Safety and loss prevention professionals, CEOs and other employees from electric cooperatives and public power districts will gather in St. Louis, Missouri, April 14-16 for NRECA’s Safety Leadership Summit to network and learn about safety improvements and strengthening workplace safety culture.

Discounted rates end March 12 for the third overflow hotel, the Drury Plaza Hotel at the Arch, and organizers are expecting another record turnout for the co-op network’s premier safety event.

This year’s sessions will emphasize trust as a key element of an effective safety culture.

“When we talk about the summit, and the climb to be as safe as we possibly can, there’s trust in that climb,” said NRECA Director of Safety Programs Ken Macken. “We also want to communicate the great things happening at our cooperatives that we can share with others to take back home and become better because of what they saw or learned at the conference."

This year’s programming will include breakouts on readiness for Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspections; effective crew observations; selection, care and maintenance of fire-retardant clothing; broadband safety; and perspectives on working across generations.

The new technologies room will return this year with more hands-on opportunities. In addition to virtual reality simulations, participants can try on an exoskeleton—wearable gear that supports the human body— as well as handle remote tools and try high-voltage testers. The room will be open during the entire conference.

Also new this year is a Linework 101 pre-conference workshop for safety professionals or other co-op employees who don’t have experience in the trade.

Speaker highlights

Retired U.S. Air Force combat pilot Jason Harris will deliver the keynote speech at the opening general session on April 14. He will discuss how organizations can empower leaders to foster an environment of mutual trust, responsibility and productivity among their teams.

Eliah Drinkwitz, the University of Missouri’s head football coach, will speak at the April 15 general session on what it takes to build a winning culture on and off the field and how great leaders inspire their teams by balancing connection, encouragement and challenge. Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives CEO/Executive Vice President Caleb Jones will interview Drinkwitz after his remarks.

Kevin Elko, a motivational speaker for Fortune 500 companies and championship sports teams, will address the closing general session on April 16. He will discuss how leading with clarity, resilience and purpose are the keys for driving safety excellence in today’s challenging environment.

Additional conference details

Safety Leadership Summit includes 35 breakout sessions and 17 Safety Improvement Talks—half-hour sessions featuring seasoned safety professionals from co-ops and public power districts across the country.

The seven pre-conference workshops on April 14 include sessions on learning from near-misses and accident investigations to address systemic safety issues; a frontline field leadership “bootcamp” for crew foremen and line crews; and building trust as a team member or team leader.

The conference will also include facilitated peer-to-peer discussion groups, each focusing on a real-life scenario.

The closing reception will be off-site April 16 at Cardinals Nation, a three-level venue overlooking Busch Stadium.