2026 Classes

At your company or business, has a study been done about how many of your employees miss time at work because they were injured off the job, at home, on vacation, or doing other off-the-job work? A previous employer of the speaker’s started paying attention to off-the-job injuries and time off from work, and was surprised to find how much it was costing the company. A plan was generated, and off-the-job safety training programs were generated and presented on company time, along with the regular on-the-job safety training, to reduce employee lost time from work.

Agricultural workers can have exposure to many air contaminants presenting an inhalation hazard and potential for related debilitating medical conditions. These hazards can be in the form of particulate, gas, vapor, fume, or a combination. The source of exposure may be pesticide or non-pesticide and originate in performing agriculture and non-agriculture related tasks. Non-pesticide task examples include but are not limited to manure pit entry, silo entry, welding, construction tasks, and grain handling. Different respiratory requirements may apply to each task and exposure situation. Michigan State University Occupational and Environmental Medicine (OEM) and Michigan State University Extension will present a recently developed guide that provides a tool kit of information to address all of these situations. The guide contains one page At-A-Glance program content descriptions, respirator selection tables, pesticide label hazard information, cab filter selection guidance, training links and guides for fit testing and medical evaluation.

While many employers struggle with developing and maintaining programs that comply with OSHA’s Hazardous Energy Control (LOTO) and Machine Guarding standards, those challenges can be particularly acute for food manufacturers and processors. There are many pitfalls that trip up employers involving machine specific procedures, authorized and affected employee training, periodic inspections, and group LOTO. Add to that MIOSHA’s unique interpretation of the minor servicing exception and Michigan food manufacturers and processors are at elevated risk for regulatory citations and fines. This session will take a deep dive into the types of documents that are essential to complying with the LOTO standard, and best practices for the safe operation and servicing of hazardous machinery.

This presentation explores the journey from basic, incident-driven ergonomics to a fully integrated, data-driven strategy that reduces risk, boosts productivity, and drives continuous improvement. Attendees will learn about Zurich’s Ergonomics Maturity Model, which progresses from reactive to proactive and finally to integrated levels, supported by real-world case studies. The session highlights how written programs, targeted training, risk assessments, and engineering controls accelerate organizational maturity. Practical tips, technology tools, and best practices will be shared, along with strategies to overcome common implementation barriers and foster employee engagement. Participants will leave with a clear roadmap to build and sustain a successful ergonomics program that delivers measurable results.