Registration is now open for the 28th Oregon Governor's Occupational Safety and Health Conference, also known as the GOSH Conference, March 3-6 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland.

The GOSH Conference, recognized as providing among the best workplace safety and health training sessions on the West Coast, attracted over 2,500 attendees in 2001. The first Governor's Conference was held in 1944 and since then, the GOSH Conference (now held every two years) has become known as an innovative forum to help employers and workers in Oregon and Southwest Washington create safer places to work.

The conference features two days of all-day workshops on Monday March 3 and Thursday March 6 to help participants get a comprehensive level of training. For those who can't commit a full day or multiple days, the conference offers two days of shorter classes on Tuesday March 4 and Wednesday March 5. Over 115 workshop topics will be covered during the four-day conference.

Some workshop highlights include:

"Responding to Terrorism in Oregon" - a day-long workshop discussing how Oregon's emergency management system works with federal officials, domestic preparedness, and the potential impacts on business posed by hazardous materials or bio-terror agents. The workshop will also discuss mailroom security procedures for businesses and identifying potential hazards. Instructors include representatives of Oregon Emergency Management, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Oregon State Police, DHS Public Health Services, U.S. Postal Service and other agencies. (Monday, March 3 - 8:00 to 5:00pm)

"Aging Workplace Issues" - The aging of the Baby Boom generation will mean a new focus on preventing workplace injuries. The effects of flexible shift scheduling, longer work shifts, rotating shifts, and well as heat and cold exposure can pose more of a problem as people get older; Learn some of the warning signs and symptoms of age-related workplace injuries. (Wednesday, March 5 - 10:30am to Noon)

"Update on Ergonomics Standards" - Hear from federal OSHA, Washington and Oregon officials on how ergonomics activities will affect employers. Discussions will include Washington's Ergonomics Rule and federal OSHA's ergonomic guidelines. (Wednesday, March 5 - 3:30pm to 5:00pm)

The opening address for the conference on Tuesday is scheduled to feature remarks from invited guests, including Ted Kulongoski, Governor of Oregon and John Henshaw, Assistant Secretary of Labor in charge of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Registration fees for the 2003 Conference are $235 for the entire four-day event, which includes lunches during the day-long workshops Monday, March 3, and Thursday, March 6, or $135 to attend the short workshops on Tuesday and Wednesday. If you're interested in attending just one full-day workshop on the Monday or Thursday, the cost is $110, which includes lunch. Schedule cramped? Try one of the GOSH Conference workshops on Tuesday or Wednesday for $85.

The 2003 GOSH conference now offers on-line registration! Direct your Internet browser to www.b-there.com/breg/OR-GOSH for on-line registration and consult the Oregon OSHA web site, www.orosha.org, for additional details about program workshops and registration.

The GOSH Conference is a co-production of Oregon OSHA and the American Society of Safety Engineers, Columbia-Willamette Chapter. For additional information about the 2003 GOSH Conference, go to the Oregon OSHA Web site, www.orosha.org, or contact the Conferences Section of Oregon OSHA, (503) 378-3272, or toll-free (888) 292-5247, option one.