Safety & Health Leaders Join ASSE In Support Of May 1-7 North American Occupational Safety And Health Week
DES PLAINES, IL (February 17, 2005) – Major safety, health and environmental (SH&E) organizations representing thousands of safety and health professionals have joined with the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE) to support efforts to increase public awareness of workplace safety during the May 1-7, 2005 North American Occupational Safety and Health Week (NAOSH). The Academy of Certified Hazardous Materials Managers (ACHMM), the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Inc., (AAOHN), the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), also members of the "Safety and Health Intersociety Forum," will work to raise awareness of workplace safety risks and solutions during the annual NAOSH Week.
"In 2003, 5,559 people died while on-the-job, about 15 people per day, and millions more suffered from on-the-job illnesses and injuries," ASSE President Gene Barfield, CSP, said today. "During NAOSH Week we remember those lost and urge everyone to focus on the fact that prevention is the cure to preventing further tragedies. These lives could have been saved.
"We are pleased these members of the Safety and Health Intersociety Forum will again be joining with us in spreading the word. Through NAOSH week we can offer the public portals to the information they need to stay safe," Barfield said.
" As the Intersociety Forum represents associations whose members' primary concern is worker health and safety, supporting NAOSH Week is an extension of those efforts. By educating all stakeholders—from CEOs to line workers, the public and legislators—we can continue to reduce the tangible and intangible toll of workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities," American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) President Donna M. Doganiero, CIH, said today.
Allison King, ACHMM President, noted, "The more the public is aware of solutions to address the risks to their safety both on and off the job the better able they will be to identify and develop a safer environment."
"Voluntary consensus standards play a vital role in enhancing workplace safety across all industries," said ANSI President and CEO Mark W. Hurwitz. "NAOSH Week helps to raise awareness and highlight the critical role of standards and other tools that can reduce the threat of injury, improve worker health and safety, and even save lives."
Transportation incidents are the number one cause of on-the-job deaths followed by falls and homicides. During NAOSH week ASSE, its members and partners will work to educate the public on what is being done and can be done to prevent these tragedies. The national kick-off will take place in Washington, D.C. with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) officials May 2.
Founded in 1911, the Des Plaines, IL-based ASSE is the oldest and largest professional safety organization and is committed to protecting people, property and the environment. Its 30,000 occupational safety, health and environmental professional members manage, supervise, research and consult on safety, health, transportation and environmental issues in all industries, government, labor and education. NAOSH Week information, fact sheets and tool kit are at http://www.asse.org/naosh05 .
The Academy of Certified Hazardous Materials Managers, Inc. is made up of 66 Chapters and over 6,000 members. Their dedicated member professionals work in a variety of fields dealing with hazardous materials and environmental health and safety issues and are certified by the Institute of Hazardous Materials Management (IHMM) , a requirement for membership. The Academy is represented in 37 States plus the District of Columbia. National headquarters are located in Rockville, Maryland, just outside Washington D.C.
Founded in 1939, AIHA's 12,000 members play a crucial role on the front line of worker health and safety every day. Members represent a cross-section of industry, private business, labor, government and academia. For more information check www.aiha.org .
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private, non-profit organization (501(c) 3) that administers and coordinates the U.S. voluntary standardization and conformity assessment system. The Institute's mission is to enhance both the global competitiveness of U.S. business and the U.S. quality of life by promoting and facilitating voluntary consensus standards and conformity assessment systems, and safeguarding their integrity. For further information please visit: www.ansi.org .
Established in 1942, AAOHN is a 10,000 member professional association dedicated to advancing the health, safety and productivity of domestic and global workforces by providing education, research, public policy and practice resources for occupational and environmental health nurses. These professionals are the largest group of health care providers serving the worksite. For more information, visit www.aaohn.org.
Source: ASSE