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Former Heads of OSHA, NIOSH Headline American Society of Safety Engineers Webinar on Future of OSHA in A New Administration
Des Plaines, IL (November 21, 2008) — An American Society of Safety Engineers’ (ASSE) webcast featuring former Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) John Henshaw and former Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Dr. John Howard discussing the future of OSHA in a New Administration will be held this December 9 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m..
Henshaw and Howard will discuss possible new directions for OSHA under a new administration and the possible impact on the practice of SH&E professionals. Tom Cecich, CSP, CIH, former chair of the ASSE Government Affairs Committee (GAC), will moderate the webcast.
“The next year has the potential to see the most significant changes in U.S. safety and health public policy in a generation,” Cecich said. “The webcast will present the views of two of the most respected leaders in the occupational safety, health and environmental field. They’ve both been in federal safety and health leadership positions at the beginning of a new Administration and have a lot of perspective about the changes we are likely to see.”
The webcast format allows for interaction with the speakers. All registered participants will receive a link to the recorded version of the webcast for later viewing. For more information or to register visit http://www.asse.org/cartpage.php?link=cc08osha or contact customer service at 847-699-2929.
Founded in 1911, the Des Plaines, IL-based ASSE is the largest and oldest professional safety organization and is committed to protecting people, property and the environment. Its more than 32,000 occupational safety, health and environmental professional members lead, manage, supervise, research and consult on safety, health, transportation and environmental issues in all industries, government, labor, health care and education. For more information please go to www.asse.org.
American Society of Safety Engineers Announce Newly Approved Standard Aimed at Protecting Workers From Injury Due to Hazardous Energy
Des Plaines, IL (November 18, 2008) — The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) recently announced that the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approved the reaffirmation of the American National Standard ANSI Z244.1-2003 (R2008) ‘Control of Hazardous Energy – Lockout/Tagout and Alternative Methods,’ which aims to protect workers from hazardous energy associated with machines, equipment or processes that could cause injury.
Approved on November 11, 2008, the standard establishes requirements and performance objectives for procedures, techniques, designs and methods that protect workers where injury can occur due to unexpected releases of hazardous energy. An unexpected release of hazardous energy includes any unintended motion, start-up or release of stored energy, deliberate or otherwise, from the perspective of the person at risk.
According to the standard, lockout/tagout is the main method of hazardous energy control. However, when tasks performed on the job are routine, repetitive and integral to the production process; or traditional lockout/tagout prohibits the completion of those tasks, the standard indicates that alternative methods of control that provide effective personal protection and are based on risk assessment specified in the standard shall be used. Routine, repetitive and integral production processes refer to tasks that are short in duration; relatively minor in nature; occur frequently during the shift day or week; are usually performed by operators, set-up, service or maintenance personnel; and do not involve extensive disassembly.
“A great deal of technical development and capabilities have evolved since the 1982 edition of the standard,” said Jeff Fryman, Z244 Committee vice chairman. “These new technologies make the control of hazardous energy both more complex and easier to achieve. It is more complex because the traditional ‘zero energy state’ lockout situation may not be achievable, or desirable, and it is easier because the technology offers more solutions to control hazardous energy release through new devices and circuit designs. In my opinion, the greatest offering in the standard is the information on the use of ‘alternative methods’ to control hazardous energy. Based on the results of risk assessment, workers are afforded more protection and flexibility in performing necessary tasks on machines, equipment and processes.”
On the impact of the standard on business and industry, Z244 Committee Chair Edward V. Grund, CSP, P.E., said, “Companies that are interested in moving beyond mere compliance will be able to use the standards to enhance their current practices. In addition, multinational companies can use the standard offshore as an effective guide for their international operations, particularly when local regulation is absent or weak.”
Founded in 1911, the Des Plaines, IL-based ASSE is the largest and oldest professional safety organization and is committed to protecting people, property and the environment. Its more than 32,000 occupational safety, health and environmental professional members lead, manage, supervise, research and consult on safety, health, transportation and environmental issues in all industries, government, labor, health care and education. To request a copy or for more information contact ASSE customer service at 847-699-2929, customerservice@asse.org or go to www.asse.org.
Corporate Culture's Impact on Safety Topic of ASSE's January California Symposium
Des Plaines, IL (November 17, 2008) — The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) will be host to a “Building a Successful Safety Culture” symposium in January in Costa Mesa, CA, aimed at teaching how to unwrap a corporation’s culture and incorporate safety in an effort to reduce on-the-job deaths and injuries.
The January 22-23, 2009, symposium will teach how to assess the characteristics of the safety culture in an organization to identify strengths and weaknesses; to develop strategies for safety culture improvements that lead to reductions in injuries and illnesses; to recognize the influence an organization’s culture has on safety performance and apply that knowledge; to determine how an organization’s safety culture is affected by corporate leaders; and, how to apply principles from case studies of safety cultural improvements in other organizations to their organization.
Officials note ‘the culture of an organization guides how its employees work, dress, make decisions, think, communicate and behave. Continued improvement in levels of safety requires the development of a comprehensive safety culture at all levels of an organization, with visible and consistent leadership from senior management. In order to achieve it you need “Management Leadership” and “Employee Participation”.
Leaders in the field of culture change presenting at the ASSE symposium include Drs. Steven Simon, Thomas Krause, and Anne French, who will share strategies and offer methods for improving safety cultures in organizations. In addition, opening remarks will be given by Dr. Marilyn Buckner, leadership and change authority, who will provide tools and guide attendees through the development of an assessment of their organizations’ cultures.
Twenty concurrent sessions on techniques to assess culture, approaches to change the culture of your organization, and strategies to sustain positive safety performance will be offered.
The symposium will also offer presentations on the culture change achievements of organizations such as Coors, Harley-Davidson, General Mills and others, which can be applied to other organizations. A panel of executive leaders from several corporations will provide their perspective on the role of the safety professional in changing culture and how they can be instrumental in making change happen.
Case study roundtables will also take place to help attendees sort through the information delivered at this event and determine the methods most appropriate for the needs of their organizations.
Founded in 1911, the Des Plaines, IL-based ASSE is the largest and oldest professional safety organization and is committed to protecting people, property and the environment. Its more than 32,000 occupational safety, health and environmental professional members lead, manage, supervise, research and consult on safety, health, transportation and environmental issues in all industries, government, labor, health care and education. For more information or to register contact ASSE Customer Service at 847-699-2929, e-mail customerservice@asse.org or go to www.asse.org.