ASSE Students – Are You Ready for Tomorrow?

Warren K. Brown, CSP, ARM, CSHMWarren K. Brown, CSP, ARM, CSHM President President

American Society of Safety Engineers

Future Safety Leaders Conference SpeechNovember 7, 2008

This morning I would like to talk briefly about:

How this conference will help you About ASSE and its Many Student Resources Recent Student Survey Findings Business of Safety

Welcome!Welcome!

Networking, Professionalism &The Business of Safety

• Welcome to this annual Future Safety Leaders Conference– We’re pleased to see more than 200 of you from around the country

• By the end of this conference I hope you will have gotten to know each other well

• Safety professionals, ASSE members -- subject experts and staff are here to provide invaluable information, tips you can use now to enhance your success in your career and in your life

How And Why We Are Here• Over the years ASSE’s growth in membership

and programs has increased as does interest and hiring in the occupational safety, health and environmental field – hence your ASSE leaders – board members and committee members alike believed that a conference such as this will help provide the tools needed to navigate your career in today’s world

• A 24/7 world with no global boundaries – we have been there and can help you

A New Day • Today, we are faced with a worldwide financial crisis, a new administration which

means the appointment of new cabinet members/leaders such as Secretary of the Department of Labor, a 24/7 news delivery environment which means what may be big news one minute is shuffled off to the sidelines minutes later

• This combined with, to name a few, an aging workforce and a shrinking number of young workers while facing an increase in demand by business for SH&E professionals – and we are beginning to see this worldwide

• Businesses recognize the need to reach out to students --

• I’d like to recognize a couple of special people here today who helped make this possible: Brad Giles from the Washington Division of URS

Ron Schwartz of Liberty Mutual Please stand. Both of these individuals and the ASSE members here have helped make

this event, Foundation scholarships, grants and research possible by donating funds and their valuable time throughout the year to help students and their peers

Thank you!!!

Ever Wonder Where Your Career May Take You?

• A recent ASSE Foundation survey of 154 ASSE scholarship recipients found the majority of the students are working in the safety, health and environmental field in all industries including manufacturing, technology, construction, energy, health, insurance and for non-profits. They work for companies such as ConocoPhillips, Disney, Menasha Packaging Company, Chevron, Aon, BP, American Airlines, Kraft, and many more Some have continued their SH&E education and most are

still in the SH&E field.

Or the Challenges You Will FaceChallenges noted by the

survey respondents included:

• Gaining Buy-In• Overcoming a learning

curve• Training• Management• Overcoming the “new kid”

syndrome• Continuing on-the-job

learning/education

The Rewards Of Being an ASSE Student Member

• In the survey students said due to their ASSE affiliation they received:– Increased credibility with employers and peers– An enhanced “positive reputation when applying to graduate

schools”– Increased knowledge from ASSE members through mentoring

and networking providing them with greater first-hand expertise

– Gaining experience– Getting a foot in the door and much, much more So…Get Involved. Stay Involved… It is easy to do, the rewards are

invaluable and I urge you to do so

ASSE was

founded on

October 14, 1911

in New York City

as the

United Society

of Casualty Inspectors

(USCI) with 62 members.

21 March 1911 146 female garment workers died

At the time of the fire thefactory fire exit doors were locked …the doors that were not locked only opened inwards and were effectively held shut by the onrush of workers trying to

escape the fire. ….the only safety measures available for the workers were 27 buckets of water.

1914 the USCI name changed to American Society of Safety Engineers

(ASSE)

You are a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers --

the world’s oldest & largest safety society…protecting people, property and the environmentsince 1911 with 32,000 + members located worldwide

Here’s my story• I’ve been involved in advising managers on

preventing workplace injuries and illnesses for many years including…

• From GM to….• And for years I’ve volunteered my time to

ASSE and mentoring others…• Here’s how the structure works and how you

can become more involved and get even more back from ASSE than you put in…I’m living proof of that

Successful Students

STRUCTURED to DELIVER

MEMBERS

Board of Directors (volunteer leaders)

