ASSE President's Blog

Like a Broken Record

2013-05-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

2012 ASSE President
Richard A. Pollock, CSP

Most SH&E professionals know a little about a lot, and it is often difficult to say anything about what they already know. So, let's cut to the chase and discuss something we both know.

Many of my messages have focused on change and the importance of embracing it. From changes in our world at work and their effects on our profession, to changes in groups such as ASSE, how we govern internally, speak externally, encourage volunteerism and engage members, change is everywhere.

Am I starting to sound like a broken record? Some of you may not know how that sounds, as the needle skips on a scratched album, playing the same line in a song over and over. Like the modern progression from listening to analog LP albums to digital CDs and now MP3s, the world is changing rapidly.

Recognizing and adapting to change is difficult, especially when we experience success. Think about Sony, by far the leader in multimedia delivery in the 1990s. The company saw its greatest success at the height of the Walkman and Discman era, and as the TV industry shifted to digital signal delivery. But Sony was tied to old technology and rapidly outdated manufacturing systems. It lived on its success, failed to see the future and was slow to react to Apple's introduction of the iPod MP3 player. With Betamax videotape stubbornly losing its battle with VHS, Sony refused to gauge customer trends toward DVD and DVR until it finally learned, winning with Blu-ray Discs. Then, as Apple saw dramatic growth thanks to the iPhone and iPad, Samsung also began to pull away from Sony with major advances in TV technology, and through its partnership with Google and Android mobile software. In less than 10 years, the once- mighty Sony is struggling to survive.

Such stories aren't new. Think of Kodak's failure to embrace digital photography and image storage technology. Schwinn failed to react swiftly to consumer interest in mountain bikes, hybrids and high-tech racing bikes. Research In Motion is trying to revive its once- dominant BlackBerry brand. Companies such as these are blinded by success and paralyzed by the fear of change.

That said, companies such as Apple have advanced by adopting a philosophy of continuous improvement and by accepting advanced technology. IBM shifted successfully from manufacturing to business consultancy and software service. Amazon and Google continuously innovate.

These are amazing tales. But what does this mean to us, our profession and ASSE? I would be a fool to say I know, so let me share another story. My grandson, Charlie, is 3 years old and as cute as can be. However, his favorite word is no. It is his first reaction to almost anything he is asked."Will you please finish your hot dog?""No.""Would you like me to read the book about kangaroos tonight?""No.""Would you like to watch Aquabats or Go, Diego, Go! on the iPad?""No." It's his first and safest response, whether he means it or not. I'm sure many of you can relate.

Sometimes I find myself resisting change and saying"no." Maybe I'm tired or stressed. Maybe I'm not educated on a topic or unsure. Perhaps the response is purely emotional, or a reaction to the influence of TV or web media. Politicians vilify change, and the press has a heyday with it. If you want to sway public opinion just inject some doubt to arouse fears that a change will bring about the worst possible outcome. Anything worthwhile can be made to look bad and something to be feared.

However, there is a silver lining. It's May, and in most of the northern hemisphere spring is in full bloom. New life abounds and possibilities are everywhere. Change is happening at ASSE as we create new online education opportunities, prepare for another record-setting conference, move forward to upgrade our governance structure, grow our body of knowledge, and lead the discussions on safety and health sustainability and risk assessment across the globe.

I hope you are feeling a spring in your step and view these changes as opportunities. I also hope you see the challenges of recognizing the change around us and are preparing yourself to take advantage. If the fear of change has you in its grips, fight your way through it with the help of ASSE. Our future is very bright and hope abounds for us all.

The Changing Face of ASSE

2013-04-01T04:12:00.001-07:00

2012 ASSE President
Richard A. Pollock, CSP

While writing this message, I debated what title to use. As I've written several times, ASSE is in the midst of change. Membership demographics are shifting and the ways members engage or recognize value has changed dramatically over the past 20 years. This is why our practice specialties have grown so much and why more members are gravitating toward common interest groups (CIGs). In fact, more than 60% of ASSE members elect to pay more to belong to one or more practice specialty or CIG.

This shift is likely to continue. Technical education and professional networks that help solve industry-specific problems are increasing in value. However, these changes have highlighted the ineffectiveness of our current governance structure, which is based on a geographic model in which chapter meetings are the main point of member contact.

ASSE's Board of Directors (BOD) has been studying these trends for several years. The BOD is focused on aligning the Society's strategies and resources with the needs of members and the profession. The goal is to deliver greater member value, and as a board to become more strategic, efficient and effective. It is the later focus that has led to a review of our BOD governance model.

From Good to Great author Jim Collins defines a great organization as "one that delivers superior performance and makes a distinctive impact over a long period of time." In business, the common measures of great performance are market share, customer satisfaction and financial results. For a membership organization such as ASSE, performance is assessed relative to how well we achieve our mission, serve members, grow, and maintain financial stability and sustainability.

The critical question for taking member value from good to great has changed over the past few decades. Great organizations no longer look at lagging indicators such as how many members attend chapter meetings, but govern for a sustainable future by asking "How effectively do we deliver on our mission and vision, differentiate ASSE, increase our value as a profession, and provide a positive, career-enhancing impact for members?"

Working with a respected association consultant, the BOD and a highly diverse group of more than 50 members met in early 2012 to discuss the current situation and available opportunities. This group reviewed an environmental scan and Society trends, and read materials related to association governance. We discussed issues of alignment, representation, resources, membership needs, current methods of providing value and external factors such as association governance trends.

What's clear is that forward-thinking associations now favor a smaller, more efficient and effective governance structure that is focused on being strategic and sustainable. For ASSE, the new vision provided by a governance change in the Society will create:

A smaller (10 members versus 16), flatter, more strategic BOD that can effectively recognize and capitalize on emerging opportunities that best serve ASSE's mission and vision.
A governance structure that is directly accountable to the membership, that is more representative of the assorted and varied voices of members, and that addresses professional needs.
A BOD that by its makeup is better qualified and represents how members engage with the Society and derive value, which will allow more members the opportunity to grow into leadership roles.
A council structure that is more effective in providing support and value to various membership groups, and that is focused on operational aspects and strategies for achieving our goals.
A volunteer leadership structure that provides more efficient engagement opportunities with improved support.
An organizational structure that engages members beyond where they live, and focuses on who they are, what they do, where they work and the solutions they need.
An organizational structure that is based on trust, respect and the common good, that values strong communication, and that provides pathways for constructive feedback which in turn creates a positive culture for volunteer leaders and ASSE members.

During the coming months, you will hear more about the vision for governance change. I hope you will attend meetings or participate in a webinars that will explain the proposed changes. This is a transparent process, with the shared goal of creating a new governance structure that is more efficient, effective and strategic. We need your feedback and I urge you to participate.

Thank you.

Expanding Our Global Connections

2013-03-01T05:00:00.000-08:00

2012 ASSE President
Richard A. Pollock, CSP

First, I want to thank you all for taking the leap and voting in the Society election. I appreciate your involvement.

As we expand and develop ASSE's global relationships, we are learning that safety unites us all. As a global community, we are collectively pursuing a common purpose and share a true passion to advance workplace safety.

Unfortunately, each week seems to bring reminders of just how vital our work is. Tragic incidents continue to show that safety lessons from history too often remain unlearned, become neglected or are simply ignored.

As you know in 1911, 146 workers died in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City. Despite the ensuing outrage that prompted new standards and improved protections, and led to the founding of ASSE, today, more than 100 years later, workers continue to die in similar situations. For example, more than 700 workers have died over the past 5 years in textile factory fires in Bangladesh with nearly 120 workers perishing in two recent fires at Tazreen Fashions and Smart Exports. The recent nightclub fire in Santa Maria, Brazil, is another tragic example. More than 230 people died in that fire, which unfortunately resembles too many other fatal incidents, as does the Petroleos Mexicanos refinery explosion that killed more than 35 people. Sadly, the list goes on.

Occupational safety precautions and protective measures are well known, yet tragic outcomes continue to occur. Multinational corporations are beginning to set standards for their suppliers and some are conducting audits, but progress is slow as the drive for profits in developing economies often results in disregard for known safety precautions.

While the need for regulatory oversight, increased risk assessment, hazard awareness and control measures in developing countries is clear, safety problems persist in developed countries as well. Each day, we hear reports of refinery fires, mining explosions, crane collapses, pipeline failures, multivehicle crashes and more. No country is immune to occupational safety tragedies.

Expanding Relationships & Opportunities
As a premier leader of the SH&E profession, ASSE is uniquely positioned to tackle these challenges and champion viable solutions around the world. To support our global efforts, we are making connections and establishing relationships with many international partners. Consider just a few recent developments:

New chapters formed in India and United Arab Emirates (UAE), a new section in Mexico, new student sections in India, and interest is high in Qatar, Costa Rica, Jamaica and Oman.
Conference presentations in India, Qatar, Azerbaijan, UAE, Canada, the U.K. and Australia are expanding global awareness of ASSE.
The Center for Safety and Health Sustainability released a study, "Current Practices in Occupational Safety and Health Reporting," that provides a snapshot of sustainability reporting practices, examines their comparability and offers guidance for occupational safety and health sustainability reporting.
As secretariat of the International Network of Safety and Health Practitioner Organizations, ASSE is working with other SH&E organizations to develop a global model, scope and function for the profession, and to achieve consensus on technical competencies and core activities.
The International Practice Specialty hosted a symposium on metrics this past year in Orlando, FL.
ASSE is the U.S. Technical Advisory Group Administrator for ISO standards on risk management and risk assessment, and fall protection and fall arrest.
ASSE is developing a Global Certificate in Safety Management program.
Safety 2013 will include a full track of global sessions with speakers from countries such as Australia, China, India, Kuwait, Nigeria, Panama, South Africa, South Korea, Switzerland and the U.K.

