Safety, Health Leaders Join in Support of North American Occupational Safety and Health Week

Major safety, health and environmental (SH&E) organizations representing thousands of safety and health professionals have joined with the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE) to support efforts to increase public awareness of workplace safety during the May 1-7, 2005 North American Occupational Safety and Health Week (NAOSH).

The Academy of Certified Hazardous Materials Managers (ACHMM), the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Inc., (AAOHN), the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), also members of the “Safety and Health Intersociety Forum,” will work to raise awareness of workplace safety risks and solutions during the annual NAOSH Week.

“In 2003, 5,559 people died while on-the-job, about 15 people per day, and millions more suffered from on-the-job illnesses and injuries,” ASSE President Gene Barfield said. “During NAOSH Week we remember those lost and urge everyone to focus on the fact that prevention is the cure to preventing further tragedies. These lives could have been saved.

“We are pleased these members of the Safety and Health Intersociety Forum will again be joining with us in spreading the word. Through NAOSH week we can offer the public portals to the information they need to stay safe,” Barfield said.

“As the Intersociety Forum represents associations whose members’ primary concern is worker health and safety, supporting NAOSH Week is an extension of those efforts. By educating all stakeholders—from CEOs to line workers, the public and legislators—we can continue to reduce the tangible and intangible toll of workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities,” American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) President Donna Doganiero said.

Allison King, ACHMM president, noted, “The more the public is aware of solutions to address the risks to their safety both on and off the job the better able they will be to identify and develop a safer environment.”

“Voluntary consensus standards play a vital role in enhancing workplace safety across all industries,” said ANSI President and CEO Mark Hurwitz. “NAOSH Week helps to raise awareness and highlight the critical role of standards and other tools that can reduce the threat of injury, improve worker health and safety, and even save lives.”

Transportation incidents are reportedly the number one cause of on-the-job deaths followed by falls and homicides.

During NAOSH week ASSE, its members and partners will work to educate the public on what is being done and can be done to prevent these tragedies. The national kick-off will take place in Washington, D.C. with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) officials May 2.