The Future Is Ours to Make

2012 ASSE President Terrie S. Norris, CSP, ARM, CSPI

In Water the Bamboo, Greg Bell speaks of the faith a bamboo farmer has in planting his crop. He plants the bamboo bulb 6 ft into the ground, then waters it and waits. After a year, nothing has sprouted, but the farmer continues to faithfully water the bamboo and wait. After the second year, still nothing has appeared, yet the farmer continues to water the bulb, confident that it is growing. By the end of the third year, the bamboo shoot breaks through the ground and miraculously grows at a rate of 20 ft every 72 hours.

Our work in safety is akin to water- ing the bamboo. We must have faith in our vision even when it seems our progress has stalled. The safety profession has expanded beyond the workplace to include our communi- ties and the environment. We have made great strides in many coun- tries and have seen their workplace injuries and deaths decline, while in other countries, the condi- tions and losses remain high.

In many cases, safety seems to have landed on a plateau. Our profession has a long way to go to achieve our vision and accomplish our mission. Often, the chal- lenges seem daunting, but we must have faith and keep watering the bamboo.

For SH&E professionals, watering the bamboo means continuing to grow our profession to ensure that there are enough safety professionals to meet future demands. We all have a responsibil- ity to encourage and support future SH&E professionals. Each of us can help by becoming more involved with students at all levels of education. Speak at your community schools on career day or “Read to the Children Day,” and inspire young people to grow up and become a safety profes- sional like you. Mentor a student or a young professional. Get involved with your local ASSE student section. We each can inspire many by sharing our passion for this profession.

We also must continuously seek to improve our ability to engage top management and increase their understanding of how our efforts contribute to corporate objectives, improve corporate image and enhance sustainability. Our corporate leaders must recognize that safety is not an added expense which can be cut when the budget is tight. What we do is of vital importance to business success, and we must constantly strive to con- vey that message. We each must seek ways to evaluate our worth and the value of our efforts and involvement, and communicate that crucial infor- mation to management.

We also must continue to work with the governments and standards- setting organizations around the world as they develop regulations. We must work cooperatively with them and educate them about what works and what does not. We must share our expertise, experience and insight to ensure that standards deliver a workable framework for achieving consistent results.

In addition, as SH&E professionals, we must continue to work with global organizations that have similar goals. Each organization brings unique strengths and resources to the task of achieving our joint vision. Together, we can spread our message and our expertise faster and farther, and, thus, safeguard more people, protect more property and act as good stewards of the environment we all share. Work- ing together, we can increase our body of knowledge to better meet the challenges of the future.

John M. Richards Jr. said, “When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: Those who let it hap- pen, those who make it happen and those who wonder what happened.” Let’s be those who make it happen...and keep watering the bamboo.

The vast possibilities of our great future will become realities only if we make ourselves responsible for that future. - Gifford Pinchot

The Evolution of Safety: What’s Next?

The modern safety movement began in 1911, following the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. Basic building codes and fire codes were improved and enforced. Labor laws were written to protect children, workers’ compensation laws were developed and employee safety training began to evolve. It was definitely a start.

In 1931, H.W. Heinrich introduced the 300-29-1 injury pyramid with which every SH&E professional is familiar. In 1969, Frank Bird expanded the pyramid to the 600-30-10-1 model—theorizing that for every 600 incidents, 30 resulted in property damage, 10 in serious injuries and 1 in a fatality. In 2003, a ConocoPhillips Marine study demonstrated a large difference in the ratio of serious accidents and near misses—this study found that for every fatality there are at least 300,000 at-risk behaviors. These studies led to and reinforced the practice of behavior-based safety, which focused safety efforts on front-line employees and supervisors.

In 1970, U.S. President Richard Nixon signed the OSH Act, and prescriptive standards entered the mix. We now deal with many national and international standards, some voluntary, some mandatory. Yet, most safety programs still focus on changing employee and supervisor behavior.

The safety by design concept has been gaining much traction lately, but it actually was promoted before the Triangle fire. In her 1910 book, Work Accidents and the Law, Crystal Eastman wrote about how changing automatic coupling pins on railroad cars reduced the death rate among rail workers.