ASSE's global connections are opening doors of opportunity. Our international partners want to expand safety awareness in their countries, establish standards and transform cultures. ASSE is poised to provide valued guidance, insight, products, services and education, and we are eager to learn from our colleaguesÕ experiences as well. Together, we can prevent the needless deaths that occur each day in every country. Please support our global initiatives and seize the emerging opportunities to help SH&E professionals worldwide.

One Giant Leap For ASSE

2013-02-01T07:35:00.003-08:00

2012 ASSE President
Richard A. Pollock, CSP

American hero Neil Armstrong passed away last year. We remember him as the first person to walk on the moon. Armstrong also earned degrees from Purdue University and University of Southern California, and he served in the U.S. Navy and flew 78 combat missions during the Korean War. Although he made two trips into space during his career with NASA, the most memorable moment came in 1969 when he stepped off the lunar module and said, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" Some of you may remember the excitement, suspense and awe surrounding that moment. That step and Armstrong's proclamation brought a great sense of accomplishment and national pride.

Throughout history we have witnessed many meaningful first steps. In fact, anything worth doing always requires someone taking action. Today, I want you to do something that 's important and meaningful? Take a first step, then a leap.

During March, ASSE holds its elections. If you turn (or scroll) to p. 29 in the January issue of Professional Safety, you will see information about the candidates and the positions they seek. Even more information (including platform statements) is on the ASSE website at www.asse.org/elections.

As a membership organization, ASSE depends on volunteers to lead the Society. Some members volunteer within their chapter or practice specialty, while others serve on region or Society-level committees and councils. The top leadership group is the 15-member Board of Directors, made up of regional vice presidents, council vice presidents and the Executive Committee, which is comprised of the vice president, finance, senior vice president, president-elect, the president and the executive director.

ASSE's election process is important. In the coming years, the Society will be addressing several critical strategic issues concerning ASSE's governance structure, and the path forward for our profession and those affecting your livelihood. We need our best members to step up and lead. By being informed and voting, you play an important role in deciding who will lead ASSE. It's an important responsibility of membership.

First a Step, Then a Leap
This first step is easy. Please take out your smartphone, tablet, day planner or whatever you use to keep your calendar and circle March 1. Then, note this to-do: Vote in the ASSE election.
Once you've done that, taking the leap will be easier. At 12:01 a.m. on March 1, most members will receive an e-mail containing a link to our online voting system and detailed candidate information. (Those who haven 't selected the online option will receive the information in the mail.) When you open that e-mail (or letter), take the giant leap: Cast your vote.

The reason for my earnest request is simple: Traditionally, less than 18% of members vote in these elections, and last year the percentage dropped to an alarming 11%. Some suggest such low participation indicates that members are satisfied and aren't compelled to vote. Others say members don 't know the candidates, have never voted before or believe the election is a popularity contest. I don 't buy any of those arguments.

Voting Is a Responsibility of Membership
Like volunteering, voting in the Society elections is a fundamental responsibility of membership. But as the voting returns indicate, most members feel it is acceptable to skip this responsibility. As a result, not voting has become part of the ASSE culture one of our norms.

This is a problem we must address. To do so, we must challenge our collective beliefs. With 35,000 members, it is easy to sit on the sidelines and assume someone else will take the lead. It also is easy to cite reasons many of them legitimate to justify not volunteering.

The same cannot be said for not voting. Becoming informed about ASSE governance, the elected offices and the candidates takes so little time. In fact, I 'm guessing that in 30 minutes tonight on your couch, you can learn what you need to know to cast an informed vote.

Together, we can change our culture and drive our profession and ASSE forward. Let's recognize our membership responsibilities and challenge our beliefs, then act accordingly. By doing so, we can foster a new ASSE culture of involvement. Let's make 2013 the year we all take one small step for ASSE and what very well may be a giant leap for ourselves. Mark your calendar today and vote on March 1.

"You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result."
Mahatma Gandhi

It's Not Broken, So Why Change?

2013-01-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

2012 ASSE President
Richard A. Pollock, CSP

The headline for this message may seem a bit odd, particularly since this is the time of year when we all make resolutions to change. But, given the global economic uncertainty of recent years, the current signs of stabilization and forecasts for improvement make it easy to say, "Let's stay the course."

Positive results make this approach even more inviting. After all, ASSE is on solid financial footing, our membership is growing, and our products, services and benefits are in demand. Yet, now is not the time to grow complacent. In fact, more than ever, we must be forward thinking. We must continuously scan the current environment in order to proactively update the Society's strategic plans and anticipate business demands, economic trends and our members' professional needs.

A Changed Environment
Recognizing this need, ASSE formed a task force last year to examine the Society's future as well as its governance structure. The Society last reviewed this structure in 1993, which led to changes that were implemented in 1995. Our governance structure has not changed since then, even though the environment in which we operate has evolved immensely. Consider these facts:

In 1995, 49% of us had unrestricted access to the Internet while 33% had no access. Today, almost all of us have full access.
In 1995, we largely relied on OSHA regulations or voluntary consensus standards as part of our practice. Today, we must review and be aware of a wide range of global standards.
In 1995, most professional development was conducted face-to-face. Today, more than 30% is conducted online, and that percentage will continue to grow.
In 1995, we focused primarily on safety issues and regulatory compliance. Today, sustainability has taken center stage, and our responsibilities have expanded to include security, environment, global management, business strategy and wellness.
In 1995, our profession focused little on accreditation and credentialing. Today, unqualified practitioners are a key concern, and we must act to protect our profession.

Times clearly have changed, and so have ASSE members. Consider these facts:

In the mid-1990s, ASSE's membership was smaller, and members were younger on average, more male and white. Members were more likely to attend chapter meetings and volunteer for service. Employers often paid membership dues, sent members to professional development events and supported volunteer activities. Today, less than 30% of members engage with their local chapters even once per year. In addition, most members now pay their own dues.
In the mid-1990s, ASSE had only a few divisions. Now called practice specialties, these groups have grown in number and are producing significant content that is expanding our body of knowledge. They also have spawned branches and common interest groups (CIGs). Today, more than 60% of members pay additional dues to belong to a practice specialty or CIG.
ASSE's competitors in the mid-1990s were U.S.-based SH&E organizations. Today, the Society's competition is global, and it is no longer limited to nonprofit organizations.

The Mandate for Change
All of these facts demonstrate that ASSE membership and the environment in which the Society operates have changed dramatically. To remain relevant and achieve our vision to be a global advocate for SH&E professionals and a premier leader of the profession, ASSE's leadership team also must evolve and adapt as the environment changes in order to ensure that we remain focused on strategy and policy.

It's easy to maintain the status quo, but that is a route we cannot accept. Instead, we must focus on being current, proactive and nimble. Ours is an ever-changing world, and we must be ready, willing and able to adapt.

Best wishes for a successful 2013.

"They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself."
Andy Warhol

Now is not the time to grow complacent. In fact, more than ever, we must be forward thinking.

Changing World Demands Proactive Preparation

2012-12-01T08:19:00.000-08:00

2012 ASSE President
Richard A. Pollock, CSP

I love this time of year, as winter approaches and another year draws to a close. It is a time to be thankful, as well as a time to reflect and plan for the future.

As this year passes, ASSE has now seen 101 new chapters written. Each year brings a fresh start with exciting new opportunities. This past year was no different, setting in motion many new opportunities. Change is, indeed, in the wind.

Sensing this change, ASSE's Board of Directors formed a 50-member task force of past presidents and a diverse group of members to discuss the Society's future and governance structure. This group reviewed demographic and survey data, examined research about trends in other professional associations and read books about association governance. The task force also was provided with an "environmental scan" of the world in which ASSE operates and in which we perform our jobs. This scan covered global realities and trends in economics, politics, technology, demographics, education, the nature of work, risks and risk management, and the SH&E profession itself.

I subsequently shared this scan with many members, and I'd like to share some highlights with you.

Economics. A global shift is occurring. Telecommunications and transportation have shrunk the globe and competition among multinationals is increasing. China will likely overtake the U.S. economy by 2020 and India may do so by 2050. Stakeholders have higher expectations and lower tolerance. Emphasis on sustainability and improved corporate governance continues to grow.
International politics. Building dissatisfaction is creating greater demand for political and economic transparency. Growth and economic disparity continue to fuel instability. E-activism is growing, fueled by communication technology, and the global political influence of China, India, Brazil, Russia and the Middle East increases.
U.S. demographics. The U.S. population is graying, living longer and retiring later. Technology and Social Security concerns are fueling a widening generation gap. Too few citizens hold college degrees in engineering and the sciences, with one-third of all Ph.D.s awarded to temporary visa holders.
Technology. In our interconnected global society, 2 billion PCs and 5 billion mobile phones are in use, and more than 2.1 billion people use the Internet. Social networking is expanding opportunities for engagement and communications. Eighty percent of Americans age 18 to 29 and 50% of all Americans use online social networking.
Education. Innovations continue to emerge rapidly. More than 30% of corporate education and training is delivered by e-learning, while e-books comprise more than 20% of the market, and will continue to gain more market share. By 2015, South Korea plans to digitize all school learning materials, and China has already spent more than $1 billion to pioneer e-learning in rural areas. In the U.S., more than 1,000 school districts have or are budgeting to purchase iPads for incoming freshmen.
Nature of work. U.S. workers face an emerging and increasing set of risks. The workforce is aging, while losing competitiveness due to the lack of technical education. U.S. workers risk becoming less valuable, yet they face higher workloads, longer hours, increased pressures for greater productivity, and increased use of irregular and flexible work schedules.
Implications for ASSE. Change will continue to occur rapidly, making an expanded global perspective and understanding critical. Increased and evolving risks will present opportunities for qualified SH&E professionals, as will the expanding focus on good corporate governance and sustainability.
The SH&E profession. Demand is surpassing the supply of qualified professionals. More employers are seeking SH&E professionals with graduate degrees and M.B.A.s, while the number of qualified professors to teach courses is declining. Employers are expecting greater fluency in international cultures, foreign languages and global SH&E topics. Research-to-practice will gain momentum as the profession embraces fact-based solutions. More will be learned about human factors, and SH&E professionals will play a greater role in process and work design.

