A Time for Leadership Development

2012 ASSE President Richard A. Pollock, CSP

Do you remember Yogi Berra? Baseball fans like me remember him as a great New York Yankees catcher. He was a 15-time All Star, won the American League MVP three times, played in 14 World Series and still holds many records some 50 years later.

Beyond baseball, Yogi is best known for his quirky statements. Consider this one, which I found while researching the topic of leadership:"You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you are going because you might not get there."As crazy as they may sound, Yogi's words hold a great deal of wisdom about leadership. Leaders must have a vision and must be able to communicate and share that vision with others.

Great leaders also engender positive emotions among followers so they want to join together for a greater good. I recently heard ASSE past president Eddie Greer speak about leadership."Leadership is about learning to do what is right, because we can never rise above the limitations of our character," he said. "If we are going to serve as leaders, then we must have the trust of our followers. Character enables trust to exist and makes being a leader possible."

If a person isn't trustworthy who will follow? At its core, leadership truly is about influencing others, not about position. It is about engaging others, sharing your vision and moving people to action. Great leaders also earn respect over time by putting the good of the people and the organization ahead of any personal agenda. They exude optimism and a positive attitude, and help others see life as a series of great opportunities and exciting challenges.

Although he probably never saw himself that way, my father was a leader. He was a high-school teacher and football coach who was inducted into the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame. But beyond coaching championship teams, his greatest legacy was helping boys and girls develop into men and women by teaching them the importance of strong character, hard work, responsibility, integrity and selflessness. My father taught me that a leader is the one who helps others the most. He was right.

Do you see yourself as a leader? In studying leadership, I have found that most of us don't see ourselves as leaders, yet most of us want to improve our abilities in this area. Some contend that leadership can't be taught - either you have the ability or you do not. I disagree. Certainly, some people have stronger personalities or greater confidence, and others may have been in the right place at the right time.

However, during my career with ASSE and in business, most of the best leaders I've observed are just like you and me. We don't set out to be in charge, yet over time, as we take on responsibility, get things done, help others and build trust, we gain leadership knowledge and skills. Others value our assistance and ask "which way next."

Are you optimistic about the future? Do you have the ability to create a vision and influence others to follow? Why not take those feelings of optimism and opportunity to refocus, recommit and put plans into action to take a more active role in ASSE and your SH&E career?

The SH&E profession needs strong, effective leaders, and ASSE offers some excellent opportunities for us to build and develop our leadership skills. This fall, the Society will host its Leadership Conference for chapter, region and practice specialty leaders and its Future Safety Leaders Conference for outstanding student members. In addition, in November, ASSE will deliver "Safety Is All About Leadership,"a 2-day symposium in Orlando, FL. You can find details about any of these events on the Society's website.

Learning more about leadership and developing these vital skills will help us excel as SH&E professionals. I encourage you to attend at least one of these important events this fall. You will discover it is an investment well made. At its core, leadership is about influencing others, not about position. It is about engaging others, sharing your vision and moving people to action.

Where's ASSE

2012 ASSE President Richard A. Pollock, CSP

The easy answer to the question posed by the headline is Des Plaines, IL. But that's really only a small part of the answer. Yes, Society headquarters is located in Des Plaines, but, at its core, ASSE is you and me: safety professionals dedicated to creating a culture of prevention. ASSE is our knowledge, our beliefs, our passion and the value of our work. It is located inside of each of us, across the country and around the world. We are ASSE.

I've often been asked, "What do I get for my dues?" That's a natural question, but it's really the wrong one to consider when discussing ASSE membership. It is easy to believe that ASSE is some "place" where Professional Safety is created, the website is managed, conferences and webinars are produced, surveys are distributed, standards are written and books are published. Certainly, those products and services are vital to our mission. Yet, it is members like you and me who write the books and articles, speak at the conferences and webinars, help develop standards, advise government, and establish Society goals and work to achieve them. We collectively create the body of knowledge and bring it to life.

Over the past 2 years, I have been invited often to speak about ASSE membership and "what's in it for me?" During those talks, I focus instead on what each of us can do for ASSE, the profession and ourselves to increase our value, and how we each can invest in our own success. I guess I have taken the lead from John F. Kennedy's famous inaugural call to action: "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country."

Consider this short tale from Charles Osgood. "This is a little story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought that Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done."

As members, pitching in is our responsibility. I urge you to view it as an expectation of membership. Across our 152 chapters representing members in more than 75 countries, hundreds of members step forward each year to volunteer their time, talent and resources to help others succeed. Through their service, they learn and grow, and increase the value of our profession.

ASSE needs each member to embrace volunteerism. I know firsthand that work and life demands pull us in many directions and that time is precious. But I also know that you will gain great personal and professional returns if you get involved. As an active volunteer, you will meet many knowledgeable professionals and develop a diverse network, putting solutions only a text, call or e-mail away. You will receive far more in return when you pay it forward. Investing in ourselves through ASSE involvement can pay big dividends, especially when we share our knowledge to help others to learn and grow.

