ASSE Students – Are You Ready for Tomorrow? Warren K. Brown, CSP, ARM, CSHM President President Warren K. Brown, CSP, ARM, CSHM President President American Society of Safety Engineers Future Safety Leaders Conference Speech November 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!

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 Face Challenges 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 female garment workers died At the time of the fire the factory 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 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 environment since 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 Practice Specialties and Branches CoMRACoPSCoPACoPD House Of 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 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 solvers, have multiple skills and demonstrate results woven into the organization’s financial goals will be viewed as valuable assets. 1 Leadership “ Making A Difference”

Business of Safety– Some Facts In ,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 and how our profession contributes positively to the bottom line – not only monetarily but it reduces the intangible costs to 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 between workplace safety and health factors and investment performance – it found that companies who did not adequately manage workplace safety issues underperformed those who did – that workplace safety and health factors have potentially greater effectiveness at identifying underperforming stocks – For a copy of this information go to and to our ASSE Business of Safety Committee for this and morewww.asse.org/naosh08

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 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 activitieswww.asse.org 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…. T o 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!!!