Our world is clearly different than it was 18 years ago when we last reviewed ASSE's governance structure and strategic focus. Technology has changed how we operate, and the pace of change requires ASSE to be more nimble and data-driven, to plan and react faster, and to think strategically for the benefit of all members.

In the months ahead, you will hear more about this initiative as we create a structure for the future. As the world continues to change, ASSE and each of us must be prepared.

Technology has changed how we operate, and the pace of change requires ASSE to be more nimble and to think strategically for the benefit of all members.

Wanted: Your Ideas

2012-11-01T05:23:00.000-07:00

2012 ASSE President
Richard A. Pollock, CSP

While researching and gathering information for a conference presentation on the link between supervisors and improvements in the safety climate, I logged onto ASSE's Body of Knowledge (BOK) website - which you can find at www.safetybok.org -and searched on some select keywords related to my topic. Like many search engines, the BOK was easy to use. But what struck me was the quality of the information the search returned. It was specific to my topic, and I didn't have to dig deeply into the results to find the information I wanted.

That experience made me think about ideas, which led me to this quote from Plato: "Ideas rule the world, and as the human mind will receive new ideas, laying aside the old and effete, the world will advance." The idea for ASSE's BOK was first discussed in 1998, when the Society's Council on Practices and Standards began to take on a more strategic and visionary role as steward of the profession's body of knowledge. To ensure that the SH&E profession continues to prosper, grow and gain professional recognition, ASSE leaders realized we had to define our practices, and assemble, advance and sustain our own body of knowledge.

Initially, we focused on compiling a list of publications, books and articles that SH&E professionals use to implement effective management programs. By 2003, that vision had evolved and expanded. We wanted to ensure that our body of knowledge would be user-friendly and readily available, so we surveyed members and published a white paper that recommended new standards and suggested a need to define professional competencies. Those efforts moved the needle, but the real a-ha moment came in 2008, when two members, Fred Fanning and Jeff Camplin, shared their ideas for turning the BOK into a living resource that would perpetually reflect current practice.

Today, just 4 years later, the BOK includes more than 6,000 assets, and more than 3,000 members have registered for and are using the site. The growing number of assets and users are a testament to the power of ideas-not just the culminating idea, but also all those that led the way. The BOK has developed over the past 15 years, and it is a shining example of how we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us.

Building on previous successes to influence the world is something most people find motivating. In fact, a recent Harris Poll found that 97% of Generation Y want careers that allow them "to have an impact on the world."

As SH&E professionals, don't we share a similar palpable hunger to make the world safer? In How to Change the World, David Bornstein says, "[We] are ready to roll up our sleeves and dig in to fix, or at least substantially address the very problems that evade governments and established institutions." ASSE is committed to lead by fostering new ideas, valuing innovation and creating a vision for a better tomorrow. We speak of the "influence" of an idea, and say that ideas are "contagious." Bornstein sees it this way: "We know that when the ripening of an idea is due, when the hour strikes, that idea will spread with a force that nothing can resist."

ASSE's goals to become a primary source of SH&E knowledge, the voice of the profession and a thought leader are such ideas. Another example is the Center for Safety and Health Sustainability. In just 1 year, the center has elevated workplace safety as a key component of corporate sustainability efforts.

So, let's build on our momentum. Let's draw public attention to workplace fatalities. Recent BLS statistics show that 4,609 people died from on-the-job injuries in the U.S. in 2011. That's 13 people each day who will never return home to their families.

We must actively advocate for workplace safety. We must define significant SH&E problems and collaborate with our stakeholders to find solutions. We must actively share and discuss our ideas so they can be considered, refined and pursued. As a profession, we must dream, innovate and invent.

ASSE's BOK started as an idea. It expanded and grew, and it is now poised to become a significant tool for current and future SH&E practitioners. What's your big idea? We'd love to hear it. It just might lead to a new way of preventing workplace injuries and illnesses.

Commit to Our Cause

2012-10-01T05:15:00.003-07:00

2012 ASSE President
Richard A. Pollock, CSP

Election campaigns expose us to nonstop media messages, slogans and rhetoric. Amidst all this noise, especially the negativity, distortion and misrepresentation common to many elections, it can be difficult to think or talk about anything else. So, I’d like to invite you to support and participate in some campaigns that are fueled by facts rather than rhetoric: the ASSE campaigns for 2012-13.

Workplace Fatalities
The facts: According to the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, each day, more than 8,000 workers suffer a recordable injury and 13 lose their lives. This is like saying that most of the 3 million people in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area suffered a reportable injury—or that all 4,600 residents of my town went to work one morning and never came home. Globally, International Labor Organization estimates that 2.3 million people succumb to work-related incidents or diseases every year, which equates to more than 6,000 deaths each day. These outcomes are unacceptable—made even more so because the downward trend in these statistics has stalled. This statistical plateau should be a call to action for us all.
The campaign: ASSE will develop a series of communications and events to keep workplace fatalities in the public eye and to encourage collaboration on the development of new approaches to preventing workplace fatalities. In addition, ASSE’s work with the Center for Safety and Health Sustainability will continue to position workplace safety as a major social issue that must be addressed.

Value of the SH&E Professional
The facts: ASSE’s study in 2008 revealed that the perceived performance of SH&E professionals falls below management’s stated expectations in several areas, including business and strategy, and organizational and management support.
The campaign: Through this campaign, the Society will focus on increasing employers’ and other stakeholders’ understanding of the competencies, capabilities and value of safety professionals. The business community must come to understand that SH&E professionals are much more than technicians who simply perform compliance-based activities. To achieve this, we must adopt the mind-set that to thrive in our organizations and to “get a seat at the table,” we must articulate the value we deliver.

OSHA/NIOSH Fall Prevention
The facts: Falls are the leading cause of work-related deaths in construction and a leading cause of injuries. The campaign: ASSE has signed on as an active participant in the OSHA/NIOSH fall prevention campaign.

Small Business
The facts: BLS has recently reported that the total OSHA recordable case rate in 2010 was highest among companies with 50 to 249 employees.
The campaign: Through this campaign, ASSE will develop electronic and traditional media resources to increase small business occupational safety and health awareness, and to improve small business capabilities in developing occupational safety and health programs, including increasing the availability of industry-specific tools and products. These employers must understand that the risks are real and that they can be mitigated in a cost-effective manner.

Be Committed & Get Involved
So how might you help?
• Share your ideas on strategies and tools that will increase public awareness of workplace fatalities and build the groundswell needed to effect lasting change.
• Develop new ways to articulate your role and what it means to your organization’s future.
• Improve your risk assessment competencies, provide cost-effective solutions as a business partner and take a leadership role in developing risk assessment policy.
• Volunteer tips, resources or even your time to a local small business to help it identify and correct hazards.
• Participate in and spread the word about the fall prevention campaign by visiting http://stopconstructionfalls.com and following the “Get Involved” link.
These are just a few suggestions. The facts are that too few people know about the work of safety professionals, and even fewer take note of the devastating number of people injured and killed at work each year. It’s time we deliver a message about occupational safety and our profession that is strong and clear. By actively participating in and supporting campaigns such as these, we, as SH&E professionals, can collectively and emphatically declare that the status quo does not and will not work in occupational safety. Will you join with me in committing to our cause?

It’s time we deliver a message about occupational safety and our profession that is strong and clear. Will you join with me in committing to our cause?

A Time for Leadership Development

2012-09-01T09:39:00.000-07:00

2012 ASSE President
Richard A. Pollock, CSP

Do you remember Yogi Berra? Baseball fans like me remember him as a great New York Yankees catcher. He was a 15-time All Star, won the American League MVP three times, played in 14 World Series and still holds many records some 50 years later.

Beyond baseball, Yogi is best known for his quirky statements. Consider this one, which I found while researching the topic of leadership:"You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you are going because you might not get there."As crazy as they may sound, Yogi's words hold a great deal of wisdom about leadership. Leaders must have a vision and must be able to communicate and share that vision with others.

Great leaders also engender positive emotions among followers so they want to join together for a greater good. I recently heard ASSE past president Eddie Greer speak about leadership."Leadership is about learning to do what is right, because we can never rise above the limitations of our character," he said. "If we are going to serve as leaders, then we must have the trust of our followers. Character enables trust to exist and makes being a leader possible."

If a person isn't trustworthy who will follow? At its core, leadership truly is about influencing others, not about position. It is about engaging others, sharing your vision and moving people to action. Great leaders also earn respect over time by putting the good of the people and the organization ahead of any personal agenda. They exude optimism and a positive attitude, and help others see life as a series of great opportunities and exciting challenges.

Although he probably never saw himself that way, my father was a leader. He was a high-school teacher and football coach who was inducted into the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame. But beyond coaching championship teams, his greatest legacy was helping boys and girls develop into men and women by teaching them the importance of strong character, hard work, responsibility, integrity and selflessness. My father taught me that a leader is the one who helps others the most. He was right.

Do you see yourself as a leader? In studying leadership, I have found that most of us don't see ourselves as leaders, yet most of us want to improve our abilities in this area. Some contend that leadership can't be taught - either you have the ability or you do not. I disagree. Certainly, some people have stronger personalities or greater confidence, and others may have been in the right place at the right time.

However, during my career with ASSE and in business, most of the best leaders I've observed are just like you and me. We don't set out to be in charge, yet over time, as we take on responsibility, get things done, help others and build trust, we gain leadership knowledge and skills. Others value our assistance and ask "which way next."

Are you optimistic about the future? Do you have the ability to create a vision and influence others to follow? Why not take those feelings of optimism and opportunity to refocus, recommit and put plans into action to take a more active role in ASSE and your SH&E career?

