November 28, 2005—The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) Vice President Richard C. Nugent, CSP, presented the new Western Australia ASSE chapter its charter at the recent Industrial Foundation for Accident Prevention (IFAB) conference in Fremantle, Western Australia, and discussed ASSE’s international activities.
Nugent applauded the chapter’s “overwhelming commitment to protecting people, property, and the environment,” and noted that members are now part of a growing network of 30,000 occupational safety, health, and environmental practitioners worldwide.
As of mid-September, the US-based ASSE had more than 900 international members currently residing in 73 countries including Mexico, Singapore, South Africa, Trinidad West Indies, Brazil, China, Italy, Jamaica, Venezuela, the UK, Nigeria, and Russia. In addition to the 150 chapters, 31 sections, and 61 student sections in the US, ASSE also has chapters in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and member sections in Ecuador and Egypt.
As for future activities, Nugent mentioned that two international standards may be soon be introduced—an international safety and health management standard and possibly a risk management standards initiative. ASSE and its members would play a role in each.
ASSE is a founding member of the International Network of Safety and Health Practitioner Organizations, and plays a strong role in standards development in the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the US Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) on fall protection. In addition, ASSE members serve on over 40 safety and health standards committees worldwide.
