AZASSP Technical Meeting FY27-04

Title: Triple Threat: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to OSHA

Presenters: Chantelle J. Cornett, Michael Rubin, Amber Pappas

Description: The best OSHA defense begins long before an inspection. This panel brings together an OSHA compliance expert, an OSHA defense attorney, and a professional engineer/expert witness to explain their roles at every stage—from preventing incidents and inspections to managing OSHA investigations, responding to citations, and defending employers in litigation. Learn how these disciplines work together to reduce risk and strengthen your organization’s OSHA defense.

Learning Objectives:

1. Implement proactive safety strategies that reduce the likelihood of OSHA inspections and workplace incidents.
2. Demonstrate best practices for interacting with OSHA during an inspection while protecting the organization’s legal and regulatory interests.
3. Describe how engineering analysis, legal counsel, and safety professionals work together to successfully defend OSHA citations and incident investigations.

Bios:

Chantell J. Cornett, PhD, CFEI is a forensic engineer, licensed general contractor, and Ph.D. candidate at Arizona State University specializing in construction safety, structural systems, and engineering standard of care. She is Principal at Ward Cornett & Associates, where she investigates construction incidents, evaluates code compliance, and provides expert analysis in matters involving workplace safety, structural failures, and construction practices.

Her work focuses on jobsite hazards, fall protection, incident investigation, and documentation practices that affect regulatory compliance and litigation outcomes. Ms. Cornett is involved in national engineering standards development, including ASCE 11 for Structural Condition Assessment and a forthcoming Post Tensioning Institute standard for post tensioned slabs on grade.

She frequently presents on construction safety, engineering ethics, and emerging technologies influencing engineering practice.

Michael Rubin, Workplace Safety and Health Attorney at Ogletree Deakins

Michael is an AV-rated attorney with more than 20 years of litigation experience, including extensive work in OSHA defense and workplace safety matters. He regularly represents employers before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC) and in State Plan jurisdictions, having handled OSHA matters in more than 40 states. His background also includes significant construction litigation experience from his early career handling construction accident cases in New York City.

A nationally recognized speaker on OSHA compliance and workplace safety, Michael has delivered more than 100 presentations across the country. He frequently presents for organizations including ASSP, AGC, and SC&RA and serves as a guest lecturer in Columbia University’s Construction Management Master’s Program.

Amber Pappas, CIT, CSP is a Board-Certified Safety Professional with 20+ years of experience in occupational safety and health, with extensive knowledge of OSHA compliance across diverse industries. Co-Founder and President of Safety Help Today, providing comprehensive OSHA compliance solutions, training, program development, and consulting services. Amber also serves as an OSHA Special Government Employee (SGE), assisting Federal OSHA with Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) onsite evaluations and supporting VPP sites. A national speaker and passionate safety educator, Amber regularly presents on OSHA compliance and a wide range of occupational safety and health topics. She serves as Co-Chair of the Arizona OSHA Safety and Health Advisory Committee and was appointed to chair Governor Hobbs’ Workplace Heat Safety Task Force, helping advance practical and effective approaches to workplace heat illness prevention.