10-year deal designed to improve training and expand management systems
The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) solidified a partnership aimed at advancing worker safety across the United States. The two organizations signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) during the opening day of the Safety 2024 Professional Development Conference and Exposition at the Colorado Convention Center.
This 10-year agreement is centered on shared principles and is designed to improve employee safety training, enhance occupational health practices, and expand the use of safety and health management systems within both organizations.
“We share a strong commitment to workplace safety and health, so sharing our knowledge and expertise makes good sense,” says ASSP president Pam Walaski, CSP, FASSP. “This collaboration will leverage strengths, elevate the voice of our profession, and improve safety standards to reduce illnesses, injuries, and fatalities.”
The MOU outlines a framework for the ASSP and USACE to engage in sharing best practices, improving training and education, and supporting regulatory and legislative issues. Additionally, the two organizations will continue to collaborate on the development of voluntary national consensus standards. Notably, USACE’s widely used EM-385 Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) manual, which references numerous ANSI/ASSP standards on fall protection, construction, and demolition practices, will play a pivotal role in this partnership.
“Our mutual interests in enhancing the well-being of workers across the country create valuable opportunities to work together,” says Mark Atkins, USACE’s chief of occupational safety and health. “These shared principles can hopefully serve as a foundation for improving policies and processes that will ultimately save lives.”
Founded in 1911, ASSP is the world’s oldest professional safety organization, boasting 35,000 members dedicated to advancing worker well-being and the safety and health profession. ASSP plays a critical role in workforce development and serves as a trusted advisor in the field of occupational safety.
USACE, known for delivering vital engineering solutions, collaborates with partners to secure the nation, energize the economy, and reduce disaster risk. Their expertise and commitment to safety make them a valuable ally in the mission to protect workers nationwide.
