October 2026 – ASSP Greater Chicago Chapter Technical Speaker Event (10/23/26)

Upcoming Dates

  • 23
    Oct
    The ABCDRs of Fall Protection: Beyond the Basics
    11:00 am
    -
    2:00 pm
The ABCDRs of Fall Protection: Beyond the Basics

Working at height is a routine part of construction and general industry—but when fall protection is needed, simply putting a worker in a harness is not enough.

Most safety professionals are familiar with the ABCs of fall protection: Anchorage, Body Support, and Connecting Devices. But what happens after a fall occurs? An effective fall protection program must also consider the D and R—Descent and Rescue.

In this fast-paced overview, we will expand the traditional ABCs into the ABCDRs of Fall Protection, giving safety professionals a practical look at the entire fall-protection process—from selecting and using equipment to considering what happens after a fall has been arrested.

Rather than taking a deep dive into any one component, this session is designed to introduce key concepts, highlight common concerns, and encourage safety professionals to take a fresh look at their own fall protection programs.

Attendees will get a hands-on look at several types of harnesses while discussing the basics of inspection, fit, adjustment, and proper use. Participants will also be introduced to basic descent and rescue devices and discuss how these types of systems may fit into an employer’s emergency and rescue planning.

Designed for safety professionals working in construction, manufacturing, maintenance, warehousing, utilities, and other general-industry environments, this session provides a practical introduction to the ABCDR approach and identifies areas safety professionals may want to explore further within their own organizations.

You probably know your ABCs. During this discussion we’ll add the D and R—and take a closer look at what happens when a fall protection system actually has to do its job.

 

FEATURED SPEAKER

Chris Ryen

Chris Ryen has worked in the safety profession since 2009, with specialized training and experience in fall protection, confined spaces, hazardous materials, emergency response, and worker rescue.

Chris is a trained Confined Space Rescue Technician (CSRT) and has provided confined-space standby rescue services on multiple projects. His rescue training also includes High-Angle and Low-Angle Rope Rescue (RRT/O and LARRO) and Rescue Systems 1.

He has completed 3M Qualified Person Fall Protection training and has assisted with fall protection system evaluation, equipment inspection, worker training, and advanced response-level training. Chris also provides fallen-worker rescue training, helping organizations and workers better understand the equipment, planning, and response considerations associated with retrieving or lowering a worker following a fall. This combination of fall protection and technical rescue experience provides Chris with a practical perspective on an often-overlooked part of fall protection: what happens after the fall has been arrested.

Chris is also an experienced HAZWOPER instructor and has provided hazardous materials training internationally, bringing a broad perspective on hazard recognition, emergency preparedness, and response.

As a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Chris brings emergency medical knowledge to planning and responding to fallen-worker, confined-space, and other workplace emergencies. He has instructed First Aid, CPR, AED, and Basic Life Support (BLS) courses since 2009.

Chris has presented on confined-space and fallen-worker rescue at ASSP national and regional conferences. He has also completed California State Fire Marshal Level I and Level II Instructor training, combining technical field experience with a strong background in adult safety education.

 

 

EVENT DETAILS
Date: Friday, October 23rd, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM CST
Location: Maggiano’s Little Italy, Clark St & Grand Ave – River North, Chicago

AGENDA

  • 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Greater Chicago Board Meeting (open to all members or those interested in joining)
  • 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM: Lunch
  • 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM: Speaker Presentation and Q&A
  • 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM: Networking

Registration Fees

  • Greater Chicago Chapter Members: $10
  • Non-Chapter Members: $30
    Fees include lunch.

For questions about registration or the event, please email updates@chicago.assp.org

Tickets Price Qty
Non-Member In-Person Attendance (includes lunch)show details + $30.00 USD  
Greater Chicago Member In-Person Attendance (includes lunch)show details + $10.00 USD  

Venue:   Maggiano's Little Italy

Venue Phone: 312-644-5555

Venue Website:

Address:
516 N Clark St, Chicago, Illinois, 60654, United States