The Ottawa County Safety Council hosted its second annual TRU Safety Conference on May 7 at the Catawba Island Club. The event brought together 65 employees, safety professionals and community members for a full day of presentations, demonstrations and networking focused on workplace safety. The conference also created space for networking and sharing best practices among coworkers and industry peers. TRU stands for Teach, Review, and Understand Safety, which served as the foundation for each session throughout the day.
Keynote speaker Brad Hurtig delivered an emotional and motivating message, sharing his personal story of resilience after losing both arms in a workplace accident while still in high school. Brad emphasized the importance of making safety a personal priority—not just in the workplace, but in life.
“You only have one body, one life—and one mistake could change everything in an instant,” he said.
Hurtig also addressed the risks of becoming desensitized to danger.
“We all deal with complacency at one place or another, and for me on that night, I realized how powerful that machine really was,” he said. “We become unbothered by the potential danger we work with every day.”
The luncheon featured Russell Exlos-Raber of Compass Behavioral Health, who gave a well-received presentation on Anxiety in the Workplace, exploring different anxiety disorders, related health conditions, and treatment approaches. His insights provided attendees with practical tools for supporting mental health in their workplaces.
Breakout sessions throughout the day covered a wide range of safety topics, including the importance of conducting internal safety audits and identifying high-risk areas in “Find and Fix Hazards;” recognizing warning signs and the role of relationship-building in “Human Trafficking Awareness;” implementing proactive, layered defenses in “Cybersecurity & Data Protection;” applying best practices through Gemba walks, reflection meetings and accountability systems in “LEAN & Continuous Improvement;” and addressing local threats to promote workforce safety in the “Drug Trafficking Trends” session.
Lynne James, Safety Coordinator for Danbury Township, shared her thoughts on the event.
“The Safety Conference was, once again, outstanding. Keynote speakers were an inspiration to the priority needed in safety culture in the workplace, complacency and the unfortunate consequences that result in a fraction of a second,” James said. “The breakout session speakers were engaging, informative, and so very passionate about protection from social media predators, their targets and the surprising ages of both them and their victims.”
Outside the venue, attendees had the opportunity to explore the Grain C.A.R.T. (Comprehensive Agricultural Rescue Trailer) from The Ohio State University Extension.
Presented by Dee Jepsen and Mike “Pineapple” Raymond, the Grain C.A.R.T. is a mobile simulator designed to raise awareness about the dangers of grain entrapment and offer hands-on rescue training. The trailer demonstrates real-life emergency scenarios and provides critical education on prevention strategies in agricultural environments.
Jessica Grzechowiak, Safety Council Manager, reflected on the event’s impact.
“We had a strong lineup of speakers who really connected with each group,” Grzechowiak said. “There was great participation throughout the day, with thoughtful questions and active engagement. Safety is a part of our everyday lives, and I don’t think we always give it the attention it truly deserves.”
A special thank-you goes to this year’s sponsors — LogistiQ, US Gypsum, Bassett’s Market, Catawba Island Club, Chipmatic, Magruder Hospital and V+A Risk Services — for their generous support in making the 2025 TRU Safety Conference a success.
