• CoPS Update Archive
• July 2008
• March 2008

Communication

ASSE Region V CoPS Update - July 2008

The following information on standards will give you insight as to what is happening in your particular practice specialty. Credit for any and all information is given to the CoPS Staff of ASSE (listed below). If at anytime I can assist with further information or clarification of a standard, contact me at: aborzych@msn.com

Al Borzych, ARVP/CoPS/Region V
Greater Chicago Chapter

Please take note that our own Region V member Neil J. Silins, "Greater Chicago" has his article on Nano Technology posted on the front page.

Best-of-the-Best Newsletter Posted

We are pleased to announce that the 2007-2008 Best-of-the-Best newsletter has been posted on the Council on Practices and Standards (CoPS) website here.

Each year, CoPS selects one best newsletter article from each of the 13 practice specialties and compiles them into a special online issue. CoPS congratulates this year's winners and looks forward to another year of outstanding articles!

Electronic Delivery of All Practice Specialty Technical Publications as of January 2009

As of January 2009, all practice specialty technical publications will be available in electronic format only and accessible through a secured website. All practice specialty members will receive directions for accessing these publications shortly before the transition takes place.

Please note that ASSE will need to have your valid e-mail address on file by November 30, 2008. If you change your e-mail address, visit ASSE's homepage to update your information or contact Customer Service at (847) 699-2929.

The Council on Practices and Standards is pleased to be able to offer you its publications in a more efficient and environmentally sound manner. We appreciate your continued support.

Call for Volunteers -- Your Help is Needed!

Safety 2008's outstanding success has led to an increased need for volunteers for our Practice Specialties, Branches and Common Interest Groups.

Members are strongly needed to serve on our Advisory Committees and in other leadership positions. For more information on volunteer opportunities, please contact any of the Administrators and/or Chairs below:

• Academics Practice Specialty Administrator: Wayne Jones
• Construction Practice Specialty Administrator: Mike Hayslip
• Consultants Practice Specialty Administrator: William "Bob" Coffey
• Engineering Practice Specialty Administrator: Bruce Rottner
• Fire Protection Branch Chair: Frank Baker
• Environmental Practice Specialty Administrator: Judy Freeman
• Healthcare Practice Specialty Administrator: Mark Shirley
• Industrial Hygiene Practice Specialty Administrator: Eric Stager
• Ergonomics Branch Chair: Jeremy Chingo-Harris
• International Practice Specialty Administrator: Jack Fearing
• Management Practice Specialty Administrator: Christopher Gates
• Hospitality Branch Chair: David Natalizia
• Manufacturing Branch Chair: Michael Coleman
• Human Resources Branch Chair: Howard Hughes
• Mining Practice Specialty Administrator: Michael Neason
• Public Sector Practice Specialty Administrator: Fred Fanning
• Risk Management/Insurance Practice Specialty Administrator: Mark Oldham
• Training & Communications Branch Chair: Cindy Lewis
• Transportation Practice Specialty Administrator: Frank D'Ambrosio
• Oil & Gas Branch Chair: Lamar Hutchinson
• Blacks in Safety Engineering (BISE) Chair: Terry Wigfall
• Safety Professionals & the Latino Workforce (SPALW) Chair: Zeferino Banda
• Women in Safety Engineering (WISE) Chair: Kelly Bernish
• Young Professionals in SH&E Chair: Selena Schmidt

Thank you,

George Pearson, CSP, ARM
Vice President, Council on Practices & Standards (CoPS)

Committee Chairman Practices and Standards

The following is intended to give anyone interested on the above positions some background and insight on what your volunteer duties might be.

ASSE leadership has encouraged Regions to appoint a committee chair to interact with the ASSE Council on Practices and Standards, (CoPS).

Many chapters already have members representing specific Practice Specialties and this is not meant to be a replacement for such activities. This is only one more communication vehicle we would like to use to keep members informed on cutting edge SH&E issues and information. It is requested that the Committee Chair provide updates to chapters and at ASSE Regional meetings.

