Ladies and gentlemen, get ready to start your engines!
The 2026 NSC Safety Congress & Expo is just weeks away. Set to kick off Sept. 11 and run through Sept. 17 at the Indiana Convention Center, it’s the world’s largest annual gathering of safety professionals.
This year’s event will feature numerous learning and networking opportunities for attendees, from Technical Sessions and Professional Development Seminars to Learning Lab Sessions and Safety Huddle presentations.
To kick off the show, former Formula One and Indy car driver Derek Daly, also an entrepreneur, best-selling author, TV broadcaster and professional speaker, will share his near-death experience that led to an unprecedented safety initiative in racing that continues today.
Also on the main stage: This year’s Campbell Institute Forum will explore how leaders can focus on safety while encouraging employee input and constructive dissent around safety practices. Panelists will also discuss how leadership behaviors and engagement strategies influence organizational culture and support safe, resilient operations during times of transition.
Be sure to take a few laps around the Expo Floor, which will be the central hub for collaboration and innovation, to visit the more than 1,000 exhibiting companies. Discover top advancements in safety and health, as well as explore new areas.
The latest safety products, services and technology will be on display in the New Product Showcase area. Some of those products will be crowned “Best in Show,” and you can play a part! Vote for your favorite here. Winners will be announced before the Occupational Keynote on Sept. 15.
And don’t forget to make a pit stop at the Safety Social Lounge (Booth 5146), new this year. It will be your go-to space to connect, recharge and engage with fellow safety professionals. The lounge is where networking meets inspiration. Grab a seat, share experiences and build connections.
Keep scrolling to find more information on all the new and exciting opportunities taking place during this year’s NSC Safety Congress & Expo.
And remember to check in often at congress.nsc.org, as more speakers and opportunities are being added every day.
Hear it straight from the source!
Check out our “On the Safe Side” podcast in mid-August, when we’ll be joined by Necoya Tyson, NSC’s new senior director of conventions! Necoya will talk with us about what you can expect from the upcoming NSC Safety Congress & Expo. She’ll share what’s new, what’s tried and true, what she’s especially excited about, and how you can get the most out of your experience.
Highlights
Monday, Sept. 14
Opening Session
8 – 9:30 a.m.
Drive and Survive: The Crucial Balance
Between Safety and Speed
Having survived the hardest crash impact that a race car driver has ever lived through, Derek Daly shares his near-death experience that led to an unprecedented safety initiative in racing that continues today. Learn how the sport developed the safest high-performance work environments in history and how your team can make critical performance gains by turning ever-present risk into intelligent risks.
Derek Daly
Formula One and Indy Car Driver, Entrepreneur, Best-Selling Author, TV Broadcaster and Professional Speaker
Lorraine M. Martin
CEO
National Safety Council
Campbell Institute Forum
10:30 a.m. – noon
Effective leadership and employee engagement are critical to navigating organizational change – especially during periods of upheaval. Learn how leaders can remain focused on safety while encouraging employee input and constructive dissent around safety practices, as well as how leadership behaviors and engagement strategies influence organizational culture and support safe, resilient operations during times of transition.
Lydell Banks
Regional Safety Director
First Student
Amy May
Vice President, Enterprise and Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Environment, Health and Safety
Boeing
Tuesday, Sept. 15
Occupational Keynote
8 – 9:30 a.m.
Invited: David L. Keeling
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health
Special events
Monday, Sept. 14
Green Cross Celebration
(presented by U. S. Steel)
5:30 – 9 p.m.
Indiana Roof Ballroom
Step into the Roaring ’20s at the National Safety Council’s signature fundraising event at the historic Indiana Roof Ballroom during the 2026 NSC Safety Congress & Expo. Join us for an evening of celebration, connection and purpose as we honor safety leaders and support lifesaving work.
Purchase tickets or explore sponsorship opportunities.
Tuesday, Sept. 15
Campbell Institute Executive Summit
9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
This premier session is designed for executive-level attendees seeking to engage in strategic discussion and benchmarking on key safety topics. An interactive environment will foster collaboration and encourage the sharing of best and effective practices, ultimately enhancing safety standards across various sectors. Discussion topics will include safety as a value across cultures and pSIF data management.
A separate fee and preregistration are required. Learn more.
NSC Awards Recognition
11 a.m. – noon
Booth 4436
Come honor the individuals and organizations that are leading the charge to eliminate preventable injuries and deaths. From workplace innovators to road safety champions, these NSC award recipients represent the best of the safety community and demonstrate that excellence in safety creates lasting change.
Stop by the NSC Learning Lab to watch your fellow safety professionals receive these awards:
- ASC Veteran Scholars (funded by Boeing)
- Safety For All Scholars (funded by Chemours, ISN and U.S. Steel)
- Corporate Culture
- Rising Stars of Safety (sponsored by Dow)
- Safety Service
- Workplace Safety
NEW! NSC Training Impact Awards
6 – 8 p.m.
J.W. Marriott
Join NSC as we thank those who save lives, from the
workplace to anyplace. The 2026 NSC Training Impact Award
for Instructor of the Year honors instructors who consistently go beyond their daily responsibilities and demonstrate
exceptional commitment to advancing lifesaving skills.
