risk Management: Tracking the New Consolidated NFPA 660 Guidance
Stephen Kang, Trinity Consultant, Inc.
12:15 – 1:15 pm  Conference Luncheon
1:45 – 3:00 pm Breakout Sessions Group VII 
Session 749 Return to Normalcy After Critical Event While at Work: EAP Utilization with Current Employees
Mitch Stone, Mitchell Grocery Corporation/B&G Supply Inc Co
Jimmy Floyd, B&G Supply Inc Co
Session 750 29.CFR.1910.Blah, Blah, Blah: What Comes Next Makes All The Difference
Danny Smith, SafeStart
Session 751 Through the Current: A Journey from Utility Lineman to Safety Professional
Bill Toms, MB Haynes Corporation
Session 752 The Costs of Safety, Using Economic Analysis to make a Business Argument for Safety Upgrades
Christopher Schemel, The University of Alabama SafeState
Matt Hollub, The University of Alabama SafeState
Session 753 Heat Safety 
Scott Herndon, Cornerstone Safety
Session 754 ADEM Emergency Response Update and ADEM UST/AST Overview
Chris Harris, ADEM
Gady Springer, ADEM
Latoya Hall, ADEM
Session 755 Workplace Violence Prevention & Preparedness Strategies
Carol Dodgen, Dodgen Security Consulting
Session 756 New Innovations to Combat Upper Extremity Disorders in the Office and Workplace
Richard Wyatt, Aon
3:15 – 4:30 pm  Breakout Sessions Group VIII 
Session 857 Building an Effective Safety Team
Tunzyaan A. Griffin, HGS Engineering
Session 858 TBA
Session 859 Apps for Mental Health
Rob McKinney, SALUS
Session 860 TBA
 Session 861 In a Pinch- Guarding the Process
Paula Byrd, Byrd Safety and Maintenace Professionals, LLC
Session 862 Field Operations for Environmental Excellence: Navigating Alabama’s NPDES and SID Program
Ricky McWhorter, Enersolv Corp/SET
Session 863 New Technologies in PPE and Mitigating TBI (Traumatic Brain Injuries)
Justin Brown, Sales Solutions
Session 864 In the Weeds: Managing Workplace Risks of Legalized Marijuana
Todd Logsdon, Fisher Phillips
4:30 – 6:30 pm Vendor Networking Event and Door Prizes!
Date/Time Wednesday, August 27, 2025
7:00 – 8:00 am Conference Breakfast Buffet
8:30 am Introduction of Keynote Speaker
TBA
8:45 – 9:45 am The Day We Will Remember 
Ricky Rollins, Ricky Rollins Safety Speeches
9:45 – 10:00 am Closing Notes / Conference Concludes