We also encourage each Committee Chair to make presentations at Chapter/Regional meetings and at events such as Professional Development Conferences. A Power Point Presentation and supporting materials are on the website and their use is encouraged. We can also provide additional support and services upon request.

Committee Chairman - Practices and Standards Committee

The Committee Chair is the direct link between the Region and the Council on Practices and Standards (CoPS). His or her function is to keep the Region abreast of CoPS related activities and issues, and to communicate your chapter's views, ideas, and concerns back to CoPS leadership. He or she (chairperson) should be continually aware of the general consensus of the regional leadership on different CoPS related issues at any one time. The Committee Chair is also encouraged to form a networking group of the Chapter Practices and Standards Chairs to solicit feedback and ideas about new programs, services. The Committee Chair should be encouraged to bring these issues to the Regional leadership for discussion.

The Council on Practices and Standards (CoPS) is primarily responsible for Goal #5 of the ASSE Strategic Plan, which currently reads:

Goal 5: Gather, encourage and participate in development of the body of knowledge relevant to the profession.

It is expected that the Committee Chair would assist us with the following objectives:

1. Communicate CoPS information to the Region, and have a process where they can ascertain opinions of the regional leadership, and share them with CoPS staff and volunteer leadership.

2. Identify and develop the technical resources needed for the practice of the profession.

3. Foster the development of ASSE's role in safety standards.

4. Become involved in CoPS related activities and seek to generate participation and enthusiasm for such activities.

5. Identify and foster the development of additional areas of specialty and industry specific practices.

Hopefully the information listed above has given additional guidance into the role and responsibility of the Chairman of the Practices and Standards Committee.

Contacts for CoPS Staff at ASSE

Tim Fisher, CSP, ARM, CPEA Director, Practices and Standards 847/768-3411 (T) 847/296-9221 (F) tfisher@asse.org

Rennie Heath Manager, Practice Specialties 847/768-3436 (T) 847/296-9221 (F) rheath@asse.org

ASSE Standards Activity Update

New ANSI/ASSE A10.40 Standard

Greetings - Attached below is the URL with the media statement addressing the ANSI/ASSE A10.40 Standard. This has been a significant issue in standards development and hopefully you will wish to review it. SH&E Professionals have been asking about this issue and this is the final decision by ANSI. We would ask that you please distribute this through your chapters and to other SH&E Professionals.

• ANSI Dismisses Latest Appeal to Withdraw Consensus Standard Aimed at Reducing Musculosketetal Problems in Construction Workers

ANSI/ASSE Z359 Fall Protection Code

Hopefully you are getting ready for 2008 / 2009!!! We have had a plethora of requests for information on our ANSI/ASSE Z359-2007 Fall Protection Code and for the ANSI/ASSE Z15.1-2006 Standard for Vehicle Operations. I have sent this material over before but let me attach the URLs below for those interested in this technical information. This is important SH&E information, and we hope it will be of assistance to you. The outreach/interest outside of the SH&E profession has been incredible also. As an example - human resources professionals and the facility management professionals have been very interested in these standards. In addition, the Z359.0 Definitions and Nomenclature Standards can be obtained on our website at no cost. I will attach the URL also for this standard.

• ByDesign Special Issue: ANSI/ASSE Z539 Fall Protection Code (pdf)
• TransActions Special Issue: ANSI/ASSE Z359 Fall Protection Code (pdf)
• Purchase Standards from ASSE

As of January, 2008, dues are now $20.00 for practice specialty members. Join your peers in a Practice Specialty group. ASSE offers 13 Practice Specialties and 6 Branchs from which to choose. The opportunity to network with professionals in your field is priceless. Take advantage of joining in your specific field of safety, health or environmental group and stay informed of the latest SH&E research and development.

Stay Safe.......Al Borzych
aborzych@msn.com