Local business owners and professionals looking to ensure their workplaces remain accident free will have the perfect chance to learn more about how to do so later this week.

The Cassopolis/Vandalia Chamber of Commerce will host an informational presentation on workplace health and safety by Chris Johnson, with the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration, from noon to 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Cass Family Clinic, 261 M-62, Cassopolis. The presentation will be offered free of charge, with officials with Servpro of Cass and St. Joseph Counties serving a complementary lunch to guests.

People interested in attending the seminar are asked to RVSP with Cassopolis/Vandalia Chamber of Commerce President Steve Meyer at (269) 273-8777 or at servprosteve8714@gmail.com.

Meyer, who also serves as marketing manager of the Three Rivers Servpro office, said that Johnson will discuss a number of topics related to workplace safety, including the latest MIOSHA rules and regulations, and best practices that employers can implement to prevent accidents such as slips and falls.

While aimed primarily at employers in the industry/manufacturing or maintenance supervisors working in large facilities such as school buildings, Friday’s event is open to anyone wanting to learn more about to workplace safety, Meyer said.

“If your company has employees, it is probably a good idea to come out,” he said.

Meyer said he and others with the chamber want to use the event to provide an additional, often overlooked service to area businesses.

The Servpro manager recently met Johnson — himself a former Servepro employee in the Grand Rapids area — during a recent safety inspection of the company’s Three Rivers office.

The audit taught Meyer and others in the office a lot about how to better safeguard their employees, and have put the MIOSHA official’s recommendations into practice.

“One of the nice things is that he [Johnson] is not coming here to audit or to get your company in trouble,” Meyer said. “He is coming to help and to get your facility in compliance with current regulations.”

Around 20 people, including those from neighboring St. Joseph County, have signed up for the event thus far. Reservations will not be limited, although guests are asked to call ahead of time in order to give Servpro an accurate headcount for lunch, Meyer said.

“It will be very informational,” he said about the talk. “I think people will get a lot of good info out it.”