Process safety management entered the picture after the Union Carbide chemical release in Bhopal, India, in 1984. System safety soon followed, placing attention on the interaction between departments and phases of development, production and the delivery of production. And, thanks to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, safety also has factored into enterprise risk management.

Safety has made great strides since 1911, with death and injury rates down in many countries. Yet, according to preliminary BLS data, fatal occupational injuries declined only slightly in 2010 compared with 2009. Transportation-related fatalities continue to be the leading cause of on-the-job deaths followed by assaults and violent acts, contact with objects and equipment, falls, and exposure to harmful substances or environments. The number of serious injuries has increased as well.

Our efforts have stalled, largely because although it is difficult to change behavior, we continue to rely on ill-trained supervisors to do just that. Have we learned nothing from the past?

So what is next step for safety? We must establish a prevention culture. Such a culture is not a single system or philosophy; it is a culture that permeates an entire organization based on applying currently available tools and taking action to:

change management processes;

adopt enterprise risk management thinking;

change attitudes throughout the organization so that everyone recognizes that safety is not a program or something only applied at work—and then only when convenient;

protect brand recognition and corporate reputation;

address sustainability.



To instill a prevention culture, everyone must embrace safety in every aspect of their lives—they must consider the consequences of their decisions as well as their actions. It starts with managers and how they manage the business. It requires a change in what they value and in their understanding that safety is not an extra cost, but a strategic goal. And management must show that it values human lives and the environment, and it must demonstrate those values in its decisions. Prevention is not focused on the employee and supervisor. It encompasses the entire organization, from the C-suite to the entry-level employee.

As SH&E professionals, we have collected the fruit on the ground and gathered the low-hanging fruit. We made rapid improvement when we embraced engineering changes, improved warnings and implemented a system approach to safety. But our progress has slowed.

To move forward, we must strive to instill a prevention culture that engages the entire organization. It is up to each of us to establish a culture of prevention in our organizations, in our own lives and in our communities. The future is in our hands. It's time to pursue excellence in prevention.

“The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into
the impossible.”
Arthur C. Clarke

Shining a Light on Prevention

Years ago, as I walked into the Pacific Rim Conference opening session, my attention was drawn to a table set apart from the rest. It was set for a single diner. The napkin was folded with care, and a small vase contained a single red rose. A dim melancholy light glowed above the empty seat at the table set in a darkened corner.


I vividly remember that day. And while I don't recall the words of the memorial poem that was read, I remember the tears it brought to my eyes and the sorrow it brought to my heart. That empty chair symbolized all those who had died on the job, the ones we couldn't save. Every day, there is another empty chair somewhere in the world.


April 28 is International Worker Memorial Day. People around the world will remember colleagues and loved ones lost to workplace fatalities. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 4,547 people died on the job in 2010. That's about the same number of people who attended Safety 2011 in Chicago last June. Imagine the empty halls, the rooms full of empty chairs.


In 2010, nearly 3.1 million people suffered nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses while working for private industry employers. In the often-overlooked public sector, 820,300 injuries and illness cases were reported in 2010 by state and local governments. When we break it down to incident rates, it is startling to find that the injury and illness rate for public entities was 5.7 cases per 100 full-time workers versus 3.5 cases per 100 workers for private industry.


As we remember those lost and honor their lives, let's also keep our collective focus on the importance of our continuous efforts to reduce fatalities and injuries. This month, ASSE chapters, regions and sections are readying for their North American Occupational Safety & Health (NAOSH) Week projects and events. NAOSH Week - observed May 6-12 this year - is when we shine a bright light on injury and illness prevention. On Occupational Safety and Health Professional (OSHP) day (observed May 9), we recognize those who strive each day to eliminate work-related fatalities, injuries and illnesses. NAOSH Week and OSHP Day are two great opportunities that we, as safety professionals, have to educate the public, businesses and communities about occupational safety and our great profession.

