VPPPA Safety+ Symposium Returns to Nashville with Focus on Safety Excellence

The annual conference, taking place Aug. 30–Sept. 2 in Nashville, Tenn., will bring together safety and health professionals for four days of education, networking and practical strategies designed to strengthen workplace safety programs.

• By Stasia DeMarco
• Jul 01, 2026

Safety professionals from across the country will gather Aug. 30 through Sept. 2 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee, for the 2026 VPPPA Safety+ Symposium, an annual event focused on advancing workplace safety, health, and environmental excellence through education, collaboration, and innovation.

Hosted by the Voluntary Protection Programs Participants' Association (VPPPA), the conference brings together frontline workers, safety managers, executives and industry experts to share best practices and explore emerging trends shaping occupational safety. Organizers describe Safety+ as the only national EHS&S conference dedicated to helping organizations move their safety and health programs "beyond compliance to excellence."

This year's agenda features educational breakout sessions, deep-dive workshops, an opening general session, an executive CEO panel, OSHA 10-Hour Training, live demonstrations in the exhibit hall and VPP site tours. Attendees will also have opportunities to participate in networking events, regional meetings, labor-management discussions and the annual awards ceremony recognizing excellence in workplace safety.

The exhibit hall will showcase the latest products and technologies designed to improve worker protection, including personal protective equipment, training solutions, safety technology and risk management tools. Innovation stations and live product demonstrations are expected to highlight new approaches to addressing today's workplace safety challenges.

Throughout the four-day event, sessions will examine topics including safety leadership, employee engagement, regulatory developments, continuous improvement, hazard recognition and practical strategies organizations can implement to strengthen their safety culture. The conference is designed to provide attendees with actionable ideas applicable across a wide range of industries.

Product Showcase

Featured

• 

  Smart Packaging Infrastructure Resolves Gaps In OSHA Hazard Communication Compliance

  Space-constrained chemical containers are transitioning to cloud-connected QR codes and NFC tags to bypass physical label limitations and secure instant safety data access. Read Now

• 

  The Evolution of FR/AR PPE—Where Protection Meets Comfort

  Modern flame-resistant and arc-rated garments integrate modacrylic fibers and moisture-wicking technology to maximize field compliance without compromising stringent NFPA standards. Read Now

• 

  Managing Safety in the Modern Contract Workforce

  Avetta's Scott DeBow discusses why safety leaders are moving beyond compliance, adopting systems-based safety management, and prioritizing serious injury and fatality prevention across today's increasingly complex contractor workforce. Read Now

• 

  AI-Assisted HAZOP: Turning Safety Meetings into Immersive Worker Training

  As industrial environments become more complex, immersive simulation and intelligent visualization can help safety teams improve training, communication and emergency preparedness before workers face real-world hazards. Read Now

• 

  OSHA's Keeling Discusses Safety Priorities, Heat Stress and AI at ASSP Safety 2026

  Assistant Secretary of Labor David Keeling shares insights on heat stress, AI, Safety Champions and OSHA's evolving role in workplace safety. Read Now

• 

  Protection That Welders Will Wear

  Comfort, fit and usability are reshaping welding PPE programs as safety leaders recognize that workers are more likely to consistently wear equipment that reduces fatigue, heat stress and physical strain while still protecting against serious hazards. Read Now

Please type the letters/numbers you see above.

Webinars

• Moldex, SHOEBOX, Howard Leight by PIP

  Beyond the Audiogram: New Developments in Hearing Protection and Fit Testing for Occupational Health Jul 09, 2026

• Avetta®

  AI in Safety & Risk: What’s Real, What Matters Jul 16, 2026

• Novara

  The Complacency Problem: How Experienced Workers Become Vulnerable to Serious Injuries Jul 21, 2026

• Vector Solutions

  Confined Space Planning Doesn’t Stop with the Reclassification or Permit Jul 30, 2026

• SoloProtect

  Protecting Lone Workers in an Unpredictable Work Environment Aug 19, 2026

• Matrix Design Group

  Executive Q&A: Using AI to Build Connected, Insight‑Driven Safety Programs Oct 06, 2026

All Webinars