The SH&E profession needs strong, effective leaders, and ASSE offers some excellent opportunities for us to build and develop our leadership skills. This fall, the Society will host its Leadership Conference for chapter, region and practice specialty leaders and its Future Safety Leaders Conference for outstanding student members. In addition, in November, ASSE will deliver "Safety Is All About Leadership,"a 2-day symposium in Orlando, FL. You can find details about any of these events on the Society's website.

Learning more about leadership and developing these vital skills will help us excel as SH&E professionals. I encourage you to attend at least one of these important events this fall. You will discover it is an investment well made. At its core, leadership is about influencing others, not about position. It is about engaging others, sharing your vision and moving people to action.

Where's ASSE

2012-08-01T07:35:00.000-07:00

2012 ASSE President Richard A. Pollock, CSP

The easy answer to the question posed by the headline is Des Plaines, IL. But that's really only a small part of the answer. Yes, Society headquarters is located in Des Plaines, but, at its core, ASSE is you and me: safety professionals dedicated to creating a culture of prevention. ASSE is our knowledge, our beliefs, our passion and the value of our work. It is located inside of each of us, across the country and around the world. We are ASSE.

I've often been asked, "What do I get for my dues?" That's a natural question, but it's really the wrong one to consider when discussing ASSE membership. It is easy to believe that ASSE is some "place" where Professional Safety is created, the website is managed, conferences and webinars are produced, surveys are distributed, standards are written and books are published. Certainly, those products and services are vital to our mission. Yet, it is members like you and me who write the books and articles, speak at the conferences and webinars, help develop standards, advise government, and establish Society goals and work to achieve them. We collectively create the body of knowledge and bring it to life.

Over the past 2 years, I have been invited often to speak about ASSE membership and "what's in it for me?" During those talks, I focus instead on what each of us can do for ASSE, the profession and ourselves to increase our value, and how we each can invest in our own success. I guess I have taken the lead from John F. Kennedy's famous inaugural call to action: "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country."

Consider this short tale from Charles Osgood. "This is a little story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought that Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done."

As members, pitching in is our responsibility. I urge you to view it as an expectation of membership. Across our 152 chapters representing members in more than 75 countries, hundreds of members step forward each year to volunteer their time, talent and resources to help others succeed. Through their service, they learn and grow, and increase the value of our profession.

ASSE needs each member to embrace volunteerism. I know firsthand that work and life demands pull us in many directions and that time is precious. But I also know that you will gain great personal and professional returns if you get involved. As an active volunteer, you will meet many knowledgeable professionals and develop a diverse network, putting solutions only a text, call or e-mail away. You will receive far more in return when you pay it forward. Investing in ourselves through ASSE involvement can pay big dividends, especially when we share our knowledge to help others to learn and grow.

Imagine the energy and creativity that ASSE could generate with nearly 35,000 members committed to developing and sharing ideas and innovations across our global community mobilized to create a safe, healthy world. Together, we can create a new ASSE culture that maximizes our strengths and creates exciting new opportunities.

We are ASSE. We are the voice and thought leaders of this profession, and key contributors to our body of knowledge. Be part of a global community in which each member actively contributes and ensures that our profession remains vibrant. Invest in your membership and increase your value. Together, let's move off the plateau of complacency, create a culture of volunteerism and forge an even stronger future. Let's make this vision our reality.

ASSE needs each member to embrace volunteerism.You will gain high personal and professional returns if you get involved.

"I always wondered why somebody didn't do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody."
Lily Tomlin

Let’s Raise Our Sails & Catch the Winds of Change

2012-07-01T14:19:00.004-07:00

2012 ASSE President Richard A. Pollock, CSP

ASSE is in the midst of change. Our predecessors had vision and built a strong foundation. But, the winds are shifting. Like many other professional organizations led by volunteers and with limited resources, ASSE is facing significant challenges. The Board of Directors recognized this and made a bold move. Instead of simply celebrating our heritage of growth and success, the Board set out to create a new vision and strategic direction for the Society. With members’ best interests as our guiding principle, we discussed and debated our future. The result was strong guiding values and new aspirational goals that were approved last year. Each council has worked diligently to establish new strategies to move ASSE toward these goals.

Why are these changes necessary? We face many challenges to our profession, livelihood and ASSE. We have been reactive as fatality and incident rates have plateaued, members have lost their jobs, volunteerism has declined and our future has become less secure. Our members, employers, workers, families and society deserve more.

However, these threats also present opportunity. Our new goals are based on opportunity and our strategies are charting the course to a strong future.

Our vision is clear. ASSE members are a primary source of knowledge for the SH&E profession. As thought leaders, we must speak out and set the agenda. We must gather and share a body of knowledge that defines and furthers our interests, and establishes ASSE as the source of information, learning and best practices.

We will advance the profession by supporting science-based research, and by sharing our knowledge through publications and professional development offerings. We will establish a strong global professional community, dedicated to a common cause. We will establish the value of safety professionals and our profession through deeper relationships with the business community and government.

Our work is important. Moreover, because we are passionate about our work and its importance, we will never quit and our voices will be heard. Because of our values, beliefs and passion, we will make sure we get the facts and our professional opinions to the table. We will advise, instruct and, in some cases, direct regulators on key issues.

Maximizing opportunity and managing business risk is fundamental to all successful organizations. Employers often mistakenly equate safety to regulatory compliance. As a result, safety is seen as a cost that is counterproductive to profit-based goals and fiduciary responsibilities. ASSE will engage business leaders in the discussion of business risk, not compliance.

Increasing profitability while reducing risk of loss to the environment, workers, community and customers are increasingly demanded by stakeholders. Greater requirements for fiduciary control, transparency in governance and employee stewardship have increased the business value of our profession. By having the vision and helping to create the Center for Safety and Health Sustainability, ASSE is at the forefront and will continue to lead globally.

ASSE also continues to advocate for the ongoing global shift toward risk-based approaches to SH&E. We are researching these approaches and their effect on business results, and defining methods for implementation. Business risk and enterprise risk are fundamental, and this is the language by which our prevention message will be heard. As long as OSHA standards exist, ASSE members will need to help employers comply. However, by leading the shift toward risk-based approaches and establishing prevention cultures, we will become better aligned with business strategies and goals, thus increasing our value.

So, let’s imagine. What does our future hold? Will the new goals and strategies make a difference? Imagine that ASSE continues to grow, expanding its influence around the globe. New members are engaged, and most realize that membership is a privilege and volunteerism is expected. We ensure the involvement of young members and students. Within this new culture, the very best professionals step forward. New leaders are identified earlier so they may be mentored and provided opportunities to grow.

New pathways for communication allow all voices to be heard. Chapters excel in providing member services. The practice specialties and common interest groups become more valuable as members broadly engage, reach their full potential and actively assemble our body of knowledge. Greater value is realized by those who can’t attend meetings, live remotely or across oceans. A strong global community emerges that embraces diversity and furthers our values.

Imagine that we are invited to the table where government and business policy are determined. Imagine the value of our profession is increased tenfold, ensuring that in another recession, our profession remains strong and highly valued. Most important, imagine a world that is safe and healthy for future generations.
Our vision is clear and our future is bright. Please engage and help lead our profession forward. Let your voice be heard.

“You can’t hit a home run unless you step up to the plate. You can’t catch a fish unless you put your line in the water. You can’t reach your goals if you don’t try.”
Kathy Seligman

The Future Is Ours to Make

2012-06-01T07:49:00.000-07:00

2012 ASSE President Terrie S. Norris, CSP, ARM, CSPI

In Water the Bamboo, Greg Bell speaks of the faith a bamboo farmer has in planting his crop. He plants the bamboo bulb 6 ft into the ground, then waters it and waits. After a year, nothing has sprouted, but the farmer continues to faithfully water the bamboo and wait. After the second year, still nothing has appeared, yet the farmer continues to water the bulb, confident that it is growing. By the end of the third year, the bamboo shoot breaks through the ground and miraculously grows at a rate of 20 ft every 72 hours.

Our work in safety is akin to water- ing the bamboo. We must have faith in our vision even when it seems our progress has stalled. The safety profession has expanded beyond the workplace to include our communi- ties and the environment. We have made great strides in many coun- tries and have seen their workplace injuries and deaths decline, while in other countries, the condi- tions and losses remain high.

In many cases, safety seems to have landed on a plateau. Our profession has a long way to go to achieve our vision and accomplish our mission. Often, the chal- lenges seem daunting, but we must have faith and keep watering the bamboo.

For SH&E professionals, watering the bamboo means continuing to grow our profession to ensure that there are enough safety professionals to meet future demands. We all have a responsibil- ity to encourage and support future SH&E professionals. Each of us can help by becoming more involved with students at all levels of education. Speak at your community schools on career day or “Read to the Children Day,” and inspire young people to grow up and become a safety profes- sional like you. Mentor a student or a young professional. Get involved with your local ASSE student section. We each can inspire many by sharing our passion for this profession.

We also must continuously seek to improve our ability to engage top management and increase their understanding of how our efforts contribute to corporate objectives, improve corporate image and enhance sustainability. Our corporate leaders must recognize that safety is not an added expense which can be cut when the budget is tight. What we do is of vital importance to business success, and we must constantly strive to con- vey that message. We each must seek ways to evaluate our worth and the value of our efforts and involvement, and communicate that crucial infor- mation to management.

We also must continue to work with the governments and standards- setting organizations around the world as they develop regulations. We must work cooperatively with them and educate them about what works and what does not. We must share our expertise, experience and insight to ensure that standards deliver a workable framework for achieving consistent results.

In addition, as SH&E professionals, we must continue to work with global organizations that have similar goals. Each organization brings unique strengths and resources to the task of achieving our joint vision. Together, we can spread our message and our expertise faster and farther, and, thus, safeguard more people, protect more property and act as good stewards of the environment we all share. Work- ing together, we can increase our body of knowledge to better meet the challenges of the future.

