Jeff Ramirez is the EHS Coordinator for Bohl Equipment Company & Bohl Crane Incorporated. Mr. Ramirez is a Certified Occupational Safety Specialist who also received an Associate of Applied Science degree from Owens Community College, along with a certification from the General Motors Automotive Service Educational Program. He has over 19 years of experience in the material handling industry, specializing in overhead cranes, and powered industrial trucks.

Daren Garee is the Product Training Specialist for Bohl Equipment Company & Bohl Crane Incorporated. Mr. Garee’s career spans over 30 years in the automotive and material handling industries. He holds numerous overhead cranes and powered industrial truck certifications and is recognized as a Certified Trainer for material handling equipment. Daren is also the technical trainer and advisor for Bohl Equipment technicians, as well as a Telemetry Champion of Hyster Yale Group. Daren believes that proper training is the foundational component for not only keeping people safe, but also making them efficient and productive.

Session: Proper safety, rigging, and ergonomic techniques in the overhead crane industry

This session will be a hands-on demonstration using a mini crane rig to illustrate proper selection, inspection, and use of rigging equipment. We will also cover ergonomic options that alleviate worker fatigue and injury concerns.

Nate Eaton brings a unique blend of instructor and practical experience to his role as the owner of Neat Support LLC, where he develops specialized training courses, teaches courses, and consults in various areas of electrical construction and training. Mr. Eaton holds an associate degree in Construction Electricity from Northwest State Community College. He is a graduate of the electrical training ALLIANCE’s VOLT Leadership Program, holds a Diploma as a Master/Trainer Instructor from the National Training Institute Instructor Training Program, and the Toledo Electrical JATC Apprenticeship Program. Additionally, Nate has completed the Dale Carnegie Training Program. Mr. Eaton has presented Wind Turbine Competent Climbing and Rescue nationally and has served as the keynote speaker for the Toledo Technology Academy’s Graduation Class of 2021. He is a State of Michigan Licensed Electrician, City of Toledo Licensed Electrician, and holds an Ohio Fire Alarm License.

Session: 70E updates/ electrical PPE
The 2024 edition of NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, was published toward the end of 2023. The document was first published in 1979, and this will be the 13th edition. This document will continue to play a vital role in reducing injuries and fatalities from electrical hazards.
NFPA 70E states that retraining in safety-related work practices and applicable changes in this standard shall be performed at intervals not to exceed 3 years. This time frame is so employees can keep up to date with the triennial revision cycle of this important electrical safety standard. Participants of this 1-hour course will get a high level overview of the most significant changes that are related to the 2024 edition of the NFPA 70E standard.

Deb’s entire career has been in the field of workers’ compensation. Prior to joining BWC in 2000 Deb worked for various employers as well as a local TPA.
As a business consultant Deb’s duties include working with employers in northwest Ohio to implement proven risk-management strategies through various cost-control programs. She also partners with associations to share updates and bring industry feedback to BWC executive management while focusing on growth and retention of business in Ohio.

Session: BWC Updates
OHID is Coming! What it means and why it is important to anyone doing business with BWC and the State of Ohio.

Jeff Boss is currently a Representative with United Sales Associates covering Michigan and NW Ohio. He attended Spring Arbor University and has 20+ years of experience in Industrial/Safety sales. He started his career with John Deere and has since worked for Fastenal and Vallen Distribution and Ansell Healthcare in the Industrial segment. He has conducted hundreds of safety and PPE Assessments throughout the Southeast and Midwest Region of the United States focusing on hand and body protection. He currently covers the NW Ohio market representing Global Glove.

Session: The Importance of choosing and using proper hand protection

This session will cover the importance of choosing proper hand/arm protection and ensuring use of that protection. It will also discuss potential hazards and what to look for when choosing PPE for hands and arms. We will cover OSHA’s requirement to document a hazard assessment and communicate PPE choices to employees.

Anne Cook has been on both sides of the contractor-client relationship during her 30+ years of EHS experience. She spent over 25 years at The Andersons in a variety of risk management roles within Corporate Safety and the Plant Nutrient Group. She was part of the senior leadership team that launched the Amazon customer fulfillment center in Rossford in 2020. Most recently, she serves as the Safety Director for Custom Agri Systems, a construction contractor based in Napoleon Ohio. Her experiences have helped her to build quite the portfolio of the “good, the bad and the ugly” examples when it comes to the contractor-client relationship. She’s looking forward to sharing it all with you.

