About the Northern Ohio Chapter

• Northern Ohio Chapter Bylaws (pdf)
• Northern Ohio Chapter Long Range Plan (pdf)
• Region VII Long Range Plan (doc)

A Global Society

Within eight U.S. regions, ASSE has 150 chapters, 56 sections and over 65 student sections. There are members in 64 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Kingdom, Ecuador and Egypt. Chapters offer localized membership services, issue advocacy, networking and professional development opportunities through seminars, conferences, meetings, websites and newsletters.

Providing Quality Education and Career Development

ASSE provides a comprehensive education program for members and non-members through the Society's Professional Safety Academy (PSA). The Professional Safety Academy is known as the career partner of the participants, providing high quality programs based on the needs of the profession. Safety, health and environmental professionals gain the knowledge and skills to achieve career success and recognition. Education programs under the Professional Safety Academy include the:

• Annual Professional Development Conference (PDC): "Safety 2006: Meeting the needs of today's safety professional" (June 11-14 in Seattle, Washington);
• Annual Management Symposia (spring/winter);
• Hot Topic Symposium on emerging issues (fall);
• SeminarFest: An annual collection of safety seminars (winter);
• Management Seminars to support the ASSE "Certificate in Safety Management" and the Certificate from the "Executive Program in Safety Management";
• Examination Preparation Workshops to support professional certification;
• On-site seminars exportable to clients such as corporations;
• and Self-Study Programs.

The Society is a significant publisher in the technical safety field and offers a variety of print and electronic resources supporting the career development of members of the profession. Approved by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET), ASSE is an Authorized Provider of continuing education and provides continuing education units for its education programs.

Serving Members

ASSE provides its members with several products and services, including:

• Professional Safety, the Society's monthly peer-reviewed journal, features in-depth articles that cover a wide range of cutting edge topics, and focus on innovative research and analysis of successful, real-world applications;
• Members Only website (formerly Online Community), which offers ASSE members online access to the membership directory, bulletin boards and listserve that enhance membership networking as well as safety, health and environmental information;
• Society Update, ASSE's online member newsletter, outlines the latest ASSE activities, member accomplishments, and ASSE communications;
• ASSE UpFront, ASSE's online chapter leader newsletter, provides chapter officers and committee chairs with up-to-date governance news, leadership ideas, articles and a forum for sharing ideas;
• BackPack Safety Stack, ASSE's online student member newsletter, highlights the issues pertinent to the collegiate arena;
• GA Update, a regular email digest with the latest in regulatory and legislative news sent to Chapter Government Affairs Chairs, Society leaders, and, by request, other interested members;
• Online career center where employers can post safety, health and environmental jobs /internships, and where members can post resumes, as well as locate career counseling information.
• Localized networking and professional recognition;
• Self-study courses prepare participants for certification examinations as well as continuing education credit via approved college credit by the American Council on Education;
• Active, ongoing public relations/affairs/issue education programs that are international, national and state-specific;
• Sponsorship of the annual North American Occupational Safety and Health Week (NAOSH), held May 2-8, 2004, with the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE), visit www.asse.org/naosh for the latest updates;
• Annual 'Safety-on-the-Job Kids' Poster Contest' for ASSE members' children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews (winter), in support of NAOSH week.
• Proactive government affairs programs and activities at both the federal and state levels, including member-led alliances and partnerships with key federal safety agencies;
• Development of key national and international safety standards;
• and Academic standards for safety education and continuing education training seminars;

Setting the Standard/Practice Specialties/Awards Programs

ASSE is secretariat for several American National Standards Institute (ANSI) committees and projects which include: A1264 Protection of Floor and Wall Openings, Z15 Motor Vehicle Fleet Safety, Z87 Eye and Face Protection, Z117 Confined Spaces, Z359 Fall Protection, Z390 Hydrogen Sulfide Safety Training, Z490 Safety, Health and Environmental Training, Z590 Competence and Certification in the Safety Profession, and the Z690 project on protecting workers dealing with mold remediation. ASSE is also the Administrator for the U.S. Technical Advisory Group to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) on fall protection standards. ASSE members also serve on over 40 other safety and health standards committees.

Through its 13 Practice Specialties, ASSE offers professional development opportunities and technical assistance to members and non-members. Practice Specialties are in the areas of: academics, construction, consultants, engineering, environmental, healthcare, industrial hygiene, international, management, mining, public sector, risk management/insurance and transportation, as well as hospitality and manufacturing Practice Specialty branches, plus a newly formed fire protection branch. The Practice Specialties serve as a forum for discussion of best practice strategies and research; influence relevant programs for professional certification, ASSE chapter-based programs and ASSE technical standards development; and support advocacy efforts for occupational safety, health and environmental leadership. Online technical information, contacts and referrals along with global involvement opportunities are also available. The Practice Specialties also support student activity by working with the ASSE Foundation's student assistance program, sponsoring students to attend ASSE's annual Professional Development Conference.

Advancing the Safety, Health and Environmental Profession

Under the leadership of the Council on Professional Affairs, ASSE leads a variety of activities aimed at advancing the safety, health and environmental profession, including raising awareness of its contribution through public affairs.

In government affairs, ASSE pursues a proactive agenda of issues each year both at the federal and, with the leadership of ASSE member volunteers, among the states. The purpose is to make sure that, when government makes decisions impacting safety, health or the environment, that it does so based on the best available scientific information, and that ASSE's members and the profession are appropriately recognized. ASSE currently has in place alliances or partnerships with the key federal safety agencies meant to advance understanding of safety and help bridge understanding between government and ASSE's members.

Also through its professional affairs activities, ASSE advances opportunities in safety education by helping set appropriate educational standards and by working to increase the number of safety educational programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. As a member of the Applied Science Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), ASSE's Educational Standard Committee establishes safety curriculum critical for associate, baccalaureate and master's degree programs. ASSE Program Evaluators also make site visits to schools to accredit their safety programs. Nationally, 14 baccalaureate and master's degree programs in safety have been accredited by ABET, with ASSE as the sponsoring lead society.

The ASSE awards program honors outstanding accomplishments in the profession. The highest ASSE honor, the Society Fellow recognizes individuals with broad, significant and career-wide contributions to the profession and the Society. Other prestigious awards include the Edgar Monsanto Queeny Safety Professional of the Year (SPY) Award and the Dr. William E. Tarrants Outstanding Safety Educator of the Year Award.