John M. Richards Jr. said, “When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: Those who let it hap- pen, those who make it happen and those who wonder what happened.” Let’s be those who make it happen...and keep watering the bamboo.

The vast possibilities of our great future will become realities only if we make ourselves responsible for that future. - Gifford Pinchot

The Evolution of Safety: What’s Next?

2012-05-01T07:55:00.000-07:00

The modern safety movement began in 1911, following the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. Basic building codes and fire codes were improved and enforced. Labor laws were written to protect children, workers’ compensation laws were developed and employee safety training began to evolve. It was definitely a start.

In 1931, H.W. Heinrich introduced the 300-29-1 injury pyramid with which every SH&E professional is familiar. In 1969, Frank Bird expanded the pyramid to the 600-30-10-1 model—theorizing that for every 600 incidents, 30 resulted in property damage, 10 in serious injuries and 1 in a fatality. In 2003, a ConocoPhillips Marine study demonstrated a large difference in the ratio of serious accidents and near misses—this study found that for every fatality there are at least 300,000 at-risk behaviors. These studies led to and reinforced the practice of behavior-based safety, which focused safety efforts on front-line employees and supervisors.

In 1970, U.S. President Richard Nixon signed the OSH Act, and prescriptive standards entered the mix. We now deal with many national and international standards, some voluntary, some mandatory. Yet, most safety programs still focus on changing employee and supervisor behavior.

The safety by design concept has been gaining much traction lately, but it actually was promoted before the Triangle fire. In her 1910 book, Work Accidents and the Law, Crystal Eastman wrote about how changing automatic coupling pins on railroad cars reduced the death rate among rail workers.

Process safety management entered the picture after the Union Carbide chemical release in Bhopal, India, in 1984. System safety soon followed, placing attention on the interaction between departments and phases of development, production and the delivery of production. And, thanks to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, safety also has factored into enterprise risk management.

Safety has made great strides since 1911, with death and injury rates down in many countries. Yet, according to preliminary BLS data, fatal occupational injuries declined only slightly in 2010 compared with 2009. Transportation-related fatalities continue to be the leading cause of on-the-job deaths followed by assaults and violent acts, contact with objects and equipment, falls, and exposure to harmful substances or environments. The number of serious injuries has increased as well.

Our efforts have stalled, largely because although it is difficult to change behavior, we continue to rely on ill-trained supervisors to do just that. Have we learned nothing from the past?

So what is next step for safety? We must establish a prevention culture. Such a culture is not a single system or philosophy; it is a culture that permeates an entire organization based on applying currently available tools and taking action to:

change management processes;

adopt enterprise risk management thinking;

change attitudes throughout the organization so that everyone recognizes that safety is not a program or something only applied at work—and then only when convenient;

protect brand recognition and corporate reputation;

address sustainability.

To instill a prevention culture, everyone must embrace safety in every aspect of their lives—they must consider the consequences of their decisions as well as their actions. It starts with managers and how they manage the business. It requires a change in what they value and in their understanding that safety is not an extra cost, but a strategic goal. And management must show that it values human lives and the environment, and it must demonstrate those values in its decisions. Prevention is not focused on the employee and supervisor. It encompasses the entire organization, from the C-suite to the entry-level employee.

As SH&E professionals, we have collected the fruit on the ground and gathered the low-hanging fruit. We made rapid improvement when we embraced engineering changes, improved warnings and implemented a system approach to safety. But our progress has slowed.

To move forward, we must strive to instill a prevention culture that engages the entire organization. It is up to each of us to establish a culture of prevention in our organizations, in our own lives and in our communities. The future is in our hands. It's time to pursue excellence in prevention.

“The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into
the impossible.”
Arthur C. Clarke

Shining a Light on Prevention

2012-04-02T08:15:00.000-07:00

Years ago, as I walked into the Pacific Rim Conference opening session, my attention was drawn to a table set apart from the rest. It was set for a single diner. The napkin was folded with care, and a small vase contained a single red rose. A dim melancholy light glowed above the empty seat at the table set in a darkened corner.

I vividly remember that day. And while I don't recall the words of the memorial poem that was read, I remember the tears it brought to my eyes and the sorrow it brought to my heart. That empty chair symbolized all those who had died on the job, the ones we couldn't save. Every day, there is another empty chair somewhere in the world.

April 28 is International Worker Memorial Day. People around the world will remember colleagues and loved ones lost to workplace fatalities. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 4,547 people died on the job in 2010. That's about the same number of people who attended Safety 2011 in Chicago last June. Imagine the empty halls, the rooms full of empty chairs.

In 2010, nearly 3.1 million people suffered nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses while working for private industry employers. In the often-overlooked public sector, 820,300 injuries and illness cases were reported in 2010 by state and local governments. When we break it down to incident rates, it is startling to find that the injury and illness rate for public entities was 5.7 cases per 100 full-time workers versus 3.5 cases per 100 workers for private industry.

As we remember those lost and honor their lives, let's also keep our collective focus on the importance of our continuous efforts to reduce fatalities and injuries. This month, ASSE chapters, regions and sections are readying for their North American Occupational Safety & Health (NAOSH) Week projects and events. NAOSH Week - observed May 6-12 this year - is when we shine a bright light on injury and illness prevention. On Occupational Safety and Health Professional (OSHP) day (observed May 9), we recognize those who strive each day to eliminate work-related fatalities, injuries and illnesses. NAOSH Week and OSHP Day are two great opportunities that we, as safety professionals, have to educate the public, businesses and communities about occupational safety and our great profession.

NAOSH Week is May 6-12

This year marks the 10th anniversary of our NAOSH Week Safety-on-the-Job kids' poster contest, which gives children around the globe an opportunity to express their creativity and to learn about SH&E professionals and our mission to ensure on-the-job safety for every working person around the globe. The winning entries are featured on the NAOSH Week 2012 poster that is distributed worldwide. To order your copy, contact customerservice@asse.org.

I encourage you to start a NAOSH Week campaign in your area. Hold a safety day at work or in your community. Host a PPE fashion show. Invite school children to tour your facility to see firsthand what you do as an SH&E professional.
You'll find an array of tools, such as a draft proclamation and information on many more ways to participate, at www.asse.org/naosh. I urge you to use the NAOSH Week proclamation to bring worker safety to the attention of your local leaders. We must do more to ensure that those who work in the public sector have the same protections as those who work in the private sector. A proclamation may be a small step, but it is a start.

As we remember those lost, all those empty chairs, let's recommit ourselves to shining a light on prevention, to making a difference for those who remain.

"There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them." --Denis Waitley

Preparing for Tomorrow

2012-03-01T14:09:00.000-08:00

Are you prepared? It's a common question in California, where we seem to constantly be preparing for fires, floods, mud slides and earthquakes. Around the globe, SH&E professionals are asked to prepare for all kinds of disasters.

But my question is a personal one, whether you are an employer or an SH&E professional. Are you prepared for the next challenge? The next opportunity? When a challenge or opportunity occurs and it goes in your favor, will it be because you were ready or just lucky?

Seneca said, "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." In other words, we can make our own luck by being prepared. For example, as an employer, you hire the right people, but are you sure to provide them with the resources necessary to succeed? As an SH&E professional, do you have the knowledge to get the job done right? What and who are your resources?

Preparation comes in many forms. For employers, it includes hiring the right people, purchasing the right equipment and investing in the future of staff. The world doesn't stand still. Information and knowledge constantly evolve. For work teams to perform at their best, employers must invest in continuing education, just as they invest in new technology and equipment.

For SH&E professionals, preparation includes formal education, planning for future growth, exposure to new ideas, tools and equipment, networking with peers, and training. ASSE is dedicated to ensuring that we have every opportunity to prepare our teams and ourselves. Two of the Society's six goals focus on preparation through the provision and development of training, education and resources.

The world is changing too rapidly to prepare only once a year. That's why it's vital that we each attend monthly chapter meetings and take advantage of virtual learning opportunities. ASSE offers virtual symposia throughout the year. For example, on March 29 and 30, ASSE will host "Changing Behaviors: Balancing the Elements for Effective Safety Management Systems." This symposium will bring together thought leaders from around the world to survey all parts of the safety system. And since it's virtual, you can view it at your convenience, even after its initial broadcast. Learn more about this and other virtual offerings at www.asse.org/education/virtualclassroom.php.

While virtual opportunities help us stay current and improve throughout the year, ASSE's annual professional development conference and exposition are not to be missed. Safety 2012 will be held June 3-6 in Denver, CO, and it provides a great opportunity to help us prepare for today's and tomorrow's challenges.

The conference delivers education, helps us network with peers, and introduces us to new equipment, tools, resources and suppliers in the exposition. Safety 2012 promises to be blockbuster, ushering in ASSE's second century. At Safety 2012, we will hear from industry and professional leaders.

Robert Cialdini will speak on the power of influence.
OSHA Administrator David Michaels will share his views on workplace safety.
Economist Lowell Catlett will share insights on the economy, current and future.

The conference will also feature the ninth annual Executive Summit, where we will hear important perspectives from senior managers. Other program highlights include 240 concurrent education sessions; the Academics Forum; a special track on sustainability/corporate social responsibility; the Loss Control Executive Summit; updates on Chemical Safety Board investigations; a report on ASSE's delegation to Brazil; and key issue roundtables. Learn more about the complete program and how to register at www.safety2012.org.

You will face many challenges in life and in your career. Create your own luck. Register for Safety 2012 today and prepare yourself for tomorrow. As NFL Hall of Fame player Jack Youngblood said, "Good luck is a residue of preparation."

ASSE's annual conference and exposition are not to be missed. Safety 2012 is a great opportunity to help us prepare for today's and tomorrow's challenges.

Fulfilling Our Duty

2012-02-01T07:00:00.000-08:00

If someone asked you to describe ASSE, what would be your answer? Can you tell them how large the Society is, how old the organization is, how we operate?

