Bioterrorism, school shootings, Rave parties, biological warfare agents and other threats will be discussed by about 600 safety experts meeting April 24-26 at the Sheraton-Waikiki Hotel. Safety conference
to focus on isle risksThe gathering will feature topics
such as biological warfareBy Helen Altonn
haltonn@starbulletin.com"In Hawaii, in general, we feel we are pretty much sheltered -- that the World Trade Center type of incident would never happen to Aloha Tower or a building of that nature," said Allan Yokoyama, president of the American Society of Safety Engineers-Hawaii Chapter.
But some safety issues are popping up here, such as the threat of anthrax and bioterrorism, workplace violence and weapons and drugs in schools, he said.
"We want to be sure we are prepared for incidents like this. This is what the conference is expected to do."
He said the group planned the Safety and Health Conference with 60 "high-caliber" speakers to create awareness and give employers information to better protect their employees.
About 400 delegates are expected from Hawaii with the other 200 from throughout the Pacific and other countries.
Col. Mike Mullane, former NASA astronaut who flew on three Space Shuttle missions, will discuss "Lessons from Challenger" in a keynote address April 24.
He will describe what has been learned from the Challenger's tragedy Jan. 28, 1986, in which seven astronauts were killed, including Hawaii's Ellison Onizuka.
He'll explain how organizations can avoid disasters through "training, accountability and maintenance of a sense of vulnerability."
After his lecture, Mullane will talk to 900 Oahu school students bused in by the engineers' society in conjunction with a poster conference it sponsored earlier in the year on "What Safety Means to Me," Yokoyama said.
Also giving keynote addresses will be:
>> Eddie Greer, National American Society of Safety Engineers president, discussing leadership strategies for safety professionals. >> Patricia K. Clark, Occupational Safety and Health Administration administrator in New York, who will present photos and describe safety issues involved during the rescue and cleanup at the World Trade Center. She spearheaded OSHA's safety work at Ground Zero after Sept. 11. Among other highlights:
>> Bill J. Bond, with the National Association of Secondary School Principals, will discuss school shootings. He was principal at Heath High School in West Paducah, Ky., Dec. 1, 1997, when a student shot and killed three students and wounded five others. Bond, whose life was saved by a student who disarmed the shooter, will discuss what has been learned from the school shootings and U.S. Secret Service and FBI studies on youth who kill multiple victims in schools. >> Gary Shimabukuro, president of Laulima Hawaii, will present an in-depth look at Rave parties sweeping the nation, describe symptoms of Ecstasy, LSD and date-rape drugs and techniques used to transport and conceal deadly drugs. Other speakers will discuss how to guard against bioterrorism, the future use of anthrax, plague and smallpox in biological warfare, ergonomics and workplace injuries, playground safety and prevention of and recovery from workplace violence.