Having gone without a COSHCON since 2023 it’s great news just to know that there will be a national conference on workplace health and safety this year. But there’s a bonus, for the first time since WisCOSH last hosted the conference (2008) it will be here in the Midwest! This time it will be held in Chicago, IL. In 2023 COSHCON exceeded the capacity of the Maritime Institute of Technology‘s Conference Center‘s ability to house the conference. There were more than 400 people in attendance.
What Is “COSHCON“? COSHCON is the only national workplace health and safety conference of it’s type. Each year National COSH, along with individual COSH groups from across the country gather to host this conference to help improve worker’s lives.
What makes this conference so special? It is intentionally inclusive and focused on the worker. All workers. Workers represented by a union as well as those that aren’t. Workers that speak English and those that don’t. American born workers and immigrant workers. Workers in high tech industries and those that work in conventional workplaces such as farms, restaurants, hotels, factories, construction and others. If you work for a living you likely have hazards in your workplace and this conference can help you with making your work safer and your work environment healthier to be in.
What can I expect if I attend this conference? You will be joined by activists, worker leaders, organizers, trainers, rank and file workers and more. You will experience language justice first hand as you will be provided real time translation equipment so attendees can converse in the language they are most comfortable with. You will have the opportunity to attend workshops, panel discussions, networking events, meet your OSHA Regional Labor Liaison, awards banquet and more. This year’s schedule is still being finalized but you can get an idea of what’s in store with this draft outline of the schedule.
Where & When will this take place? This year COSHCON2025 will take place starting Wednesday, October 8 and run through Friday, October 10, 2025. National COSH is partnering with University of Illinois Chicago‘s School of Public Health, and COSHCON2025 will be held at the UIC Student Center East (750 S. Halstead St., Chicago, IL). There are a couple nearby hotels that are being recommended.
For more information, as well as updates please visit National COSH‘s COSHCON2025 page.