14 PracticeSpecialties

and Branches

CoMRACoPS CoPA CoPD

HouseOf

Delegates

Sections

Chapters

Areas

Regions

®

CoC

ASSE – By The Numbers

• 32,000 members- located in 75 countries

• 151 Chapters & 28 Sections • 58 Student Sections

Challenges• Needless to say I have faced several

barriers in my jobs working to implement safety systems such as – Apathy by corporate

management– A corporate culture that does not

embrace safety as a core value– Employees sometimes unwilling

to utilize safety programs, protection, etc…even when they know it can save their lives should an incident occur

– Multi-cultural work sites– Multi-contractor work sites– Lack of communications and

failing to listen These are challenges that we all meet,

analyze and find solutions for – ASSE and your fellow members can help you along the way

Issues Confronting our Profession – A Couple More

• Global Health and Pandemic Preparedness • The Economy/Stabilizing the U.S. Financial Infrastructure• Recruitment and retention of educated and skilled workers• Escalating SH&E Regulations/Adapting to World Regulations• Displaced workers and low morale• Increasing level of immigrant workers worldwide • Exporting of Manufacturing Jobs and Service Jobs• Ongoing – disasters such as Hurricanes, Tornadoes, Fires, etc.• Sustainability• Aging workforce

ASSE Foundation www.asse.org/foundation

• For instance the Foundation notes that there is nearly $135,000 in scholarships and professional development grants for the upcoming year for more than 30 students and for those continuing their education

ASSE Scholarship Winners

The SH&E Professionals who are problem The SH&E Professionals who are problem solvers, have multiple skills and solvers, have multiple skills and

demonstrate results woven into the demonstrate results woven into the organization’s financial goals will be organization’s financial goals will be

viewed as valuable assets.viewed as valuable assets.11

LeadershipLeadership

“ Making A Difference”

Business of Safety– Some Facts

• In 2006 5,840 workers died from on-the-job incidents in the U.S.

• Millions return home safely from work every day due, in part, to the SH&E profession – to you

As for the SH&E impact on a businesses bottom line: • Today businesses spend about $170 billion a year on

costs associated with workplace injuries & illnesses• U.S. employers pay almost $1 billion every week to

injured employees and their medical providers• Employers face a damaged reputation and brand when

employers are injured, especially if the incidents are preventable

Business of Safety– Your Role• Let people know about these facts andhow our profession contributes positively to the bottom line – not onlymonetarily but it reduces the intangible coststo family, friends and co-workers when some-one loses their life due to a workplace in-cident• A recent Goldman Sachs study in Australia showed valuation links betweenworkplace safety and health factors and investment performance – it found that companies who did not adequately manage workplace safety issuesunderperformed those who did – that workplace safety and health factors havepotentially greater effectiveness at identifying underperforming stocks –For a copy of this information go to www.asse.org/naosh08 and to our ASSE Business

of Safety Committee for this and more

Skills You Will Learn Through Member Involvement

– Leadership skills– Management skills– Communication skills– Networking skills– Presentation skills– Time management skills– Team working skills– Meeting skills– Project skills and more!

ASSE Resources for You• Go to www.asse.org to find information on

the value of the profession from the Council on Professional Affairs, for upcoming ASSE symposiums and webinars from Professional Development, on key standards from the Council on Practices and Standards, on our global efforts from ASSE Membership, on our public relations and government affairs activities

• Consider becoming a member of one (or two/three) of our 14 practice specialty groups – a great way to increase your knowledge and network

• ASSE has available the most topical technical publications-The new two volume “Safety Professionals Handbook”

• We urge you to participate in any area of ASSE and to help us get the word out at your schools, in your community and at home on how safety is good business….

Students at KY Governors Safety Conference 5/08

…and now … some advice for students as you

pursue your degree, a happy professional career

and personal life…. To succeed it takes balance:

Maintain Balance

• Family/Friends• School

• Hobbies/Fun• Work

• A.S.S.E.

Thank You• Thank you for your commitment to protecting people, property and the

environment• For being here today and sharing your valuable insights and questions• For your support of ASSE • You make a major difference in the world and with ASSE – especially

during these turbulent times

• During the conference please ask me any questions that you may have -- or how ASSE can help you – enjoy this conference

• Now I’ll turn it back to your host former ASSE Board of Directors member and long-time active ASSE member Patricia Ennis

• THANK YOU!!!