Originally posted 2017-01-31 10:45:32.
Last week, I spoke at the 15th Annual Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (“VOSH”) Conference. I always enjoy speaking at these events because I always learn something. This year I spoke on the topic of record keeping and how to handle a VOSH or OSHA inspection (you can find a copy of the slides that I used here). I have given this talk several times to different audiences and get a different set of questions each and every time.
The audience at this particular conference was a mix of VOSH personnel and safety officers for various construction companies. My talk is very much directed at contractors and how to better work with the paperwork and the VOSH inspectors. While having actual VOSH employees in the audience, instead of just contractors, I had to make sure that my approach was more balanced. I even got a comment from a regional director at VOSH about this more balanced approach.
Even more than the actual talking, I gained some insight (as I do at each of these) from the questions and comments of the attendees. Many of the attendees have been in the safety game for years and have insightful questions and comments. They also tend to share their real life experiences. These experiences help me see the best way to give what I hope is practical advice to my clients. In short, sometimes I learn as much as I teach.
Another great aspect of these conferences is the friendships made and rekindled (including my pals from Circle Safety). Many of these folks come every year and many I only see at this conference. Like the AGC conference, I always meet someone new and always spend some time with some people that I already know and then get to know them better. As always, getting to know folks in a context aside from attorney-client only helps me be a better lawyer.
I recommend that you attend some of these trade conferences when you can. You’ll learn something. I know I did.
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