Abbreviation ASSE Executive Director Dennis Hudson | Location Park Ridge, IL Website www.asse.org | |
Motto Protecting People, Property and the Environment since 1911 Type Nongovernmental Organization | ||
Founded in 1911, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) is a global organization of more than 37,000 occupational safety and health (OSH) professional members who manage, supervise, research and consult on work-related OSH concerns in all industries, government and education. The Society's members use risk-based approaches to prevent workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses.
Contents
- Organization
- Setting the standard for safety
- Standards
- Center for Safety and Health Sustainability
- NAOSH Week
- ASSE Foundation
- References
ASSE was founded in the wake of the March 25, 1911, Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, where lack of safety measures caused the death of 146 garment workers.
ASSE focuses on elevating the professional practice of OSH through continuing education, the promotion of professional certification, the development of national and international standards, and alliances with federal agencies such as Occupational Safety and Health Administration and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. ASSE also works with ABET to develop accreditation standards for OSH-related degree programs and has worked with the International Network of Safety and Health Practitioner Organizations (INSHPO) to develop a professional capability framework for OSH professionals.
Organization
ASSE has 151 chapters, 40 sections and 65 student sections located in 75 countries. Members live in regions including the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australia.
Categories for membership include; professional, international, associate, emeritus and student.
ASSE has 20 practice specialties, or groups that focus on a particular industry or field of safety. Practice specialties consist of academics, construction, consulting, engineering, environmental, ergonomics, fire protection, healthcare, industrial hygiene, international, management, manufacturing, mining, oil and gas, public sector, risk management/insurance and transportation.
ASSE has industry groups in: Academics, Construction, Consulting, Engineering, Environmental, Ergonomics, Fire Protection, Healthcare, Industrial Hygiene, International, Management, Manufacturing, Mining, Oil & Gas, Public Sector, Risk Management/Insurance, Utilities, and Transportation. There are also eight branches; Agricultural, Health & Wellness, Human Resources, Legal Services, Military, Service, and Training & Communications. Members may also join one of ASSE’s common interest groups - Blacks in Safety Engineering (BISE), Safety Professionals and the Latino Workforce (SPALW), Women in Safety Engineering (WISE), and Young Professionals in SH&E.
Setting the standard for safety
ASSE is the administrator for the U.S. Technical Advisory Groups ﴾TAG﴿ to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO﴿ on fall protection and risk management. Also, ASSE members serve on over 40 safety and health standards committees.
Standards
ASSE is secretariat for several American National Standards Institute ﴾ANSI) committees and projects. The committees develop and maintain the standards, ensure that the revision process is timely and in accordance with ANSI procedures and publish the final product. ASSE serves as secretariat for the following standards:
Center for Safety and Health Sustainability
The Center is a global collaborative effort among ASSE, the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), and the United Kingdom’s Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).
NAOSH Week
Along with the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE), ASSE sponsors the North American Occupational Safety and Health Week (NAOSH Week) each year in May. ASSE members, industries, trade organizations and corporations throughout North America are host to community workplace safety and health activities during NAOSH Week. Occupational Safety and Health Professional Day is also observed during this time.
ASSE Foundation
The American Society of Safety Engineers Foundation, established by and in partnership with the American Society of Safety Engineers, generates funding and provides resources for research opportunities, educational advancement, and leadership development in order to advance the safety, health, and environmental profession.
Chartered in 1990 by the ASSE Board of Directors, the Foundation exists to provide programs and opportunities to advance the safety profession.
The ASSE Foundation receives contributions from corporations, individual members, family of ASSE members, and ASSE Chapters and Regions interested in supporting the safety, health and environmental profession. As a 501(c)(3) organization, contributions to the Foundation are generally considered charitable contributions under IRC Section 170 and are tax deductible as provided by law.