Upcoming Events

Sept. 9 – Math Review
Sept. 10-12 – ASP Review
Sept. 10-12 – Safety Management I
Sept. 12-13 – Improving Fleet Safety: Transportation Symposium
Sept. 13-14 – Safety Management II
Sept. 13-15 – CSP Review
Sept. 19 – Safety in the Balance Webinar
Sept. 26 – Investigative Photography Webinar

Top Stories

Murray State Receives Outstanding Student Section Award

Murray State University ASSE Student Section officers (left to right, back row) Jonathan Scott, Justin Cherry, Dr. David Fender, Steve Ramage and Brad Jones. (Left to right, seated) Melissa Seay and Janelle DeCourcey.

ASSE presented the Murray State University Student Section with the 2007 Outstanding Student Section award at Safety 2007, held in Orlando, FL. Janelle DeCourcey, Student Section President, accepted the award on behalf of the section. Cosponsored by Mine Safety Appliances Co. and ASSE, the award honors the section that makes the most significant contributions toward the advancement of excellence in safety education and research. Out of the 14 student sections that met the eligibility qualifications, the Murray State group was chosen for its dedication and contributions made throughout the year to improve and expand safety education.

Drzewiecki Receives President's Award

ASSE's 2007 President's Award recipient Jim Drzewiecki

The President’s Award recognizes exceptional service to ASSE and is presented for a singular achievement by the current Society president. This year’s recipient is Jim Drzewiecki, ASSE’s director of finance. He was awarded by 2006-07 Society President Don Jones for his work in Society finances, strategic planning and IT conversion management.

ASSE to Hold Crisis Management Symposium

Whether it be natural disasters, conflict within the workplace, pandemics or any other types of crises, managing the situation keeps everyone and everything as safe as possible. To help improve methods of crisis leadership, ASSE will host Crisis Management: The Safety Leadership Role Symposium on Nov. 15-16 in Houston, TX. Attendees can participate in more than 20 crisis management practice sessions, collaborate with peers during case studies and mock crises or attend a variety of sessions that will focus on: minimizing the impact of a crisis; facing challenges that arise from pandemics; communicating with the media during and after a crisis; and firsthand advice on how to improve crisis leadership from a BP investigation team member. In addition, participants will build a crisis management plan for their organization. This will include:

• developing the organization, roles and responsibilities to manage crises;
• planning for crises;
• managing through crises;
• recovering from crises.

After attending, participants are expected to gain the skills to be able to guide their organization through crises, help develop a prevention plan, deliver communication during a crisis and identify the organization’s risk for a catastrophic event. For more information or to register for the symposium, contact ASSE Customer Service Department at (847) 699-2929.

More News

ASSE Chapters Support ASSE Foundation

More than 20 ASSE chapters have made monetary contributions to the ASSE Foundation (ASSEF) to support research and education in the SH&E field. The donations, which total nearly $53,000, will help fund professional development grants for ASSE members who are advancing in their profession and scholarships for students who are pursuing an SH&E degree.

In addition, the Greater Boston and Central Indiana Chapters donated to ASSEF for undergraduate and graduate scholarships. The Greater Boston Chapter, donating more than $36,000, increased its annual scholarship award from $1,000 to $2,000 and added another $1,000 scholarship that will be awarded annually. The Central Indiana Chapter donated $23,000 to fund its $1,000 annual award.

New A10.4 Standards Package Available

ASSE recently released the ANSI/ASSE A10.4 package, which covers Safety Requirements for Personnel Hoists and Employee Elevators. The package includes A10.4 standards dating back to the 1960s, which are still widely used across industry. “The standards package is important especially on the state level as some states still use the older versions,” says John Quackenbush, A10.4 subgroup chair. “The latest A10.4 standard is important because it addresses new technology.” For more information contact ASSE’s Customer Service Department at (847) 699-2929.

ASSE Supports WorkLife 2007

ASSE is a sponsor of WorkLife2007: Protecting and Promoting Worker Health, slated to run Sept. 10-11, 2007, in Bethesda, MD. This is the second symposium NIOSH has held to help advance the integration of workplace safety and health with personal wellness. Two ASSE members will be presenting: Jim Ramsay, Ph.D., CSP, Chair of ASSE's Education Standards Committee, will discuss barriers to change; and Thomas F. Cecich, CSP, CIH, Chair of ASSE's Government Affairs Committee, will conduct a pre-symposium workshop on making the business case for SH&E investments. ASSE members are encouraged to attend to learn, best practices and practical ways to integrate occupational safety protection and health promotion practices.

ASSE Chapters Host Chicagoland Safety & Health Conference

The 19th Annual Chicagoland Safety & Health Conference will be held Sept. 24-28 at Northern Illinois University-Naperville. The event will feature more than 45 SH&E sessions related to industrial hygiene, safety management, OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP), Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Programs (SHARP), construction safety, general industry safety and environmental safety. Keynote speakers include: Debra Zubaty, OSHA Columbus area director; Bob LoMastro, president of LoMastro & Associates Inc.; and Richard Hawk. The conference is sponsored by ASSE’s Northeastern Illinois, Three Rivers and Greater Chicago chapters, and the Chicago section of AIHA.

Safety in the Balance Webinar: Sept. 19

Slips, trips and falls (STF) continue to be a prevalent, costly and often hidden occupational injury. On Sept. 19, 2007, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CDT, ASSE will present a live webinar by Robert Pater titled Safety in the Balance: Strategies and Skills for Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls. As a result of participating in this webinar, attendees should be able to:

• answer why workers really slip trip or fall—going beyond coefficient of friction;
• identify impact on other injuries;
• assess strengths and limits of traditional STF injury prevention methods;
• define essential mental and physical skill sets for STF safety;
• identify high-grade training methods for preventing STF.

The webinar includes access to an online recording of the session and a PowerPoint presentation. Registered attendees completing all requirements of the webinar are eligible for 0.15 CEU.

You Might Want to Know...

• Investigative Photography, an ASSE webinar presented by John Wenzel, will be held Sept. 26.
• Society Update exists to highlight ASSE member’s latest news, activities and achievements. Submit your news, events and ideas to Cathy Wegener.
• Be sure to check out ASSE Foundation’s 2008 scholarship opportunities.
• PS Online allows you to access Professional Safety article archives from January 2000 to present. PS Online also provides full-issue PDFs of the journal for ASSE members from January 2005 to present.
• Each time you sponsor a new member between April 2007 and June 2008, you’ll be entered into ASSE’s Member-Get-A-Member campaign. The more you recruit, the more chances you’ll have to win the grand prize—a trip for two to Mexico!
• The top three ASSE chapters in growth percentage from April 1 to Aug. 1 are: Western Australia Chapter—0.42%; Kuwait Chapter—0.37%; and Four Corners Chapter—0.38%. The top ASSE region in growth percentage from April 1 to Aug. 1 is Region 8 with a 2.9% increase.