Thanks to everyone who attended and supported this year’s 75th Annual Governor’s Industrial Safety & Health Conference.
This event started off with two preconference workshops held on September 29th. They both addressed highly sought after topics, “Psychological Safety” and “AI and the Human Side of Safety.”
The first day of the two-day conference kicked off with a moving opening ceremony that included a recognition of 15 people that went above and beyond to perform lifesaving efforts in 8 separate incidents. The emcee of the event was former KOMO -TV anchor Eric Johnson who presented this year’s Governor’s Lifesaving Awards.
NASA astronaut, Mike Massimino was our featured keynote speaker and he wowed the crowd with his personal story of “Reaching Beyond the Stars” to a packed ballroom of over 800 audience members.
The conference continued with opportunities to attend a number of great sessions on workplace safety & health. Sessions that were highly attended included a High Voltage Safety class that included an Arc Flash Demo, Civilian Response to an Active Shooter Event, DOSH Rule updates, and Incident Investigation Best Practices. Our largest session focused on “Preventing the Next Tragedy – Serious Injury & Fatality Prevention.”
Over 700 attendees visited 90 exhibitors in a dynamic exhibit hall that included not only the latest and greatest in workplace safety services and supplies, but also interactive demonstrations, and equipment displays. A timeline of the 75 years of the Governor’s Industrial Safety & Health Conferences showed how far the event has come.
Pole Top Rescue Competition Finals were held during lunch in the adjoining Tollefson Plaza, with attendees able to root for their favorite team.
The jam packed first conference day ended with a networking event in the exhibit hall bringing together attendees, exhibitors, sponsors, and speakers.
The second day of the conference kicked off with featured speaker Todd Conklin and his Human Organizational Performance presentation. 27 additional sessions were offered throughout the day to include favorites that included “Energy Based Safety,” “Lock Out Tag Out,” “Fall Protection,” “Employee Involvement as a Safety Strategy,” and the surprise hit of the day, magician Nash Fung and his empowering message “Leading with Empathetic Curiosity.”
Attendees were able to not only network with their safety peers, while attending class, but they were also able to earn 10 contact hours through the support of the University of Washington’s Northwest Center for Occupational Safety and Health Continuing Education Program.
A look back, saw an impressive event that included 3 keynote speakers, 50 workplace safety and health sessions presented by 74 speakers, 90 exhibitors, supported by 33 volunteers, 41 directors and planning committee members, and 15 conference sponsors.
The Pole Top Rescue competition included an offsite preliminary competition on Tuesday the 29th. The final teams competed on Wednesday the 30th at Tollefson Plaza. The winning team was announced on Thursday during the Pole Top awards luncheon where Grant County PUD went home with the prize and an opportunity to compete at the Nationals. The Pole Top Rescue competition featured 8 teams and was supported by 12 fantastic sponsors.
This year the Governor’s Industrial Safety and Health Advisory Board continued its 75-year history of commitment to promoting safe and healthy work environments for the people of Washington State through education and outreach training in partnership with the Department of Labor & Industries. Additional safety partners included University of Washington Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences and Evergreen Safety Council.
The numbers:
75th Annual Governor’s Industrial Safety & Health Conference.
3 days. Preconference workshops on 9/29, the conference on 9/30 & 10/1/2026.
We badged over 1,060 folks. Attendees, Speakers, Staff, Exhibitors, and Guests.
Paid attendees of 705.
Attendance of 800 estimated for the opening ceremony
90 exhibitor booths and displays.
74 speakers including 3 keynotes and emcee Eric Johnson. Speakers supported this event by donating their time. The only speakers paid an honorarium were the keynotes.
32 volunteers,
41 GISHAB and planning committee members
The conference had 15 sponsors, Pole Top had 12 sponsors.