These are individuals who build a strong culture of safety
and positively impact their communities.
A separate fee and preregistration are required. Learn more.
Wednesday, Sept. 16
The Safety Innovation Challenge
11:30 A.M. – 12:30 p.m.
Booth 1977
The Work to Zero initiative at NSC is focused on making
innovation more accessible to employers to help reduce fatality risks at work using safety technology. The goal of the Work to Zero Safety Innovation Challenge is to spotlight emerging technologies designed to prevent serious workplace incidents and fatalities. Run in collaboration with TechConnect, a division of Advanced Technology International, this year’s challenge will highlight innovative technologies that can identify, secure and communicate hazardous energy risks in the workplace. Ten finalists will be selected to exhibit in our Safety Technology Pavilion. Visit to learn more about these lifesaving technologies and vote for your favorite lifesaving tech!
Go here for the most up-to-date information on the 2026 NSC Safety Congress & Expo.
On the Expo Floor
NEW! Safety Social Lounge
Step into the Safety Social Lounge (Booth 5146) – your go-to space to connect, recharge and engage with fellow safety professionals. Designed for meaningful conversations and fresh ideas, it’s where networking meets inspiration. Grab a seat, share experiences and build connections.
Is this your first NSC Safety Congress & Expo? Come to a meetup for first-time attendees!
- Sept. 14: 10-11:15 a.m.
- Sept. 15: 11:15 a.m.-noon
Safety+Health: The official magazine of the NSC Safety Congress & Expo
Meet the team behind the council’s award-winning magazine, Safety+Health. Every month, more than 92,000 subscribers look to S+H for reporting and analysis on topics that are important to safety professionals, including regulation and legislation, research, trends, best practices, and results from annual salary and job outlook surveys.
BONUS! Want to see yourself on the cover of S+H magazine? Stop by to learn how!
LIVE on the Expo Floor!
‘On the Safe Side’ podcast recording
Join the Safety+Health magazine team at 2 p.m. on Sept. 14 for a live recording of the “On the Safe Side” podcast in the Safety Huddle (Booth 142), where podcast hosts and S+H Associate Editors Barry Bottino, Kevin Druley and Alan Ferguson will speak with a special guest in front of a live audience!
Time Out Café
Use Booth 223 as a meeting place to do business, as well as a pit stop for a quick refreshment.
New Product Showcase + ‘Best in Show’ Awards
Whether you’re looking for a product or service to provide a solution or simply to see what’s “hot” in the marketplace, the New Product Showcase should be your first stop. And experience innovation in action at the New Product Showcase Live area (Booth 1977), where participating exhibitors will offer live presentations and demonstrations of their newest products, services and technologies. Then, help choose the “Best in Show!” Vote for your favorites here. Winners will be announced before the Occupational Keynote on Sept. 15.
OSHA’s Top 10: The Most Frequently Cited Standards of Fiscal Year 2026
NSC Safety Congress & Expo exclusive – Sponsored by Safety+Health magazine
Sept. 15
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Room 120-122
Join us – in a larger space this year! – as OSHA announces the agency’s Top 10 most cited standards for fiscal year 2026. NSC Safety Congress & Expo attendees will be the first to hear this major announcement! Limited seating available.
Safety Huddle
The Safety Huddle (Booth 142) is the place to be to hear discussions of critical workplace topics from industry thought leaders. Discussions will last about 20 minutes.
Passport to Prizes
Fill out your digital Passport to Prizes for a chance to win some cool stuff! Visit all participating exhibitors and scan their QR code to be eligible to win. Winners will be randomly selected and notified by email.
Network with NSC Divisions
Is your employer a member of NSC? If so, you should join one of our Divisions! These groups offer the opportunity to learn about emerging issues in different industries, connect with other safety professionals, and share your experience and expertise. Unless otherwise noted, these meetings will take place at the J.W. Marriott.
If you’re not from an NSC member organization, you can still register (for an extra fee) for NSC Divisions meetings.
Labor Division Meeting
Sept. 14: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Sept. 15: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sept. 16: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Sept. 17: 8 a.m. – noon
Join fellow union members, exchange ideas and work together to address today’s most important workplace safety challenges. Whether you’re leading safety efforts, supporting training or just getting started, there’s
something here for you. Check out the meeting agenda.
A separate fee and preregistration are required. Learn more.
NSC Fleet Safety Forum
Sept. 14: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The NSC Fleet Safety Forum will explore the latest research, trends and strategies in fleet and transportation safety,
highlighting their critical role in advancing workplace
safety across industries. This forum is designed for safety professionals, fleet leaders and transportation stakeholders seeking practical insights, emerging research and best practices to strengthen fleet safety performance. Speakers include:
- Abby Ferri, Director, NSC Networks
- Jessica Pack, Member Special Interest Groups Manager, NSC
- Ryan Pietzsch, Program Technical Consultant, Driver Safety, NSC
- Jay Vietas, Senior Director, Research, NSC
A separate fee and preregistration are required. Learn more.
It’s easy to find your way around
NSC understands that a tradeshow experience can be confusing, so we’ve added “wayfinders” to help guide your way throughout the 2026 safety event. These interactive kiosks will feature maps, schedules and more.
