Workshop 1: Smarter, Safer: Modernizing Manufacturing Safety with AI & Wearable Tech
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Discover how AI-driven compliance tools and next-generation wearables are transforming safety programs on the factory floor. This workshop explores real-time monitoring, smart sensors, and emerging OSHA-aligned technologies that help manufacturers prevent injuries before they happen.
Brock Anderson, CEO & Founder of ergo-ology, will present “8 Pillars of a Holistic Industrial Ergonomics Program with Case Studies.” The session demonstrates how ergonomics programs must align with an organization’s culture, operations, and workforce needs. Drawing on real-world examples, Anderson will outline three approaches for launching programs and introduce eight foundational pillars organizations can use to identify gaps, reinforce strengths, reduce risk, and improve performance.
David Buckles, Training & Education Manager at Tennessee OSHA, will present “OSHA Inspections.” This session will prepare attendees for what to expect during an OSHA inspection and, time permitting, will also cover the most frequently cited violations in the manufacturing industry.
Mike Goetsch, DC Head of Product at Soter, will present “AI Promises Efficiency, But Can It Actually Deliver ROI for EHS Teams?” This session moves beyond theory to examine real-world applications of AI in safety, risk, and compliance programs. Attendees will learn how organizations are using AI to reduce incidents, identify hazards earlier, and improve inspection and reporting consistency, while also driving measurable business outcomes such as insurance savings, reduced manual labor, improved compliance visibility, and lower regulatory exposure.
Perry Logan, EHS Leader at the National Safety Council, will present “Exposing the TRIR Trap: Why Low Injury Rates Don’t Equal Safety.” This session challenges reliance on traditional safety metrics and examines how focusing on TRIR can mask exposure to serious injury and fatality risks. Using emerging standards and frameworks, including the ASTM E-2920 SIF Prevention Standard, participants will learn practical strategies to identify high-energy hazards, align leadership priorities, and implement measurable, sustainable fatality prevention systems.
Kevin Reinhart, Risk Management Consultant at Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, will lead “Lean into Safety: Integrating EHS in Lean Manufacturing.” The session explores how lean manufacturing principles can be applied beyond production efficiency to improve safety and environmental performance. Participants will take part in a virtual Gemba Walk across a production floor, identifying the eight wastes as they relate to safety and environmental risk reduction.
