I'm getting ready to attend the National Safety Council Expo & Congress in Anaheim. Naturally, I'm looking forward to it: I love Disneyland. Well, that was my first thought. But, as Glenn keeps reminding me, the conference isn't about Disneyland. I'm going to NSC to conduct serious business. And if you're going to NSC or any other trade show during the year, you should understand the enormous opportunity you're getting and prepare yourself to take full advantage. Here's how.

How to Make the Most of Trade Shows and Conferences

I'll bet that whenever anyone is appointed to go to a trade show or safety seminar in another city, their first thoughts are of the escape from the work routine and a chance to socialize with others from the company or the industry. And it's true that trips such as these can be fun. But whenever anyone in the safety business attends a conference, they're expected to come home with information to help the company work better and more safely.

Trade shows feature new products to solve safety and production problems, and the seminars are filled with information on new and old hazards and how to protect your workers. It takes some planning to ensure you don't experience information overload.

5 Tips for Before You Go to the Trade Show

Your job starts before you depart for the show. Trade shows and conferences can be overwhelming, with several exhibits and sessions competing for your attention. Before you leave home, take some steps to ensure that you use your time at the trade show effectively.

1. Find out all you can about the show. Who is sponsoring or organizing it? What is the target market? Get a list of exhibitors.

2. Get details about seminar topics and speakers. You probably can't attend all sessions, so sign up early for the ones with the most useful information for your workplace.

3. Consult with others in your company about what they'd like you to look for at the show. The joint safety and health committee, your boss, other supervisors and your crew members may have ideas and requests.

4. Research the products you'll be seeing on the Expo floor. Flip through safety catalogs or find them on the Internet, so you'll be familiar with some of the choices.

5. Pack plenty of business cards to give to potential suppliers and industry contacts.

5 Tips for While You're at the Trade Show

When you get there:

1. Dress appropriately for spending a long day on the trade show floor. The 2008 NSC Congress & Expo has 190,000 net square feet of more than 800 exhibitors. Comfortable footwear is a must.

2. Make sure you have pockets or a carrying case for the printed information you will be picking up. You'll need a pen and notepad too.

3. Giveaways and free samples from trade show booths are nice, but don't base your purchase recommendations on these gifts. Nor should you feel obligated to a sales representative just because you have struck up a friendly relationship.

4. Network. Talk to as many people as you can on the convention floor, during breaks from seminars and during the networking events. Ask other supervisors about their jobs and how they handle challenges.

5. Before you head home, organize the printed materials you've accumulated. At the end of each day, sort and make notes on the day's brochures and course materials, such as whom to route it to at your company, how to apply the course information and recommendations for purchase or further investigation.

Conclusion

All of this work at a trade show or convention doesn't leave much time for the fun stuff. But after the sessions are over and the exhibit halls close, Disneyland is still open.

NSC EXPO & CONGRESS 2008

Where to Find SafetyXChange Members

By Catherine Jones

SafetyXChange's parent company, Bongarde Media, will be at Booth 147. And between sessions, I'll be at the booth helping out my colleagues. Please stop by and say hi.

Also at this year's NSC conference are a few SafetyXChange Advisory Board Members, regular contributors and even a 2008 Saxcie™
recipient. Here's where you'll find them:

Richard Hawk
Gary Higbee
Jonathan Klane
Michael Topf
Thomas Kramer (a recipient of the 2008 Saxcie™
for Safety Trainer of the Year)

TRAVEL SAFETY

7 Safety Tips for Conference Attendees

By Catherine Jones

If your job takes you to trade shows, safety conferences, educational seminars or remote jobsites, you've learned to work on the run. But, as you know, it's easy to get complacent about safety. So here are a few reminders to keep yourself safe while you travel.

1. Your hotel room number is confidential information. To keep it that way, ask the desk clerk not to announce it and don't write your room number on conference attendee lists. And, of course, never lend your room key or card to anyone.

2. Once in your room, don't open the door to anyone you don't know. If they claim to be staff or emergency personnel, check with the front desk. Take your room service tray from the delivery person at the door instead of having them come into the room.

3. On your room door is emergency information. Take a moment to read it. Know your nearest fire exit and what to do in an emergency.

4. When going out, ask the hotel desk staff about the safety of the area. Is it safe to walk alone there at night? Carry just enough cash, or none, and no more than one credit card. Wrap rubber bands around your wallet and wear shoulder bags across your chest to stop pickpockets and bag snatchers.

5. Never wear conference badges and nametags outside the conference room or meeting.

6. If you're alone, walk close to a group as though you're with them. Stay alert and walk with confidence. If you need to look at maps, step into a building.

7. Listen to your gut. Never second-guess your instincts; don't let fear of being impolite stop you from staying safe. It's easier to apologize than to recover.

TODAY'S POLL QUESTION

When staying at a hotel, do you take a few minutes to locate the nearest fire exit?

Answer the poll here.

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