BEMIDJI, Minn. (March 4, 2010) — Registrations will be accepted through Friday, March 12, for the annual Northern Minnesota Safety Conference held from 7:45 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday, March 23, at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Bemidji.

Designed for safety coordinators looking to improve and enhance their knowledge of today’s leading safety issues, the conference is presented by the Minnesota Safety Council, Northern Minnesota Safety Council and the Bemidji State University Center for Research and Innovation.

Registration for the event is $75. Registration fees include lunch, refreshments and participant materials. Continuing education units are also available. Registration must be completed by the Friday, March 12, deadline.

Gary Anderson of the Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Administration will provide an overview of MnOSHA during the morning keynote, and Steve Vietor of Riverland Community College will provide a presentation on wind power in the afternoon.

The morning and afternoon sessions will each feature a number of breakout sessions.

The morning sessions cover a broad variety of topics, including emergency preparedness, lockout/tagout objectives, workplace violence, distracted driving, combustible dust, bloodborne pathogens and Occupational Health and Safety Administration grants.

Topics for the afternoon breakout sessions include fall protection, office ergonomics and workman’s comp and negligence.

The conference also includes exhibition space for vendors and businesses to display safety equipment, materials or services.

To register for the conference, request a registration form from the Bemidji State University Center for Reseach and Innovation via e-mail at cri@bemidjistate.edu or by phone at (218) 755-4900, or toll-free at (888) 738-3224.

The Northern Minnesota Safety Conference is presented by Bemidji State University, the Center for Research and Innovation, Minnesota Safety Council and Northern Minnesota Safety Council. Additional support is provided by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, Workplace Safety Consultation; North Country Health Services; Paul Bunyan Telephone; Otter Tail Power Company; and the Beltrami Electric Cooperative.

For more information, or to be added to the mailing list for the Safety Council series, contact the Bemidji State University Center for Research and Innovation at (218) 755-4900; (888) 738-3224; cri@bemidjistate.edu; or at http://www.cri-bsu.org.

FOR YOUR CALENDAR
March 23 – 7:45 a.m.-3 p.m. – Bemidji State University Center for Research and Innovation hosts Northern Minnesota Safety Council annual safety conference. Location: Evangelical Covenant Church, 5405 Highway 2 West, Bemidji, Minn. Registration: $75, includes refreshments, lunch and materials; advance registration required by March 12. Information: (218) 755-4900; (888) 738-3224; cri@bemidjistate.edu; http://www.cri-bsu.org.