Top Stories

Visit ASSE’s Redesigned Website

ASSE’s website recently underwent a complete redesign. The updated, clean look and feel are only part of the transformation. From the user perspective, navigation is more logical and easier to use, and the site features an enhanced Google search engine. Behind the scenes, the site features real-time report functionality and full integration with ASSE’s management software. This translates to providing a better user experience for ASSE’s members and customers.

ASSE Announces Kids’ Safety-on-the-Job Poster Contest Winners

From a work safely cartoon strip to safety in action at the Sugar Beet Factory, the winners of ASSE’s 5th annual Kids' Safety-on-the-Job poster contest found creative ways to illustrate how to work safely. The posters are featured on the North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week 2007 poster that is distributed worldwide as part of NAOSH Week (May 6-12) and Occupational Safety and Health Professional Day (May 9). All contest entrants will also be recognized during special ceremonies on Monday, May 7, in Washington, DC.

This year’s winners are: Madyson Warren, 6, Conehatta, MS; Joel Adkins, 8, Marengo, OH; Gabriella (Abby) Corrigan, 10, Denver, CO; Abby McDaniel, 11, New Carlisle, OH; and Deepika Rathna Gandhavalla, 14, Muscat, Oman.

ASSE Audioconference: Get Ready for Global Harmonization

On March 21, ASSE will present GHS: Global Harmonization of Labeling and Classification of Chemicals, an audioconference that will discuss how GHS affects the SH&E profession, how it could impact MSDS, and a HazCom program, whether you are an importer, distributor, manufacturer or end user. Global harmonization exists to promote consistent criteria for labeling chemicals according to their health, environmental and physical hazards, as well as to develop a unified label system for workers. According to EPA, “Implementation will mean significant changes in how chemicals, including pesticides, are labeled in the workplace, transportation, and consumer use settings.” U.S. agencies involved with GHS include CPSC, EPA, OSHA and DOT. The audioconference will begin at 11 a.m. CST and will end at 12:30 p.m. CST. After a 60-minute presentation, the conference will be open for a question-and-answer session. Registration is required.

Environmental Management Mini-Workshop to Examine New Career Strategies

Whether you’re an SH&E professional with environmental responsibilities or an environmental professional, the profession and career landscape is changing thanks to economic trends, regulations and current events. On April 13, ASSE will host a one-day mini-workshop at ASSE headquarters in Des Plaines, IL, to examine how current trends are impacting the SH&E profession and future career opportunities. The workshop, which will run from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., will also feature a 90-minute live webinar module on career strategies and development. The webinar will be broadcast from 11:00 a.m to 12:30 p.m. and registration for the webinar is open to all professionals who cannot attend the workshop.

Space for the classroom workshop is limited to the first 40 registrants; this registration includes participation in the live webinar. Participants will earn .15 CEUs for the webinar only and .6 for the 1-day workshop including the webinar. Registration fees for the program are as follows:

• Classroom (with live webinar): Member $95; Nonmember $110

• Webinar only: Member $125; Nonmember $140

For more information, contact Michelle Miller at mmiller@asse.org or Rennie Heath at rheath@asse.org.

More News

Insight from Safety Pioneer Dan Petersen

In early January, ASSE Fellow and safety innovator Dan Petersen passed away. Through his many writings and presentations, Petersen helped shape and guide the SH&E profession. In an interview published in the March 2007 issue of Professional Safety, he shares his insights on safety culture, management commitment, OSHA and the value of people. “Good safety,” Petersen says, “is about what people think about and how they work with other people on a regular basis to build excellence.”

ASSE Forms Ergonomics Branch

Whether you’re an ergonomist by trade or an ASSE member seeking practical guidance on addressing musculoskeletal disorders in your work environment, ASSE’s newly formed Ergonomics Branch is a great resource. Cosponsored by the Society’s Industrial Hygiene and Engineering practice specialties, the branch is designed to create a knowledge exchange network that members can access to discuss ergonomics challenges and solutions. To learn more or to join, contact ASSE’s Rennie Heath, manager, practice specialties.

Two Large Gifts Fund ASSEF Professional Development Grants

The ASSE Foundation (ASSEF) recently received two large gifts from Society members to fund professional development grants.

Rixio Medina, CSP, and his wife Alejandra recently donated $10,000 to ASSEF for the Medina Professional Development Grant. The grant provides financial assistance to members seeking to enhance their education through ASSE certification preparation workshops, seminars, symposia and ASSE’s annual PDC. A professional member of the Gulf Coast Chapter, Medina is vice president of health, safety, security, environmental protection and shared services of CITGO Petroleum Corp.

ASSEF also recently established the Thomas & Dorothy Reilly Professional Development Grant in honor and memory of Thomas and Dorothy Reilly. The fund was established with a $10,000 bequest from their estate. The grant will provide financial assistance to ASSE members who wish to advance their education through recognized safety certification courses, professional development seminars, educational conferences or college coursework. Thomas Reilly passed away last May. He had been a professional member of ASSE since 1957, and served as Society president from 1984-85.

