American Society of Safety Engineers
The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), founded October 14, 1911, is the oldest safety society and is committed to protecting people, property and the environment. Its more than 32,000 occupational safety, health and environmental (SH&E) professional members lead, manage, supervise, research and consult in all industries worldwide.
ASSE was created partially in response to public outrage over the March 25,1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, which killed 148 garment workers in New York who could not escape the building, or died from jumping out of the windows. Originally called the United Association of Casualty Inspectors, the Society was formed to draw attention to the need for workplace safeguards and regulations. The Society will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2011 and commemorate 100 years of dedicated service to workplace safety and health at events across the nation during this milestone year. The theme for 2011 is, "Your Safety is Our Business. Your Future is Our Mission."
In addition to the many activities ASSE and its members participate in to raise awareness about occupational safety and health, each year the Society and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Alliance partners take support North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week the first week of May along with Occupational Safety and Health Professional Day the Wednesday of NAOSH Week. From September through February 14, Valentine's day, every year ASSE holds the popular annual ASSE kids' 'safety-on-the-job' poster contest for all children aged 5-14. It started out as a contest for ASSE members' children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews but due to its popularity ASSE expanded it a few years ago to include all children. The only requirement is that the child/children be sponsored by an ASSE member. ASSE members around the globe not only sponsor their children, but schools and the children of their co-workers at work and more. The 5 grand prize winners' posters are featured on the annual NAOSH poster distributed to thousands of businesses and people worldwide in April and May. The 20 winners also receive savings bonds. They are recognized at the annual NAOSH events in May at the U.S. Capitol and the U.S. Department of Labor as well as at the National Gallery of Art and the Smithsonian Institution. Winners and entrants posters are also featured on billboards around the country donated by Lamar Advertising. ASSE chapters, schools and local city councils also recognize their local winners with special events in their home towns. The posters that best illustrate being safe at work are the winners. Go to www.asse.org/naosh for more information.
ASSE has 16 practice specialties, or groups that focus on a particular industry or field of safety. The practice specialties include academics, construction, consultants, engineering, environmental, fire protection, healthcare, industrial hygiene, international, management, manufacturing, mining, oil and gas, public sector, risk management/insurance, and transportation. The industrial hygiene practice specialty also has an ergonomics branch and the management practice specialty has two branches, the hospitality and a human resources branch. The risk management/insurance practice specialty also has a training and communications branch. [1]
ASSE also serves as a secretariat for various voluntary consensus standards that include fall protection and construction.
