Founded in 1911, the American Society of Safety Professionals, known as the American Society of Safety Engineers until June 2018, is a global organization of more than 37,000 occupational safety and health professional members who manage, supervise, research and consult on work-related OSH concerns in all industries, government and education. The Society's members use risk-based approaches to prevent workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses. The organization was founded in the wake of the March 25, 1911, Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, where lack of safety measures caused the death of 146 garment workers. ASSP offers continuing education to OSH professionals, participates in developing consensus industry standards, pursues initiatives that aim to build the OSH profession's reputation, and provides access to various member communities organized around geographic location, industry, gender, age and ethnicity. The organization has alliances with federal agencies such as Occupational Safety and Health Administration and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. ASSP also works with ABET to develop accreditation standards for OSH-related degree programs and has worked with the International Network of Safety and Health Practitioner Organizations to develop a professional capability framework for OSH professionals.
Organization
has 151 local chapters, 40 sections and 65 student sections located in 75 countries. Members live in regions including the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australia. ASSP has practice specialty communities that focus on a particular industry or field of professional practice. These groups cover academia, construction, consulting, engineering, environment, ergonomics, fire protection, healthcare, industrial hygiene, international, management, manufacturing, oil, gas, mining and minerals, public sector, risk management/insurance and transportation. The organization also has four common interest groups - Blacks in Safety Excellence, Hispanic Safety Professionals, Women in Safety Excellence and Young Professionals in OSH.
The American Society of Safety Professionals Foundation, established by and in partnership with ASSP, generates funding and provides resources for research opportunities, educational advancement and leadership development in order to advance the OSH profession. As a 501 organization, contributions to the Foundation are generally considered charitable contributions under IRC Section 170 and are tax deductible as provided by law.