NAOSH Week is May 6-12

This year marks the 10th anniversary of our NAOSH Week Safety-on-the-Job kids' poster contest, which gives children around the globe an opportunity to express their creativity and to learn about SH&E professionals and our mission to ensure on-the-job safety for every working person around the globe. The winning entries are featured on the NAOSH Week 2012 poster that is distributed worldwide. To order your copy, contact customerservice@asse.org.


I encourage you to start a NAOSH Week campaign in your area. Hold a safety day at work or in your community. Host a PPE fashion show. Invite school children to tour your facility to see firsthand what you do as an SH&E professional. 
You'll find an array of tools, such as a draft proclamation and information on many more ways to participate, at www.asse.org/naosh. I urge you to use the NAOSH Week proclamation to bring worker safety to the attention of your local leaders. We must do more to ensure that those who work in the public sector have the same protections as those who work in the private sector. A proclamation may be a small step, but it is a start.


As we remember those lost, all those empty chairs, let's recommit ourselves to shining a light on prevention, to making a difference for those who remain.


"There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them." --Denis Waitley

Preparing for Tomorrow

Are you prepared? It's a common question in California, where we seem to constantly be preparing for fires, floods, mud slides and earthquakes. Around the globe, SH&E professionals are asked to prepare for all kinds of disasters.

But my question is a personal one, whether you are an employer or an SH&E professional. Are you prepared for the next challenge? The next opportunity? When a challenge or opportunity occurs and it goes in your favor, will it be because you were ready or just lucky?

Seneca said, "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." In other words, we can make our own luck by being prepared. For example, as an employer, you hire the right people, but are you sure to provide them with the resources necessary to succeed? As an SH&E professional, do you have the knowledge to get the job done right? What and who are your resources?

Preparation comes in many forms. For employers, it includes hiring the right people, purchasing the right equipment and investing in the future of staff. The world doesn't stand still. Information and knowledge constantly evolve. For work teams to perform at their best, employers must invest in continuing education, just as they invest in new technology and equipment.

For SH&E professionals, preparation includes formal education, planning for future growth, exposure to new ideas, tools and equipment, networking with peers, and training. ASSE is dedicated to ensuring that we have every opportunity to prepare our teams and ourselves. Two of the Society's six goals focus on preparation through the provision and development of training, education and resources.

The world is changing too rapidly to prepare only once a year. That's why it's vital that we each attend monthly chapter meetings and take advantage of virtual learning opportunities. ASSE offers virtual symposia throughout the year. For example, on March 29 and 30, ASSE will host "Changing Behaviors: Balancing the Elements for Effective Safety Management Systems." This symposium will bring together thought leaders from around the world to survey all parts of the safety system. And since it's virtual, you can view it at your convenience, even after its initial broadcast. Learn more about this and other virtual offerings at www.asse.org/education/virtualclassroom.php.

While virtual opportunities help us stay current and improve throughout the year, ASSE's annual professional development conference and exposition are not to be missed. Safety 2012 will be held June 3-6 in Denver, CO, and it provides a great opportunity to help us prepare for today's and tomorrow's challenges.

The conference delivers education, helps us network with peers, and introduces us to new equipment, tools, resources and suppliers in the exposition. Safety 2012 promises to be blockbuster, ushering in ASSE's second century. At Safety 2012, we will hear from industry and professional leaders.

• Robert Cialdini will speak on the power of influence.
• OSHA Administrator David Michaels will share his views on workplace safety.
• Economist Lowell Catlett will share insights on the economy, current and future.

The conference will also feature the ninth annual Executive Summit, where we will hear important perspectives from senior managers. Other program highlights include 240 concurrent education sessions; the Academics Forum; a special track on sustainability/corporate social responsibility; the Loss Control Executive Summit; updates on Chemical Safety Board investigations; a report on ASSE's delegation to Brazil; and key issue roundtables. Learn more about the complete program and how to register at www.safety2012.org.

You will face many challenges in life and in your career. Create your own luck. Register for Safety 2012 today and prepare yourself for tomorrow. As NFL Hall of Fame player Jack Youngblood said, "Good luck is a residue of preparation."