The 2007 Safety Profession Career Guide Now Available

The ASSE Foundation, along with the Board of Certified Safety Professionals present the 2007 Career Guide to the Safety Profession, 3rd Edition. The free guide contains a wide variety of information about career options in the safety profession and the educational preparation that is required. In addition to information for those who are considering entering the field, the guide includes a foreward by John Henshaw, CIH (former Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA).

Have You Checked Out Safety 2007?

Looking for some great education, innovative solutions and networking opportunities? Look no further than Safety 2007. Slated to run June 24-27 in Orlando, FL, t his year’s program will feature more than 200 concurrent sessions, a full slate of pre- and post-conference seminars, technical tours, and an extensive products-and-services exposition. Special events will include a Night Out at Sea World sponsored by the Central Florida Chapter, the ASSE Foundation Golf Outing and the 13th Annual Foundation Silent Auction.

You Might Want to Know . . .

• ASSE’s annual national election is underway. Voting continues through March 31st.
• If you have technical questions about the SH&E profession, try using the new Ask ASSE feature on the website.
• ASSE is seeking poster abstracts for presentation at Safety 2007. Submissions are due by March 15.
• ASSE’s Measuring Performance for Safety Success symposium will be held March 29-30 in Costa Mesa, CA.
• The Council on Practices & Standards publishes the CoPS SH&E Report, a quarterly compilation of practice specialty and standards updates, and regulatory information. You’ll also find interviews, NIOSH FACE report summaries and technical articles.

Chapter & Member News

4th Annual ASSE Gulf Coast Chapter Youth Fair

The Youth Rules! Rally, Job, Career and Safety Fair, for youth between the ages of 14 and 20, will be held March 31 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Houston, TX, at the George R. Brown Convention Center. The event promotes workplace safety and provides summer and full-time employment opportunities. Attendees will also have the chance to interact with safety and health professionals, government agencies and other organizations in order to learn more about job safety and work regulations. Launched in May 2002 by the DOL to improve public awareness of state and federal laws surrounding young employees, the youth fair promotes safe and positive work experiences that will help future and young employees. The event is sponsored by the Gulf Coast Chapter, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, OSHA and the city of Houston, TX. This free event is limited to 6,000 attendees.

Winning team of the NEIL special award.

NEIL Chapter Sponsors Special Award for Future City Competition

Special award judges, including NEIL's Jennifer Schuster (second from left)

The ASSE’s Northeastern Illinois (NEIL) Chapter recently sponsored a 2007 special award at the regional National Engineers Week Future City Competition in Chicago. The competition challenges young adults to tap their ingenuity and apply their engineering knowledge to envision a city of the future. This annual event is one way professionals can help cultivate generations of future engineers.

The NEIL Chapter sponsored the Best Engineering Practices to Safeguard the Public Award, which was presented to the Stone Scholastic Academy team for its city, “Aqualliptica.” “Ingenuity in relation to safeguarding the public and incorporating safety into the operational and engineering design of the city made them the top choice,” says NEIL’s Jennifer Schuster, who served as a special awards judge.

Paul E. Herbold, a professional member of the Puget Sound Chapter, accepts the Spellman Award on behalf of DBC.

Member's Company Honored by Evergreen Safety Council

Paul E. Herbold is a professional member of the Puget Sound Chapter and corporate safety director for Diamond B Constructors (DBC) in Bellingham, WA. The firm recently received the 2007 Gov. John D. Spellman Safety Award from the Evergreen Safety Council.

The award recognizes the firm’s 2006 safety performance, which includes completion of more than 2 million workhours and 6 years without a lost workday accident; a Washington State workers’ compensation experience factor of 0.53 and an OSHA recordable incidence rate of 1.77—75% below the industry average. Herbold credits DBC’s excellent safety performance to “top quality employees and supervisors, and strong management support and encouragement.”

Thomas F. Cecich, CSP, CIH

ASSE GAC Chair Cecich Named to NC Environmental Commission

Thomas F. Cecich, CSP, CIH, a professional member of the North Carolina Chapter was recently appointed by North Carolina Governor Michael F. Easley to the state’s Environmental Management Commission. With his new appointment, he will be part of the 19-member commission that adopts rules for the protection, preservation and enhancement of North Carolina’s air and water resources. The commission also oversees and adopts rules for several divisions of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, including the divisions of Air Quality, Land Resources, Water Quality and Water Resources. Cecich is on the ASSE Foundation Trustees, serves as Chair of the Governmental Affairs Committee and is a member of the
Strategic Planning Committee.

Antonio O. Mangabat

Mangabat Joins GAA

Philadelphia Chapter member Antonio O. Mangabat recently joined Graphic Arts Association as its environmental, health and safety manager. In this position, Mangabat will assist fellow GAA members with all of their environmental, health and safety needs. Mangabat brings experience in project and risk management, quality assurance, operations and hazardous waste exposal to the GAA team. Mangabat is also a U.S. Department of Transportation Hazardous Materials Instructor.

Top Recruiters: Honor Roll

The latest additions to ASSE's Honor Roll.