ASSE is a great Society that has existed for more than 100 years. It has grown from a handful of insurance casualty inspectors in one city to nearly 34,000 members residing in more than 70 countries. We are a Society governed by its members, for its members and their profession. We have a 16-member board and all except ASSE's executive director, who is a nonvoting member, are volunteer leaders elected by the members. All of our councils, committees and task forces are composed of members volunteering their time.

The future of our Society is in our hands, yet only 17% to 19% of ASSE members vote in the annual election of the Society's leaders. As members, it is our right to vote in our chapter, region and Society elections. More importantly, it is our duty to vote. Not everyone has the opportunity to be a volunteer leader, but we can all vote. And it's not just the act of voting that is important. We need to cast informed votes.

To provide a level field and to act in complete fairness, ASSE restricts campaigning by and for candidates for office. So how can we each make an informed vote? First, read the biographies for each candidate in this issue of Professional Safety (starting on p. 33). Then, read the platform statements posted at www.asse.org. These statements provide insight into what each candidate believes and where s/he believes ASSE should be headed. Each year we vote for a senior vice president. This position leads automatically to the office of president-elect, then to president. In essence, we are voting for the future president of this Society. The winning candidate will lead the Council on Member and Region Affairs for a year. As president- elect, this individual will chair our Congress of Councils and lead the Society's strategic planning. As president, this leader will be our voice and the face of our Society.

Each year, we also vote for other board positions, but we stagger the elections so as to avoid replacing the entire board at once. This year, we are electing the vice president of the Council on Practices and Standards, the vice president of finance and the vice presidents of the even-numbered regions.

In odd-numbered election years, we elect the vice president of the Council on Professional Development, the vice president of the Council on Professional Affairs and the vice presidents of the odd-numbered regions.

Voting is easy once you know for whom you will cast your vote. Voting begins on March 1 and ends March 31. You have two choices in how to place your vote: 1) complete and mail back the paper ballot that arrives in your mailbox during the first week in March; or 2) vote electronically.

I prefer the electronic ballot - it arrives in my e-mail in-box just after midnight on March 1, no matter what day of the week it is. If you haven't signed up for electronic voting, there's still time. Go to www.asse.org and sign in to the Members Only section (using your member number and last name to log in). Then, select the 'Update Your Info' link and follow the prompts. Scroll down until you find the 'Society Annual Election Ballot' section and select your preferred voting method.

Helen Keller once said, "I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble." Voting in ASSE's elections may not be the great and noble task we each dream of, but it is our duty to accomplish this small task. This is our Society. Each of our voices matters. Vote this March.

As members, it is our right to vote in our chapter, region and Society elections. More importantly, it is our duty to vote.

Resolute in Our Goals

2012-01-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

The new year is often a time for looking toward the future, whether it's making resolutions for change or trying some custom such as dropping molten lead into a bowl of cold water to determine what the future will bring. As a Society, ASSE doesn't wait until New Year's Eve to ponder the future and devise new goals. We continually look forward and plan because we know that the actions we take today are the foundation for our future.

One hundred years ago, our Society's goal was to engineer safe industrial workplaces. That goal has grown and evolved. The definition of safety within our bylaws illustrates those changes and how our focus on protecting people, property and the environment has expanded. Article I, Section 3, states:

The definition of the safety profession as used in these bylaws is:

'The safety profession is composed of individuals engaged in one or more of the specialties within the various sciences for the primary purpose of developing and/or implementing methods, procedures, systems, devices, and/or standards toward the reduction, control or elimination of hazardous exposures to people, property or the environment.'

A look at ASSE's practice specialties and branches illustrates the vast disciplines in which safety is involved. Visit www.asse.org/practicespecialties to learn more about any of these groups.


Practice Specialties

  

    
Academics
Construction
Consultants
Engineering 
Environmental
Ergonomics
Fire Protection
Healthcare
Industrial  Hygiene


    
International
Management
Manufacturing
Mining
Oil & Gas
Public Sector
Risk Management/Insurance
Transportation


  

Branches



  

    
Agricultural
Health & Wellness
Human Resources
Legal Services


    
Military
Service
Training & Communication
Utilities


  

Clearly, safety professionals no longer concentrate solely on industrial safety. We are engaged in protecting the public, the patrons of our establishments, the users of our companies' products, the environment we share and much more.

Safety may be a small word, yet it contains so much meaning. It is no different than the word doctor or lawyer, although it is not yet as clearly defined as either of those words. When someone meets a doctor or lawyer, s/he might ask, "What's your specialty?" When someone asks a safety professional about his/her occupation, the answer "I'm in safety" likely elicits a curious look followed by a response such as, "What is that?"

ASSE is working to define the standards of professional competency, including defining the various levels of safety professionals and practitioners. Through such initiatives, we will ensure that at some future point, when you are asked what you do, the discussion that follows will focus on your area of specialty within safety rather than on what the broader profession encompasses. As we define safety and its competencies, we will gain greater recognition and respect, which will increase our value to our employers and further raise the stature of our profession.

It is a new year, yet our resolutions to grow and evolve the definition of the SH&E profession have not changed. Not matter the obstacles encountered, we will continue to actively pursue these goals.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt said, "The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith." I have no doubt that together, we will grow ASSE's influence and position this Society as a thought leader of the SH&E profession. We will raise the bar on the practice of safety. We will demonstrate our value to our employers, our legislators and our communities. And we will contribute a meaningful voice to the international discourse on occupational safety and grow our global community.

Embrace the future, get involved and help ASSE achieve its goals.

It Takes a Village . . . of Volunteers

2011-12-01T07:30:00.000-08:00

Margaret Mead said, 'Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.'

One hundred years ago, a small group of safety inspectors met in a room in New York City and founded the United Society of Casualty Inspectors. This group wanted to change the conditions of workers throughout the nation.

Today, their legacy lives on through ASSE and our efforts as SH&E professionals to improve workplace safety and share the message of safety in our local communities and around the globe.

How did a handful of safety inspectors create a global impact? They reached out and networked with others. Through their knowledge and expertise, they began to influence legislators and employers. They grew their numbers through networking, and began to form chapters in 1924.

Today, ASSE has nearly 34,000 members in 151 chapters, 60 sections, 32 student sections, 17 practice specialties, 8 branches and 4 common interest groups. Each of these groups is led by member volunteers'much like our founding group 100 years ago. Our volunteers at all levels are focused on helping this great Society achieve its goals.

ASSE is strong because our members volunteer their time and share their passion to help accomplish our goals, mission and vision. Right now, chapters, sections, practice specialties and committees are looking for members willing to step up, give back and help build the future. Soon, these groups will be calling for nominations of members willing to serve in various offices and to assume leadership roles. Some will be elected positions. Others will be appointed. All are important.

Jimmy Carter said, 'Throughout my life, I've seen the difference that volunteering efforts can make in people's lives. I know the personal value of service as a local volunteer.'

I know that statement to be true. I started out serving as a chapter newsletter editor. It fit in best with the demands of my job, higher education pursuits and a young family. Over time, I moved on to serve my chapter as program chair, treasurer, secretary, president-elect, president and delegate. Along the way, I learned valuable leadership skills that have served me well throughout my career.

I urge you to answer the call to service. Or, better yet, make that call yourself. Contact your chapter president, section president or practice specialty administrator and ask how you can help. You also can visit ASSE's Leadership Connection website (www.asse.org/leadershipconnection/MemberSignin.asp) to view a list of current volunteer opportunities.

'Volunteering can be an exciting, growing, enjoyable experience,' says Harriet Naylor. 'It is truly gratifying to serve a cause, practice one's ideals, work with people, solve problems, see benefits and know one had a hand in them.'

Add excitement to your life. Take a hand in changing ASSE's future. Volunteer today.

The World Is Flat—And That’s Okay

2011-11-01T06:16:00.000-07:00

Thomas Friedman’s book, The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century (2005), discusses how historic and geographical divisions are becoming irrelevant in business. These concepts also apply to our profession. Merhaba! Bon jour! Ciao! Zdravstvujtye! Sannu! Hello! I could fill my message this month just simply saying “hello” in all the languages spoken by our nearly 34,000 members in 75 countries.

The words we use to conduct business, training and develop programs are different, but the concepts that form the core basis for SH&E protection are the same. Even legislation and regulatory requirements are beginning to flatten our world as international harmonization standards are discussed and developed.

Addressing the flattening of the world is critical to better serving our members and advancing our profession. One of our Society goals is to “foster and sustain a global community among SH&E professionals.” According to our member surveys, networking—a sense of community—is one of the greatest benefits of membership.

Networking is essential to our professional growth. Through networking, we develop understanding and increase our knowledge and skills. SH&E is too broad for any single one of us to know it all. We need one another to achieve our goals of protecting people, property and the environment.

In many areas, that sense of community is achieved through local chapter meetings. While those meetings remain a viable tool for networking, ASSE is working to provide opportunities for those who are geographically isolated. And geographical isolation is not necessarily a matter of distance. Many of us live in congested urban areas where traveling 20 miles to a meeting across town can take 2 hours. One way ASSE is facilitating member networking is through our many LinkedIn groups which enable members to share best practices and exchange ideas on real-life problems and solutions.

Networking is not limited to chapter, region and Society events, or even online communities. ASSE also is reaching out to other SH&E organizations around the world to create better understanding, increase the knowledge available to our members and advance the profession globally.

For example, ASSE is a founding member of the International Network of Safety and Health Practitioner Organizations (INSHPO), along with the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering and the U.K.’s Institution of Occupational Safety and Health. INSHPO was formed in 2001 to provide an international network for generalist practitioners in occupational safety and health.

Since then, it has grown as more and more practitioner organizations from around the globe join, including groups in Australia, New Zealand, Italy, South Korea, Russia, Mauritius and Singapore, as well as additional SH&E-focused groups in the U.S., U.K. and Canada.

You can learn more about INSHPO at www.inshpo.org. We are currently working with INSHPO colleagues to define core competencies for the SH&E profession. This will facilitate employment transferability and increase the knowledge and skills of SH&E professionals around the globe.

Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.” ASSE is moving into a future where the world is flat, where we must know more and understand more, must know it all more quickly and must work with a more diverse group of people to accomplish our work.

Stepping Into Our Future

2011-10-01T05:51:00.000-07:00

Over the past year, we've been looking back at where we started and how far we've come. In 1911, ASSE was a small group of insurance inspectors in New York City. In 2011, ASSE is a diverse group of more than 34,000 members in more than 70 countries. We've grown from a local group into a global organization. We no longer have "national" committees, we have "Society" committees composed of members from around the world. The term national no longer encompasses who we are or the members we serve. It's exciting to see how far we've come.

ASSE is strong thanks to the foundation laid over the past 100 years. Our history provides us with a road map that guides us toward achieving our vision to be a global advocate of safety professionals and a leading voice of this profession. ASSE emerged in the wake of the devastating Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. The tragic deaths of 146 young workers moved people toward meaningful action and forever changed workplace safety. That was our beginning. Our founders knew that more could be done to protect workers. And it is that spirit which we proudly carry on today.

Many things have changed since ASSE was formed. Our lives no longer resemble those of our founding members. But the fundamental vision that brought them together—the desire to create and sustain safe, healthy workplaces—continues to unite us all. Thanks to the efforts of ASSE and its members, corporations around the world are embracing safety as good business. This has spurred the need for safety expertise across all business sectors and around the world.

Getting where we are today did not happen by magic or happenstance. It took planning and the hard work of thousands of members volunteering their time and sharing their passion to make a difference. It was best said anonymously, "The future is not a result of choices among alternative paths offered by the present, but a place that is created—created first in the mind and will, created next in activity. The future is not some place we are going to, but one we are creating."

One of our goals for the future is to be the recognized source of SH&E knowledge and resources, to raise the bar on the practice of safety through knowledge sharing. This month, we will take another step toward that goal when we launch ASSE's body of knowledge tool at the Leadership Conference. This tool will compile current knowledge in one location where it can be easily searched and accessed. Think about that for just a moment. How many times have you searched for SH&E information on the Internet only to find yourself drowning in useless information that left you starving for knowledge? Our body of knowledge tool is a life preserver in an ever-growing sea of information.

When the tool launches, it will contain papers gleaned from ASSE professional development conference proceedings, practice specialty newsletter articles, Professional Safety articles and more than 200 articles gathered from other sources. It will also incorporate glossaries from ANSI A10 and Z359.0. To facilitate quick retrieval of pertinent information, it is searchable by more than 2,300 keywords.

This is only the beginning. Our knowledge tool will offer new features as technology evolves. Its value and resources will continue to grow as our members create new materials and as new content is added from other sources.

Back in 1911, our founders probably wondered what ASSE would look like in 2011 and beyond, much like we all wonder what ASSE will be in another 100 years. But as Antoine de Saint-Exupery said, "As for the future, your task is not to foresee it, but to enable it." Our future is bright, not because of magic or happenstance, but because of each of you and your imagination, passion and commitment.

"The future is not a result of choices among alternative paths offered by the present, but a place that is created—created first in mind and will, created next in activity. The future is not some place we are going to, but one we are creating." --Anonymous

One of ASSE's goals for the future is to be the recognized source of SH&E knowledge and resources. This month, we will take another step toward that goal when we launch ASSE's body of knowledge tool.

Universal Goals Provide Unified Direction

2011-09-01T06:54:00.000-07:00

We start our next century with new strategic goals designed to carry us well into our new century of fulfilling our mission and vision. These goals are statements of what we visualize we will achieve.

GOAL 1: ASSE will be recognized as the thought leader of the profession by initiating new ideas, innovations and solutions to guide SH&E professionals.

GOAL 2: ASSE will define the standards of professional competency, and be the authoritative resource for SH&E professionals seeking training, education and development.

GOAL 3: ASSE will be the recognized source of SH&E knowledge and resources.

GOAL 4: ASSE will be the voice of the SH&E profession.

GOAL 5: ASSE will foster and sustain a global community among SH&E professionals.

GOAL 6: ASSE will expand its sphere of influence through diverse and responsible Society growth.

“Thought leader” sums up our first goal. We aim to be recognized as leading the profession by raising issues and stimulating discussion. We envision that ASSE will lead by asking wide-ranging, forward-thinking and thought-provoking questions, and engaging in international discourse.

Through goal two, ASSE will promote the value our profession brings to employers and to our communities. Defining the standards of professional competency is critical to expressing our profession’s value and to protecting our future.

Goal three recognizes the importance of our body of knowledge initiative. Over time, we will establish comprehensive and accessible knowledge tools while still allowing growth and expansion of the definition of knowledge and resources.

Advocacy characterizes goal four. We strive to be the voice of and advocate for the profession in order to increase awareness of and to advance our profession.
Goal five summarizes our desire to meet member needs for networking and a sense of community regardless of where members reside or the branch of the profession in which they practice.
Goal six expresses our desire to grow globally and across all SH&E practices. Diversifying our membership adds richness and depth to our members’ experience and resources.
These are lofty goals and they will be challenging. As we developed these new goals, one member told me he thought they were too high. My response is that striving for anything less would be to strive for mediocrity. Doing so would be a disservice to our profession, our members and the people we protect each day. As Ovid said, “I attempt an arduous task; but there is no worth in that which is not a difficult achievement.”
In the past, you may have seen or heard our councils and committees take ownership of specific Society goals. However, isolating goals and objectives to specific groups, whether in our Society’s strategic planning or within our own organizations, wastes resources through duplicate efforts and lost opportunities.

Our new goals and objectives are universal. They do not belong to any one council or committee, and they are not isolated to those units at the Society level of governance. They belong to us all. We all have a role to play in their achievement. To make the best use of our resources and to accelerate our progress toward achieving our goals and objectives, we will work cooperatively across all segments of our Society and membership. (You can review our goals and objectives at www.asse.org/about/strategic_plan.php.)

I challenge each council, committee, region, chapter, section, practice specialty, common interest group and task force to examine their individual strategic plans to determine how their goals and objectives align with the Society’s goals and objectives. How will each of our Society units work in support of our goals? What units do they need to work with in order to better attain their goals and objectives?

And I challenge each of you as individual members to examine your personal strategic plans. We each have a role to play, we each are valuable, in helping ASSE achieve its mission, vision and goals. What will your actions be? How will you support our goals and objectives over the course of the next year, the next 3 years or the next 5 years? How will you be involved? William James advises, “Act as though what you do makes a difference, and it does.” I challenge you all to make a difference.

“Who aims at excellence will be above mediocrity; who aims at mediocrity will be far short of it.” -Burmese saying

Grow Your Leadership Skills

2011-08-01T07:28:00.001-07:00

Leadership abilities are a critical skill for SH&E professionals. Because few of us have direct line responsibilities, we achieve our goals by convincing others to follow our lead willingly.
There are many leadership theories. The “great man” theory suggests that leadership skills are inherent—we are born with them. The “trait” theory posits that leaders inherit certain traits and qualities which give them the potential to be leaders. The “behavioral” theory suggests that great leaders are made, not born.

Whether you are a natural-born leader, have leadership traits or need behavioral training, you still must grow those skills. This can be achieved in several ways with varying degrees of success. For example, you can take classes at a local college; most degree programs offer leadership as an elective course. Hundreds of leadership courses are available online. Various organizations offer leadership symposia as well.

Books are another resource. Barnes & Noble alone offers 70,101 books on leadership. That’s a lot of reading. But Jeb Blount, keynote speaker at ASSE’s 2010 Future Safety Leaders Conference, provides a road map for absorbing the knowledge in books. He says most leadership and management books can be read in 1 week by devoting just 15 to 20 minutes per day to reading. That means you can read 52 books per year.

When it comes to hands-on opportunities, getting involved in your local ASSE chapter or section is a great way to build your leadership skills. Volunteering in your ASSE chapter/section provides an opportunity to learn and practice leadership skills in a safe environment—you don’t have to worry about getting fired or demoted. Many leadership roles are available within the chapter and section structure, so you can start small and build. I started as my chapter’s newsletter editor.

Many employers look for areas where job candidates have exhibited leadership skills outside the workplace. Your ASSE leadership experience can bolster your chances of landing a job or getting a promotion. Your chapter/section experience is especially valuable when you have a limited work history.

Another way to grow these critical skills is to attend ASSE’s annual Leadership Conference. Each fall, chapter, section and practice specialty leaders gather for this free conference. Over the years, the conference has transitioned from a focus on how to complete chapter officer duties to a focus on leadership skills that can be applied at work as well as at the chapter, section or practice specialty level.

When selecting who should attend the conference, I encourage you to send your future leaders—those rising through the ranks—to ensure that they are equipped with the necessary leadership skills before they become president-elect and president. Consider the great example set by the Midnight Sun Chapter. Several years ago, the chapter sent a student member to ASSE’s Leadership Conference. That student became a full member after graduation and eventually became the chapter’s president.

This year’s Leadership Conference will be held Oct. 13-15 in Lombard, IL (Chicago area). Registration will open this month. Who will your chapter, section or practice specialty send to the conference? (Remember, CSPs and CIHs earn CEUs for attending.)

ASSE also hosts the Future Safety Leaders Conference for student members each year. This year’s conference will be Nov. 3-4 in Rosemont, IL. During this free conference, student members receive guidance on preparing resumes, interviewing, career building and leadership.
Attendance is limited, so students who wish to attend must complete a selection essay sheet and worksheet, located at www.asse.org/membership/student_fslc.php. All essays and worksheets must be sent to chapterservices@asse.org by Sept. 12, 2011.

Our main role as SH&E professionals is to convince others to do what is needed to preserve life, property and the environment. You can’t drive them to it, but you can lead them to it.
As Dwight D. Eisenhower said, “Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.” Make sure you have that skill.

“Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.”
Jack Welch

Our Values Remain Unchanged

2011-07-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

We are standing on the brink of our next century of protecting people, property and the environment. We’ve come a long way from the small group of insurance inspectors who on Oct. 14, 1911, founded the United Society of Casualty Inspectors. We changed our name in 1914 to ASSE. Our first chapters were formed in New York and Boston in 1924. Today, we have 34,000 members in 75 countries. We have 151 chapters, 28 chapter sections and 58 student sections.

During our history, our mission and vision have changed focus, but our core values have remained the same. These values are the foundation of our Society. They are the foundation on which we work and conduct business. These values are so primary, so important, that throughout the changes in the global society, government regulations, politics and technology, they remain the values to which we abide.

Service to humanity:
- We are dedicated to protecting people, property and the environment.
- We reach out globally, providing opportunities to collaborate with and engage anyone involved in SH&E.

Value of the profession:
- We believe a safe and healthy place to work is a fundamental right.
- We believe that sound SH&E practices are both socially responsible and good business.
- We value employers’ commitment to sound SH&E practices.
- We are committed to advancing the profession through innovation, thought leadership, and objective, unbiased, science-based approaches to SH&E practices.

Members:
- We believe our Society is driven by our members.
- We strive to meet member needs for training and development, networking and community.
- We believe in the strength of diversity and reach out to include all members.
- We believe students and new professionals provide a pipeline to the future.
- We believe that mentoring and growing our member base is critical for the continuity of our profession.

Professional development:
- We believe growth of our body of knowledge and the professional development of SH&E practitioners advance the profession.
- We believe that continuous learning is critical for the development of the safety professional.

Ethical behavior:
- We aspire to the highest degree of professional conduct, ethical practice and integrity.
- We resolve to provide prudent stewardship of Society resources.

These values underlie our mission, our vision, our work, how we interact with each other and the strategies we employ to fulfill our mission. They are the ideals we use in everything we do each day.

As we move into our next century of service to humanity, we will focus on the future of the SH&E profession and the competency of the SH&E professional.

In Race for Relevance, Harrison Coerver and Mary Byers discuss the limited discretionary time available to today’s workers. They reference The State of Working America 2008-2009, which reported that Americans worked 568 more hours in 2006 than 1979. More households are two-income. Technology allows work to follow us home and on vacation. This shift is not isolated to the U.S. With the time demands of jobs and family, finding time to improve professional skills is increasingly difficult. Yet, failure to do so threatens our vision of the future.

As we move into the next century of safety, we will utilize technology to service members in ways that are respectful of their valuable time. For example, we will launch our electronic body of knowledge, our “safety-pedia” during the coming year. This collection of SH&E resources and information will save our members valuable research time. We will continue to offer educational opportunities in the form of webinars that members can view from their offices, saving time and travel expenses. We will use technology to improve the way we conduct Society business, engaging our governing body via websites and other technological tools to increase our ability to act nimbly in the advancement our mission.

The needs of ASSE members are changing. The ways in which we conduct business are changing. And that change is occurring at an ever-increasing pace. In the whirlwind of change, it’s good to know that our values remain unchanged.

The Future Is Bright

2011-06-01T07:07:00.000-07:00

It has been a long journey since Dr. John (Jack) Beno at Iowa State University advised me about a safety career as well as since my first Greater Detroit Chapter meeting in May 1988 when Frank Cleary, P.E., CSP, outgoing chapter president, mentioned that the chapter needed help with its newsletter. But, as I complete my 23rd year of ASSE service, I reflect on this past year as ASSE President and know that the future is bright. Let me share a few highlights:

• Center for Safety and Health in Sustainability. To raise awareness of the importance of workplace safety and health in the business community, add recognition to the SH&E profession and add value to SH&E professionals, ASSE established the Center for Safety and Health in Sustainability. The center will provide a strong voice and comprehensive leadership for safety and health in shaping sustainability policies; educate the business community on the importance of safety as part of good corporate governance and corporate social responsibility/sustainability; and recognition as a thought leader for sustainability and corporate social responsibility.

• Body of Knowledge. The Body of Knowledge (BOK) goal is to be the premier resource for practicing professionals. The BOK is a single point of entry to access SH&E information and will be a knowledge exchange platform that uses the latest technology to bring SH&E professionals together on a global stage and improve value. The project is progressing and we are building content for select areas.

• Professional competencies. A short-term action is publishing the Employer’s Guide to Hiring a Safety Professional to help a company hire a competent professional to manage its safety and health risks. A long-term action item is to collaborate with professional associations to define our practice and develop core competencies for the SH&E professional.

• Professional organization and membership. Membership is the largest in ASSE history with 34,000 members. The member profile includes: 87% having college education; 46% having an SH&E certification, with the CSP designation being held by 25%; 42% having a job title of safety engineer/specialist or director/manager/department head/chief, safety; and 33% being professional members.

• Global presence. The Society continues to expand its international influence. The delegation to China was very successful and a similar delegation to Brazil is scheduled for November 2011. The Board of Directors approved the charter of the Philippines Chapter and memorandums of understanding were approved between ASSE and the Nigerian Institute of Safety Professionals and the Abu Dhabi EHS Center. Furthermore, ASSE will collaborate with the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, Canadian Society of Safety Engineering and Safety Institute of Australia to pursue projects of mutual interest that will advance the SH&E profession.

In addition to the Society highlights, the profession continues to build momentum. Money Magazine (Nov. 2010) identified the environmental health and safety specialist and risk management manager as two of the top 18 jobs in terms of 10-year growth. Also, the SH&E profession was among a “dozen hot careers for college graduates” (University of California San Diego Extension, 2009).

The volunteer leaders, members and professional staff have made our 100th anniversary a memorable year. The contributions and commitment of many people are the reason ASSE accomplished much during 2010-11 and will continue to be relevant for many years.

I want to express special thanks for the support, hard work and accomplishments of the 2011 President’s Award recipients: Wayne Jones, James Ramsay, Kathy Seabrook, F.E.K. (Felix) Nakpodia, Abdullah Ghamdi, Anil Mathur, Enrique Santacana, Terry Wigfall, Tom Cecich, Pam Walaski and Chris Patton. I am also appreciative of ABB’s support over the years and the understanding of my family, Kimberly, Oneka and Desmond.

The Board of Directors will continue to identify benefits and services that provide value to the membership. The strength of ASSE during the past 100 years is its focus to be a member-driven professional organization. I encourage each of you to begin or grow your ASSE involvement and support Terrie, Rick and Kathy during the upcoming year. ASSE’s future is bright.

Looking to the Future: ASSE 2020

2011-05-01T06:54:00.000-07:00

It’s fun to think about the future isn’t it? As kids, we imagine what life will be like when we “grow up,” as we dream of futuristic cars and similar flights of fancy, or ponder what career we will pursue. As adults, we wonder about things such as where we will be in 5 years, what our kids will do and the next great breakthrough in technology.

As president during ASSE’s 100th anniversary year, I have thought often about what the future holds for ASSE. What issues and topics will SH&E professionals and our Society face during the next 5, 10 or even 20 years? How does our work today ensure ASSE’s continued growth and prosperity?

Scenarios about the future are many, but one thing is certain. To advance ASSE’s mission and vision, we need your active participation. Whether it’s volunteering at the chapter, region or Society level, contributing articles to Professional Safety and the practice specialty publications, participating in projects such as the Body of Knowledge, or engaging in dialogue with colleagues at conferences, webinars and through social media, you drive ASSE.

Last year, I posted this question on ASSE’s LinkedIn site: If you had to choose a single area of focus for ASSE in the next 10 years, what would it be? The question was intentionally open-ended to allow for diverse responses. I wanted to encourage idea exchange and critical thinking that would generate feedback about future strategic directions for ASSE.

You exceeded those hopes through more than 110 responses that exhibited tremendous breadth and depth of thought. ASSE members clearly have a passion for the SH&E profession.
Let me share just a few examples:

•Mario Varela, M.S., M.B.A., CSP, stated, “There is a need to lure new membership from active SH&E professionals, as well as from engineering, SH&E, science and related disciplines. Also, it is important to generate more interest [among] high-school students to pursue the SH&E profession.”

•Todd Loushine, Ph.D., P.E., CSP, CIH, agreed with the need to attract high-school students to SH&E degree programs. He added, “I would like to see more support for faculty/researchers at universities.”

•Similarly, Jim Leemann, Ph.D., said, “There is a need to figure out how to encourage undergraduates to pursue curricula that will prepare them to become safety professionals.”

Many comments addressed certification and licensure. Currently, states do not require safety professionals to be licensed, but through BCSP, the profession has established its own process to provide a means of professional competency.

In his response to my question, Barry Spurlock, CSP, outlined a case for moving beyond the certification/qualification mentality toward licensure. But David Anspaugh cautioned, “Business over the next 10 to 20 years [will] change so drastically and rapidly that the need for safety professionals will become a luxury as opposed to an essential element unless we totally rethink what our contribution is going to be to the enterprise. The more we concentrate on certifications and licenses, the greater the luxury we become.”

Other popular topics included corporate social responsibility, sustainability, promoting risk assessment as a value-added activity, business of safety and continuing/improving marketing of the SH&E profession.

ASSE also will continue to pursue strategic alliances, partnerships and delegations to support its vision and mission. For example, ASSE’s Human Resources Branch reached out to the Society for Human Resource Management to propose a partnership between the two organizations. On the international front, a People to People delegation is planned for Brazil during November 2011, following our successful delegation to China in November 2010.

The year 2020 is less than 9 years away. ASSE is committed to providing products and services to support you and help advance your careers, which, in turn, will advance the SH&E profession. We also will keep an eye on the future to ensure that we add value to our stakeholders and position ASSE and the SH&E profession for growth and prosperity into 2020 and beyond.

To advance ASSE’s mission and vision, we need your active participation. You drive ASSE.