Safety+ Takes Occupational Safety Education to the Next Level
Presented by VPPPA, Safety+ is the only national event that supports safety professionals across all career stages, from the frontline to the C-Suite. At the foundation of the event is a steadfast belief in the power of continuous improvement, and it is our mission to ensure that every Safety+ attendee comes out of the symposium better than they were when they arrived. Whether that improvement comes in the form of best practices to bring back to their workplace, a new skill to carry them forward in their career, or a lasting connection to offer advice and guidance, Safety+ is where it all begins.
We Don’t Just Teach Continuous Improvement. We Practice It.
2024 marks the 40th iteration of Safety+, and as we celebrate this milestone, it is important to remember where we started. In 1984, OSHA hosted the first meeting of Voluntary Protection Programs Participants in Washington, DC to network and share best practices, all with the goal of making their workplaces safer. When OSHA was unable to host a second gathering the following year, VPP participants Georgia Power and Mobil Chemical volunteered to sponsor the meeting in September 1985. During this pivotal meeting, the Voluntary Protection Programs Participants’ Association (VPPPA) was formed, and the national gathering became a cornerstone of the association. Originally called the Annual National VPPPA Safety & Health Conference, this event would continue to expand, change, and improve year over year.
Today, the Safety+ Symposium welcomes any worker, in any industry, from anywhere in the world. After the first meeting of 45 attendees in 1984, we have gone on to provide industry-leading education to nearly 70,000 total attendees over the years, and we don’t intend to stop there. Continuous improvement is at the core of every decision we make. While we know perfection will always remain just out of reach, that doesn’t mean we’ll stop striving for excellence. We’ve had 39 opportunities to improve our event and make it better than it has ever been before, and we can’t wait to show you just how far we’ve come.
Future Dates & Locations
- August 11 – 15, 2025 — Cervantes Convention Center at America’s Center, St. Louis, Missouri
- August 29 – September 1, 2026 — Gaylord Opryland, Nashville, Tennessee