Businesses and Cities Learn to Prepare for Disaster
KEENE, N.H. 5/12/04 - Business and municipal employers can learn to prepare for many types of disasters, from terrorist attacks to public health threats, at the second annual New England Homeland Security Conference on Thursday, May 27, at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn.
This one-day conference will provide up-to-date guidance from experts in the fields of emergency management, homeland security, and employee protection. The conference will include 22 sessions on topics such as emergency planning and response in construction, the role of frontline workers and citizens in protecting the country, emergency management planning for schools, and the role of human resources in homeland security.
The conference is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor-Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, and Keene State College to help businesses, industries, and communities optimize their role in homeland security. The first New England Homeland Security Conference in April 2003 drew nearly 500 people, and this year’s conference is limited to 800, so early registration is encouraged. The registration deadline is Wednesday, May 19.
John Henshaw, assistant secretary of OSHA, will speak about a new disaster site worker safety course. Marthe Kent, regional administrator of OSHA Region 1, and Ruth McCully, director of the Directorate of Science, Technology, and Medicine, OSHA, also will give opening remarks.
U.S. Coast Guard personnel will lead a session on homeland security education training, highlighting emergency planning, response simulation, and exercises.
Many of the sessions, including a two-hour course on emergency planning and response in the construction industry presented by Paul Satti of the Construction Safety Council, were organized by the Keene State College’s OSHA New England Training Institute Education Center in Manchester.
A session on expanding the homeland security net using frontline workers and citizens will be lead by Kenneth Joseph from the University of Massachusetts- Lowell.
Management planning for schools will be discussed by Gregg Champlin of the New Hampshire Bureau of Emergency Management.
Protection of the workforce and workplace against many different threats, including those posed by employees or customers, will be detailed by Ann McArdle of the McArdle Group and attorney Diana Wieland.
Richard Kleindienst Sr., of the Yale New Haven Health System, will explain the role of the Medical Reserve Corps during a public health event.
The purpose of Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Teams at a mass fatality event will be explained by Craig Caldwell, DMORT commander, Region I.
The conference cost of $75 per person includes all sessions, lunch, break refreshments, continuing education units, and continuing medical education approval. The conference is a must for every citizen, employer, and public official interested in having up-to-date knowledge of homeland security initiatives, emergency management, and worker protection. People who should attend include:
” Business and industry employer representatives ” Small business owners ” Hospital and health care administrators ” School safety personnel ” Volunteer agencies ” Union health and safety representatives ” Fire/EMS personnel and law enforcement personnel ” Federal, state, city, and local officials ” Health and safety organizations ” Insurance hazard assessment experts ” Experts in worker training in risk communication ” Experts in threat assessment and risk assessment
For more information or to receive a conference brochure, call 1-800-449-6742 or visit www.keene.edu/conted/homeland to download conference information and a registration form.