Session: Managing Contractors: Best Practices For A Safe And Productive Client-Contractor Relationship
Do you get frustrated when contractor projects don’t go as planned? Is there a playbook for how to make the most out of your contractor relationship? Have you ever wondered what contractors see and experience in your third-party contractor management systems? Let’s talk about it!

Robert (Bob) Momany is the Executive Director and a practicing Occupational Safety & Health Professional for the Safety Council of Northwest Ohio, which is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 community based safety services agency. The Safety Council provides safety and regulatory compliance education, training, and consultation to a wide variety of employers and industries. In his executive role, he is responsible for overseeing and managing agency services, programs, conducting training, safety audits and consultations, marketing, and program development. Bob is a graduate of the University of Toledo.

Carl Habekost is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental, Safety, and Occupational Health Management at the University of Findlay. He teaches both undergraduate and graduate regulatory compliance courses. He is also an attorney licensed to practice in Ohio and Federal Courts with over 30 years’ experience in assisting companies as well as safety and health professionals with EPA and OSHA regulatory compliance. He is an active member in the Safety Council of Northwest Ohio including acting as Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee. Carl is a former Staff Hearing Officer of the Industrial Commission of Ohio with experience adjudicating disputed issues involving workplace injuries and occupational diseases. He has assisted safety and health professionals in developing safety policies, employment policies and environmental protection policies designed to protect employees from workplace hazards. He is OSHA 30 hours certified in both General Industry and Construction and retains certifications as a Certified Occupational Safety Specialist and Certified Occupational Safety Manager. His research is focused on the impact that non-occupational factors such as geography and cultural issues might have on occupational health hazards.

Nick is a lead instructor with Bad Day Training and enjoys delivering a wide variety of customized fire and Hazmat training all around the United States. He speaks at numerous conferences annually, including FDIC and the IAFC Hazmat Conference. Nick is also a member of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) hazardous materials technical committee, NFPA 470. Nick has been in the fire service for 22 years, currently serving as the Chief of Fire with the Brecksville Fire Department in Brecksville, Ohio. Nick is a Team Leader for the Cuyahoga County Type 1 Hazmat/WMD Team. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Emergency Management from the University of Akron and a Master’s in Public Administration degree from Columbia Southern University.

Session: Lithium-Ion Battery Emergencies in the Workplace

This session is designed to provide attendees with the understanding of the hazards associated with Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) Batteries. This training provides a comprehensive overview of batteries found in transportation, commercial, industrial, and residential settings. Participants will review several case studies and best practices, in order to make safe and calculated decisions in an emergency response setting.

Julie Reynolds has been an Ergonomics Consultant for the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation-Division of Safety & Hygiene since January 1999. She has been able to assist companies with reducing their number of musculoskeletal disorders through job evaluations, training and awareness and the development of an ergonomic process for the workforce. Her experience ranges from assembly and manufacturing to office and health care environments. She is also actively involved in the BWC Safety Grant program that provides employers with funds to purchase interventions that will reduce/eliminate injuries they have experienced in the past. Julie is an authorized OSHA General Industry instructor and has provided OSHA 10 and 30-hour training for numerous companies and their employees to enhance safety awareness. Previous to working for the Division of Safety & Hygiene she was the Safety Coordinator at Brush Wellman in Elmore, Ohio for 7 years. Julie graduated in 1990 from the University of Toledo with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Chemistry.

Session: Who Wants $40,000? BWC Safety Intervention Grant Information
Review of all BWC Grants available
Explanation of the application process and risk identification
Discussion of the types of equipment that will be considered
Follow up reporting and requirements

Jeff joined Cardinal Compliance Consultants, LLC as a Senior Health and Safety Consultant in November 2022. Previously, Jeff worked for the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation – Division of Safety and Hygiene for over 34 years with experience as a Senior Industrial Hygienist, Technical Advisor, and Regional Loss Prevention Manager. Jeff earned degrees in environmental and occupational health and has maintained the Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) credential since 1993.

Session: Respiratory Protection Fundamentals
This session will outline the proper needs assessment and selection of respiratory protection, describe the various types of respiratory protection devices, explain the correct use (and common misuses) of respiratory protection, and review the proper administration of a compliant respiratory protection program per OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134.

