DES PLAINES, IL (July 30, 2003) --- Focusing on reducing ergonomic injuries, Victor Paquet, Industrial Engineering assistant professor at the University at Buffalo, State University of New York, recently received the 2003 American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) Foundation/Liberty Mutual Safety Research Fellowship.

Paquet is conducting his research project this summer at the Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, with the goal of developing ergonomic exposure guidelines to aid safety professionals in identifying and reducing ergonomic workplace hazards. Focusing on ergonomic exposure assessments for construction, production and maintenance jobs, Paquet will analyze pre-recorded data, develop guidelines and then test these guidelines in a pilot study at the Research Institute. He will publish his results at a later date in the ASSE publication Professional Safety.

The ASSE Foundation/Liberty Mutual Safety Research Fellowship promotes research in occupational safety and health, expands upon current safety practices, and creates the groundwork for fellows to pursue safety and health research. Spending four to six weeks at the Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety, fellows have access to current research projects, equipment, and research scientists onsite. Fellows receive a stipend from the ASSE Foundation to cover research expenses and each fellow writes an article for an ASSE publication; Professional Safety or the ASSE Foundation's Advocate.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens and possess a Ph.D. degree or be working towards a Master's or Ph.D. degree. ASSE members and applicants enrolled or holding appointments in an Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accredited safety program will be given special consideration. The application deadline for next summer's program is March 1, 2004. Applications and guidelines for the fellowships are available at www.asse.org/foundat.htm.

Recognized throughout the world, the Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety conducts original investigations into job-related accidents, injuries, and disability and publishes the results in peer-reviewed, scientific journals. The Research Institute is the only occupational health and safety research facility owned and operated by an insurance company.

Boston-based Liberty Mutual Group is a diversified international group of insurance companies and one of the largest multi-line insurers in the North American property and casualty
industry. The group has $14.5 billion in consolidated revenue and ranks 129th among the Fortune 500 largest corporations in the United States. The A.M. Best Company has rated Liberty Mutual "A" (Excellent). Along with being the leading private provider of workers compensation insurance, programs and services in the United States for 65 years, Liberty Mutual provides a wide range of products and services including general liability; commercial auto and business property; group life and disability; private passenger auto and homeowners insurance; and individual life insurance and annuities. The company employs more than 37,000 people in more than 900 offices throughout the world. Liberty Mutual's website is www.libertymutual.com.

Chartered in 1990, the ASSE Foundation is committed to ensuring the future of the occupational safety and health profession by providing financial resources to individuals and organizations. This year the Foundation awarded nearly $60,000 in annual scholarships to occupational safety, health and environment college students. Funding for the Foundation comes from corporations and voluntary donations from ASSE members - individual and through chapters countrywide for applied safety research, scholarships, fellowships, internships and professional development.

Formed in 1911, the Des Plaines, IL-based American Society of Safety Engineers is the largest and oldest professional safety organization and has more than 30,000 occupational safety, health and environmental professional members who manage, supervise, research and consult on safety, health, transportation and environmental issues in all industries, government, labor and education. For more information check ASSE's website at www.asse.org.

     

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