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AMERICAN SOCIETY OF SAFETY ENGINEERS
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HISTORY OF ASSE |
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ASSE |
BOARD OF CERTIFIED SAFETY PROFESSIONALS CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS CALIFORNIA
OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES CAL HIGHWAY
PATROL TRAFFIC REPORTS |
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The
American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) was founded October 14, 1911, in New
York City, with 62 members.
Originally named the United Society of Casualty Inspectors, its
philosophy was to promote harmonious action in safety work and educate
members in all matters relating to industrial safety and accident
prevention. Throughout its growth,
this non-profit organization has dedicated itself to advancing the safety
profession and enhancing the knowledge and capabilities of safety
practitioners. ASSE
has played a key role in the development of many important national programs and
standards. Society members have
served on federal committees supported key safety and health legislation, and
sponsored safety awareness and professional development activities. In
1948, ASSE worked with the National Safety Council to research plastic eye
protection. A decade later, the
Society sponsored research with the Air Force, which led to advances in fall
protection belts, and harnesses which were later realized in American
National Standards. In 1964, the
Society provided important information for the revision of the Walsh-Healy
Act. In 1971, President Nixon
appointed three ASSE members to various Occupational Safety and Health
Administration positions, including the Assistant Secretary of Labor. ASSE
also signed a contract with the National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health to develop an accident potential recognition program. In 1986, the United States Congress passed
legislation commemorating National Safety Week as an observance of important
safety and health issues. On
June 19, 1995, a restructure proposal was approved at the Assembly/Membership
meeting in Orlando, FL, and implementation began July 1, 1996. The
restructured Society created a streamlined organization that responds rapidly
to changing member needs. Under this
new structure, four councils manage functional areas and oversee specific
issues at the region, area, chapter, committee, and task force levels. In addition, the number of Board members
and long-term standing committees were reduced, while short-term task forces
increased to handle issues as they arise. The
Society continues to maintain a strong commitment to proactive governmental
affairs. In 1995 the Society
testified to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives on reform of the
U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Also, in 1995, the Society contracted with a well respected
governmental relations firm, Patton Boggs L.L.P., to represent the
legislative/regulatory interests of safety professionals in Washington
D.C. In 1996, Margaret Carroll, P.E.,
CSP (ASSE President 1995-96) was appointed to the OSHA National Advisory
Committee on Occupational Safety and Health.
In addition, Tom Bresnahan, CSP, Deputy Executive Director, serves on
NIOSH's National Occupational Research Agenda's (NORA) liaison
committee. As of 1997, the Society
has created nearly 120-position statements/technical correspondence providing
commentary to legislators and regulators on safety and health issues, and
attended over 225 national governmental affairs meetings. The
Society continues to be successful in regulatory matters. In 1997-98 the Society was successful in
impacting additional regulations promulgated by OSHA, EPA, HUD and the Army
Corps of Engineers. ASSE continues to
be proactive on the state level and professional recognition continues to be
a key issue. Professional recognition
for safety professionals in the form of title protection was successfully
enacted in four states (Florida, Connecticut, Nevada and Minnesota), and
ongoing activity continues in eleven others.
Revisions of the ASSE Model Title Protection Act were accomplished in
1997 to provide professional recognition for all qualified safety
professionals. Effective
communication on governmental affairs issues is conducted via publication of
monthly columns in Professional Safety Journal, the monthly National
Legislative/ Regulatory Update, and regular updates on the ASSE. |
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