Click to download a Printable PDF Version of the Users Conference Summary

The ISN Team would like to thank approximately 1,400 individuals from 700 companies for attending the 2011 ISN Annual Users Conference in Grapevine, TX. Owner Clients and contractors, from a variety of industries, exchanged ideas and best practices throughout the two day event.

ISN President, Joseph Eastin, kicked off the conference by extending a welcome to all attendees. He shared industry trends and provided a preview to ISN 10.0.

Jordan Barab, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor, OSHA, described what the world would be like without OSHA regulations in place. He explained the three elements of the OSHA program focus: enforcement, protective standards and compliance. He concluded by encouraging the audience to participate in the political process, as this has a profound effect on our lives.

David Montemurro, Vice President of Engineering and Operations, TransCanada, reviewed his company’s “Journey to Zero.” He highlighted TransCanada’s goal of zero accidents as one of the many reasons they chose to implement ISNetworld. With their commitment to safety, TransCanada has been able to improve their safety statistics by 50% over the past five years. He discussed a few issues they faced when trying to raise their safety standards: lack of communication and the perception that improved safety equals higher costs.

Five contractor breakout sessions were conducted by the ISN Team and contractors. The ISN Team provided an introduction and in-depth review of ISN 10.0, discussed best practices and reviewed frequently asked questions. Contractors lead a session on managing Owner Client requirements including the “4 Steps to Owner Client Success.”

Five Owner Client breakout sessions were conducted. The ISN Team presented an update on new system enhancements, international expansion and contractor statistics and trends. Owner Clients presented on ways to meet SEMS regulations, improvement methods for tracking Operator Qualifications, Social Responsibility and Supplier Quality Management. Additional tips were given by Owner Clients to manage the day-to-day post implementation, including ongoing communication and contractor list optimization.

Other breakout sessions were open to both Owner Clients and contractors. Industry specific breakouts allowed Owner Clients to demonstrate their company’s use of ISNetworld related to expectations, best practices and functionality utilized; these breakouts also allowed for a question and answer forum. Officials from OSHA conducted sessions on resources to assist small companies with improving safety programs and incident record keeping. An update was given on OSHA Region VI and the audience was advised to “work proactively instead of re-actively.” The ISN Team hosted a session to discuss insurance and risk management trends focusing on the top reasons for insurance rejections and enhanced functionality in ISN 10.0. Another breakout session discussed the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s (NIOSH) efforts to evaluate chemical exposures in Oil and Gas workers. Lastly, BSEE and Owner Clients provided a SEMS regulatory update for offshore companies.

Following the breakout sessions, Bill Addy, CEO of ISN, introduced Dr. Robert Gates. During his keynote speech, Dr. Robert Gates shared stories from his time as 22nd Secretary of Defense. He reflected on the economic situation, terrorist attacks and war and the strengths and weaknesses of leading countries today. Attendees were reminded of America's ability to overcome current obstacles and how this can help our nation to avoid repeating past mistakes.

The day concluded with a networking reception with live music performed by Boys Named Sue.

Day two of the conference began with a presentation by Greg Dykes, Sr. Director, Corporate EHS Compliance, Chesapeake Energy. Mr. Dykes spoke about Chesapeake’s new corporate safety initiatives including the Chesapeake Safe (Stay Accident Free Everyday) Behaviors Program and how these new initiatives have helped reduce Chesapeake’s incident rate.

Dusty Ferrell, Vice President, Global Health & Safety, Georgia-Pacific, discussed manufacturing safety and how it has changed over the years. He explained how culture is a key factor to how safety is managed throughout the world.

Six breakout sessions for contractors were conducted by the ISN Team and the OSHA Education Center. Instructors from OSHA conducted several sessions about efficient incident record keeping, using SmartLog in ISNetworld and how to implement safety practices into your day-to-day operations. The ISN Team also shared how to maximize the marketing potential of a company and highlighted additional benefits and tools in ISNetworld.

There were three Owner Client breakout sessions which reviewed the basic and advanced tools available in ISN 10.0 and the Field Audit Network (FAN) process. Owner Clients presented on the statistical findings from past FAN audits, explained the Canada Onsite Validation (O-Val) process and discussed how this will impact contractor grades in ISNetworld.

For a complete listing of speakers, please reference the agenda.

The ISN Help Desk was available throughout the conference and provided one-on-one assistance to more than 250 companies. In addition, the OSHA Education Center at the University of Texas, Arlington awarded approximately 150 CEU Certificates to eligible attendees.

Thank you for your support and we look forward to seeing you at future ISN meetings.

Click to download a Printable PDF Version of the Users Conference Summary