Arkansas Manufacturing Showcase 2026

Arkansas manufacturers continue to face measurable safety challenges that extend beyond compliance. In 2024, the state reported over 23,000 work-related injuries, with a TRIR of 2.1 per 100 workers, reflecting ongoing exposure to equipment and energy hazards in key industries.
Arkansas also ranks 39th nationally in occupational fatality rate, placing it in the bottom quartile for worker safety performance. At the same time, OSHA reports nearly 8,000 violations across 7,800 inspections, largely driven by manufacturing sectors.

Machine guarding (OSHA 1910.212) remains the most cited violation, highlighting a persistent gap between regulatory requirements and real-world implementation.

This session addresses that gap—focusing on the Machine Safety Lifecycle which provides structured, practical, field-proven safeguarding strategies that reduce risk while supporting production, and helping organizations move from compliance-driven actions to a sustainable functional safety performance.