ASSE's annual conference and exposition are not to be missed. Safety 2012 is a great opportunity to help us prepare for today's and tomorrow's challenges.

Fulfilling Our Duty

If someone asked you to describe ASSE, what would be your answer? Can you tell them how large the Society is, how old the organization is, how we operate?

ASSE is a great Society that has existed for more than 100 years. It has grown from a handful of insurance casualty inspectors in one city to nearly 34,000 members residing in more than 70 countries. We are a Society governed by its members, for its members and their profession. We have a 16-member board and all except ASSE's executive director, who is a nonvoting member, are volunteer leaders elected by the members. All of our councils, committees and task forces are composed of members volunteering their time.

 The future of our Society is in our hands, yet only 17% to 19% of ASSE members vote in the annual election of the Society's leaders. As members, it is our right to vote in our chapter, region and Society elections. More importantly, it is our duty to vote. Not everyone has the opportunity to be a volunteer leader, but we can all vote. And it's not just the act of voting that is important. We need to cast informed votes.

 To provide a level field and to act in complete fairness, ASSE restricts campaigning by and for candidates for office. So how can we each make an informed vote? First, read the biographies for each candidate in this issue of Professional Safety (starting on p. 33). Then, read the platform statements posted at www.asse.org. These statements provide insight into what each candidate believes and where s/he believes ASSE should be headed. Each year we vote for a senior vice president. This position leads automatically to the office of president-elect, then to president. In essence, we are voting for the future president of this Society. The winning candidate will lead the Council on Member and Region Affairs for a year. As president- elect, this individual will chair our Congress of Councils and lead the Society's strategic planning. As president, this leader will be our voice and the face of our Society.

Each year, we also vote for other board positions, but we stagger the elections so as to avoid replacing the entire board at once. This year, we are electing the vice president of the Council on Practices and Standards, the vice president of finance and the vice presidents of the even-numbered regions.

In odd-numbered election years, we elect the vice president of the Council on Professional Development, the vice president of the Council on Professional Affairs and the vice presidents of the odd-numbered regions.

Voting is easy once you know for whom you will cast your vote. Voting begins on March 1 and ends March 31. You have two choices in how to place your vote: 1) complete and mail back the paper ballot that arrives in your mailbox during the first week in March; or 2) vote electronically.

I prefer the electronic ballot - it arrives in my e-mail in-box just after midnight on March 1, no matter what day of the week it is. If you haven't signed up for electronic voting, there's still time. Go to www.asse.org and sign in to the Members Only section (using your member number and last name to log in). Then, select the 'Update Your Info' link and follow the prompts. Scroll down until you find the 'Society Annual Election Ballot' section and select your preferred voting method.

Helen Keller once said, "I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble." Voting in ASSE's elections may not be the great and noble task we each dream of, but it is our duty to accomplish this small task. This is our Society. Each of our voices matters. Vote this March.

As members, it is our right to vote in our chapter, region and Society elections. More importantly, it is our duty to vote.

Resolute in Our Goals

The new year is often a time for looking toward the future, whether it's making resolutions for change or trying some custom such as dropping molten lead into a bowl of cold water to determine what the future will bring. As a Society, ASSE doesn't wait until New Year's Eve to ponder the future and devise new goals. We continually look forward and plan because we know that the actions we take today are the foundation for our future.

One hundred years ago, our Society's goal was to engineer safe industrial workplaces. That goal has grown and evolved. The definition of safety within our bylaws illustrates those changes and how our focus on protecting people, property and the environment has expanded. Article I, Section 3, states:

The definition of the safety profession as used in these bylaws is: 

'The safety profession is composed of individuals engaged in one or more of the specialties within the various sciences for the primary purpose of developing and/or implementing methods, procedures, systems, devices, and/or standards toward the reduction, control or elimination of hazardous exposures to people, property or the environment.'

A look at ASSE's practice specialties and branches illustrates the vast disciplines in which safety is involved. Visit www.asse.org/practicespecialties to learn more about any of these groups.

