In an effort to expand their potential and enhance their mutual interests, the American Society of Safety Engineers Foundation (ASSEF) and American Industrial Hygiene Foundation (AIHF) announced on July 11, 2000 their intent to join together to provide support for research primarily in the area of safety in its broadest terms. The Illinois-based ASSE and the Virginia-based AIHA Foundations are both dedicated to furthering the research efforts in the area of occupational safety and health. Noting that, the leaders of the Foundations announced today that they will:
- sponsor research projects jointly
- share current research priorities and approve grants/fellowships to avoid redundancy
- share research speakers at both the AIHA and ASSE annual conferences
- monitor intersociety and international research projects/ ventures for purposes of exchanging mutually interesting and relevant research data and information
- utilize a single source publisher for AIHF and ASSEF research papers
- publish research papers developed by AIHF and ASSEF grants in a peer-reviewed journal.
“Through our discussions we have developed a consensus to maximize our areas of mutuality in order to create value added synergies for each foundation,” ASSE Foundation Chairman Edwin P. Granberry, Jr. said. “Especially in light of the fact that the ASSEF and AIHF are both committed to serving its constituencies and the public by working towards saving lives, and reducing injuries and illnesses in the workplace.”
“We believe this joint effort will reduce any overlap in occupational and environmental health and safety research that may exist and allow us to not only maximize our efforts, but our results as well,” AIHA Foundation President John A. Pendergrass said.
According to Granberry and Pendergrass, the Foundations will develop liaison teams to implement the new agreement. However, they noted, the autonomy of each Foundation to act primarily in its own best interests is preserved and not surrendered in any provision of the agreement.
The ASSE Foundation, through contributions from individual ASSE members, corporations, ASSE chapters, regions and divisions, is dedicated to supporting the advancement of the safety profession and to protect the safety and health of the public through funding safety research and education; providing professional development and financial resources to individuals and non-profit organizations pursuing safety research and careers; advancing the safety profession through financial awards for scholarships, internships and fellowships; and towards developing accredited degree programs countrywide.
The American Industrial Hygiene Foundation (AIHF) was established in 1981 as a not-for-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that there are enough highly-trained, skilled industrial hygienists to continue to develop the science of industrial hygiene and protect workers at all levels of American industry. Support for AIHF has come from industrial hygienists and numerous corporations. Since its inception, the AIHF has awarded over $630,000 in scholarship monies to 44 different schools and universities to students studying industrial hygiene.