Tom Cikotte and Kara Reynolds are Environmental Specialists who work with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA), Office of Compliance Assistance and Pollution Prevention (OCAPP), helping small businesses navigate the complex requirements of environmental regulations. OCAPP services are both free and confidential. They both have had the opportunity to expand their environmental regulations knowledge by working in different programs within Ohio EPA. Both Kara and Tom have worked in the Division of Air Pollution Control (DAPC) and Kara has also worked in the Division of Environmental Response and Revitalization, Hazardous Waste Program. Before joining the Ohio EPA in the public sector, Tom worked in private industry providing environmental compliance support to the paint application industry.

Jeremy Scoles is the OCAPP compliance assistance Supervisor statewide. Jeremy also has expanded his environmental regulations knowledge by working in the Division of Materials and Waste Management (DMWM) and DAPC. Before joining the Ohio EPA he worked in private industry providing environmental compliance support to a protective coatings company.

Session: Top 10 Things Ohio EPA Wants You to Know
What is the Office of Compliance Assistance and Pollution Prevention (OCAPP)? And what are the most important requirements from the multiple regulatory divisions within the Ohio EPA?

Zachary Abke is the Major Accounts Manager for Bohl Equipment Company. Zach has a Bachelor of Science and Business Administration from Bowling Green State University. He has 2 years of industrial sales experience and also has a mechanical background with his family farm. He is very excited to continue his journey in material handling and has made it his mission to make every customer aware of every safety opportunity to keep employees safe with material handling equipment.

Mark Muetzel is the Account Manager for Bohl Equipment Company.
Mr. Muetzel career spans over 30 years in the material handling industry.
He has been responsible for providing customers with innovative solutions and cost-effective products.
His background consists of mechanical forklift technician, product support and equipment sales.
Mark believes that customers are looking for better ways to handle material properly and safely thru knowledge and education.

Session: Forklift Telematics and Operator Assistance Systems introduction

This session will cover the benefits and improvements of the newest technological advancements offered by Hyster-Yale Group. Participants will be introduced to the Hyster Tracker/Yale Vision telemetry systems, as well as the Hyster Reaction/Yale Reliant Operator Assist Systems (OAS). Please be sure to stop by our forklift exhibit for more information and to see some of these innovations in action.

Ranzy Brown joined the OSHA On-Site Consultation program in March 2001. He was a field consultant for 18 years, performing comprehensive safety evaluations and conducting training for many companies throughout Ohio. In May 2019, he became Consultation Program Manager and currently supervises a staff of 16 safety, health, and administrative professionals.

Session: Electrical Safety for the Non-Electrician
Everyone uses electricity in some form, yet most people do not understand the underlying hazards. We can use electricity safely because basic safety rules and equipment are in place to protect us. This session will help non-electricians understand these basic safety requirements, and how to recognize when they’ve been removed, bypassed, or just wear out.

Deb’s entire career has been in the field of workers’ compensation. Prior to joining BWC in 2000 Deb worked for various employers as well as a local TPA.
As a business consultant Deb’s duties include working with employers in northwest Ohio to implement proven risk-management strategies through various cost-control programs. She also partners with associations to share updates and bring industry feedback to BWC executive management while focusing on growth and retention of business in Ohio.

Session: Drug Free Work Place & Substance Use & Recovery
Does your company participate in BWC’s Drug Free Workplace Safety Program? Does your company have any Substance Use policy? Either way you are eligible to request reimbursement for your efforts to reduce substance use issues in your workplace.

Jay Muratore has been a Transportation Safety Consultant for 25 years, performing safety training and conducting meetings for his clients. During that time, he has participated in over 200 state and federal audits in 9 states. He is an expert in a court of law regarding Transportation Safety and has been a keynote speaker at the national level for several associations. Prior to consulting, he worked as a Mechanical Engineer for the food processing industry, which led him to train and consult in Japan. He has a CDL and drove for several years in many aspects of the trucking industry. He has been married 33 years and has 3 children and one grandchild.

Session: DOT Compliance and Updates
This presentation will focus on marijuana and the issues it presents in the transportation industry. It will also address the Clearinghouse, medical certification (self-certification), and commercial motor vehicle definitions and applicability.

Barry has worked for 4 ½ years as a 3M Fall Protection Specialist and is certified as a Fall Protection Competent Person and Fall Protection Trainer, and in Fall Protection Confined Space and Fall Protection Rescue.