Practice Specialties

  


    

Academics
Construction
Consultants
Engineering 
Environmental
Ergonomics
Fire Protection
Healthcare
Industrial  Hygiene


    

International
Management
Manufacturing
Mining
Oil & Gas
Public Sector
Risk Management/Insurance
Transportation


  

Branches



  


    

Agricultural
Health & Wellness
Human Resources
Legal Services


    

Military
Service
Training & Communication
Utilities


  

Clearly, safety professionals no longer concentrate solely on industrial safety. We are engaged in protecting the public, the patrons of our establishments, the users of our companies' products, the environment we share and much more.

Safety may be a small word, yet it contains so much meaning. It is no different than the word doctor or lawyer, although it is not yet as clearly defined as either of those words. When someone meets a doctor or lawyer, s/he might ask, "What's your specialty?" When someone asks a safety professional about his/her occupation, the answer "I'm in safety" likely elicits a curious look followed by a response such as, "What is that?"

ASSE is working to define the standards of professional competency, including defining the various levels of safety professionals and practitioners. Through such initiatives, we will ensure that at some future point, when you are asked what you do, the discussion that follows will focus on your area of specialty within safety rather than on what the broader profession encompasses. As we define safety and its competencies, we will gain greater recognition and respect, which will increase our value to our employers and further raise the stature of our profession.

It is a new year, yet our resolutions to grow and evolve the definition of the SH&E profession have not changed. Not matter the obstacles encountered, we will continue to actively pursue these goals.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt said, "The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith." I have no doubt that together, we will grow ASSE's influence and position this Society as a thought leader of the SH&E profession. We will raise the bar on the practice of safety. We will demonstrate our value to our employers, our legislators and our communities. And we will contribute a meaningful voice to the international discourse on occupational safety and grow our global community.

Embrace the future, get involved and help ASSE achieve its goals.

It Takes a Village . . . of Volunteers

Margaret Mead said, 'Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.'

One hundred years ago, a small group of safety inspectors met in a room in New York City and founded the United Society of Casualty Inspectors. This group wanted to change the conditions of workers throughout the nation.

Today, their legacy lives on through ASSE and our efforts as SH&E professionals to improve workplace safety and share the message of safety in our local communities and around the globe.

How did a handful of safety inspectors create a global impact? They reached out and networked with others. Through their knowledge and expertise, they began to influence legislators and employers. They grew their numbers through networking, and began to form chapters in 1924.

Today, ASSE has nearly 34,000 members in 151 chapters, 60 sections, 32 student sections, 17 practice specialties, 8 branches and 4 common interest groups. Each of these groups is led by member volunteers'much like our founding group 100 years ago. Our volunteers at all levels are focused on helping this great Society achieve its goals.

ASSE is strong because our members volunteer their time and share their passion to help accomplish our goals, mission and vision. Right now, chapters, sections, practice specialties and committees are looking for members willing to step up, give back and help build the future. Soon, these groups will be calling for nominations of members willing to serve in various offices and to assume leadership roles. Some will be elected positions. Others will be appointed. All are important.

Jimmy Carter said, 'Throughout my life, I've seen the difference that volunteering efforts can make in people's lives. I know the personal value of service as a local volunteer.'

I know that statement to be true. I started out serving as a chapter newsletter editor. It fit in best with the demands of my job, higher education pursuits and a young family. Over time, I moved on to serve my chapter as program chair, treasurer, secretary, president-elect, president and delegate. Along the way, I learned valuable leadership skills that have served me well throughout my career.

I urge you to answer the call to service. Or, better yet, make that call yourself. Contact your chapter president, section president or practice specialty administrator and ask how you can help. You also can visit ASSE's Leadership Connection website (www.asse.org/leadershipconnection/MemberSignin.asp) to view a list of current volunteer opportunities.

'Volunteering can be an exciting, growing, enjoyable experience,' says Harriet Naylor. 'It is truly gratifying to serve a cause, practice one's ideals, work with people, solve problems, see benefits and know one had a hand in them.'

Add excitement to your life. Take a hand in changing ASSE's future. Volunteer today.