Imagine the energy and creativity that ASSE could generate with nearly 35,000 members committed to developing and sharing ideas and innovations across our global community mobilized to create a safe, healthy world. Together, we can create a new ASSE culture that maximizes our strengths and creates exciting new opportunities. 

We are ASSE. We are the voice and thought leaders of this profession, and key contributors to our body of knowledge. Be part of a global community in which each member actively contributes and ensures that our profession remains vibrant. Invest in your membership and increase your value. Together, let's move off the plateau of complacency, create a culture of volunteerism and forge an even stronger future. Let's make this vision our reality.

ASSE needs each member to embrace volunteerism.You will gain high personal and professional returns if you get involved.

"I always wondered why somebody didn't do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody."
Lily Tomlin

Let’s Raise Our Sails & Catch the Winds of Change

2012 ASSE President Richard A. Pollock, CSP

ASSE is in the midst of change. Our predecessors had vision and built a strong foundation. But, the winds are shifting. Like many other professional organizations led by volunteers and with limited resources, ASSE is facing significant challenges. The Board of Directors recognized this and made a bold move. Instead of simply celebrating our heritage of growth and success, the Board set out to create a new vision and strategic direction for the Society. With members’ best interests as our guiding principle, we discussed and debated our future. The result was strong guiding values and new aspirational goals that were approved last year. Each council has worked diligently to establish new strategies to move ASSE toward these goals.

Why are these changes necessary? We face many challenges to our profession, livelihood and ASSE. We have been reactive as fatality and incident rates have plateaued, members have lost their jobs, volunteerism has declined and our future has become less secure. Our members, employers, workers, families and society deserve more.

However, these threats also present opportunity. Our new goals are based on opportunity and our strategies are charting the course to a strong future.

Our vision is clear. ASSE members are a primary source of knowledge for the SH&E profession. As thought leaders, we must speak out and set the agenda. We must gather and share a body of knowledge that defines and furthers our interests, and establishes ASSE as the source of information, learning and best practices.

We will advance the profession by supporting science-based research, and by sharing our knowledge through publications and professional development offerings. We will establish a strong global professional community, dedicated to a common cause. We will establish the value of safety professionals and our profession through deeper relationships with the business community and government.

Our work is important. Moreover, because we are passionate about our work and its importance, we will never quit and our voices will be heard. Because of our values, beliefs and passion, we will make sure we get the facts and our professional opinions to the table. We will advise, instruct and, in some cases, direct regulators on key issues.

Maximizing opportunity and managing business risk is fundamental to all successful organizations. Employers often mistakenly equate safety to regulatory compliance. As a result, safety is seen as a cost that is counterproductive to profit-based goals and fiduciary responsibilities. ASSE will engage business leaders in the discussion of business risk, not compliance.

Increasing profitability while reducing risk of loss to the environment, workers, community and customers are increasingly demanded by stakeholders. Greater requirements for fiduciary control, transparency in governance and employee stewardship have increased the business value of our profession. By having the vision and helping to create the Center for Safety and Health Sustainability, ASSE is at the forefront and will continue to lead globally.

ASSE also continues to advocate for the ongoing global shift toward risk-based approaches to SH&E. We are researching these approaches and their effect on business results, and defining methods for implementation. Business risk and enterprise risk are fundamental, and this is the language by which our prevention message will be heard. As long as OSHA standards exist, ASSE members will need to help employers comply. However, by leading the shift toward risk-based approaches and establishing prevention cultures, we will become better aligned with business strategies and goals, thus increasing our value.

So, let’s imagine. What does our future hold? Will the new goals and strategies make a difference? Imagine that ASSE continues to grow, expanding its influence around the globe. New members are engaged, and most realize that membership is a privilege and volunteerism is expected. We ensure the involvement of young members and students. Within this new culture, the very best professionals step forward. New leaders are identified earlier so they may be mentored and provided opportunities to grow.

New pathways for communication allow all voices to be heard. Chapters excel in providing member services. The practice specialties and common interest groups become more valuable as members broadly engage, reach their full potential and actively assemble our body of knowledge. Greater value is realized by those who can’t attend meetings, live remotely or across oceans. A strong global community emerges that embraces diversity and furthers our values.

Imagine that we are invited to the table where government and business policy are determined. Imagine the value of our profession is increased tenfold, ensuring that in another recession, our profession remains strong and highly valued. Most important, imagine a world that is safe and healthy for future generations.
Our vision is clear and our future is bright. Please engage and help lead our profession forward. Let your voice be heard.

“You can’t hit a home run unless you step up to the plate. You can’t catch a fish unless you put your line in the water. You can’t reach your goals if you don’t try.”
Kathy Seligman

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.