Session: Fall Protection Review
This presentation will cover and review a full fall protection program. We will review the ABCs of fall protection in depth along with regulatory standards and best practices.

David A. Varwig, CSP-retired is a recent adjunct professor in University of Findlay EHS undergraduate program, former American Red Cross certified instructor-trainer in both Standard First Aid and CPR, past Chairman of Northwest Ohio Division/Toledo Chapter Safety Services Committee, and past Chairman of the Sub-Committee for First Aid Training.

Session: A Compliant And Effective First Aid Program
This session will review the OSHA regulations in 1910.151 and Appendix A and consensus standards in ANSI/ISEA Z308.1 – changes, standard practices, and recommendations. Learn how to assess the hazards in your workplace to identify appropriate first aid supplies and what you need to do for an annual compliance review of your first aid program.

Tom has been with Cardinal Compliance Consultants, LLC as an Electrical Engineering Consultant since 2014 leading the engineering department in areas such as lockout tagout, arc flash analysis, combustible dust hazard analysis and much more. Previously, Tom worked for Owens Corning and various other companies over his 45 years of experience.

Session: Lockout Tagout Fundamentals
This session will discuss the various aspects of a well-rounded and well-run Lockout Tagout Program. Topics of discussion will include the development of a robust written lockout tagout program, the development and annual review of machine specific lockout tagout procedures, and the training and annual verification of responsibilities of the authorized employee.

Julie Reynolds has been an Ergonomics Consultant for the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation-Division of Safety & Hygiene since January 1999. She has been able to assist companies with reducing their number of musculoskeletal disorders through job evaluations, training and awareness and the development of an ergonomic process for the workforce. Her experience ranges from assembly and manufacturing to office and health care environments. She is also actively involved in the BWC Safety Grant program that provides employers with funds to purchase interventions that will reduce/eliminate injuries they have experienced in the past. Julie is an authorized OSHA General Industry instructor and has provided OSHA 10 and 30-hour training for numerous companies and their employees to enhance safety awareness. Previous to working for the Division of Safety & Hygiene she was the Safety Coordinator at Brush Wellman in Elmore, Ohio for 7 years. Julie graduated in 1990 from the University of Toledo with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Chemistry.

Session: Ergonomics and Why It Makes a Difference in Everything You Do
Importance of ergonomics (and what it is!)
Risk factor identification for various work environments
Control measures to consider for improvement
Creating an Ergonomics Policy

Ben Smigielski is an Industrial Hygienist with the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. He has been with BWC for five years and assists employers with various industrial hygiene matters, such as monitoring noise and chemical exposures, suggesting exposure control methods, and conducting on-site training. Ben acquired a Bachelor’s of Science degree from The Ohio State University and a Master’s of Science in Occupational Health degree from University of Toledo.

Session: Is The Air Safe To Breathe?
This presentation will delve into the critical importance of chemical monitoring when evaluating breathing air in your workplace. Various methods will be discussed such as using 4-gas meters, sampling techniques, and pertinent equipment. Details on specific sensors will also be discussed, as well as some of the drawbacks of different monitoring methods.

Ben Hissam, CHMM, CHST, CHSP, REM, has been a safety consultant with the BWC Division of Safety & Hygiene for 18 years. He is also a Haz Mat, OSHA Outreach, FEMA, and MERRTT instructor. His Haz Mat experience includes 14 years with Proctor and Gamble including as a haz mat team leader, and a member of UAS 500 Regional Response Team. He is also a Commercial UAV pilot.

Session: Spills Happen: How to protect your staff from chemical spills or releases
What hazardous chemicals are lurking in your workplace? Does your spill response plan prioritize life safety? When does an incidental spill become an emergency response? Do your storage and handling increase or decrease the likelihood of a release? What information will be important to outside responders coming in to your facility? Attend this session to work through the answers to these questions and more.

Todd Jensen was a compliance officer for 25 years working out of the Cincinnati, Toledo, and Cleveland Area offices, specializing in foundries, steel mills, refineries, and chemical manufacturing. He is currently the Area Director for the Toledo Area office with the responsibility of overseeing a health and safety staff of 17 and the compliance of employers in 26 counties of northwest Ohio.

Session: OSHA Updates and Q&A

This session will include updates on the OSHA regulatory agenda, current emphasis programs, and inspection statistics from the Toledo Area Office for FY 2023 and ytd 2024.