Research Adds Up, Says American Society of Safety Engineers

9/23/2002

From: Diane Hurns of ASSE, 847-768-3413, e-mail: dhurns@asse.org

DES PLAINES, Ill., Sept. 23 -- Research findings in occupational safety and health are an effective tool companies can use to reduce costs and increase workplace safety, according to the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE). From reducing frivolous lawsuits, cutting growing expenses tied to hiring and training employees to providing sound and scientific evidence to support theories, safety research plays a major role in improving the bottom line and quality of life.

"In addition to increasing workplace safety, our research findings has reduced the filing of frivolous liability lawsuits," Dr. Paul Vinger, of Massachusetts, said of his 1998 ASSE Foundation-funded research titled 'Impact Performance of Polycarbonate Lenses for Industry and Sport.' "Our research set an industrial safety standard for eye protection (American National Standards Institute- ANSI Z87)."

Recent studies show that the U.S. tort system costs $180 billion per year as a result of liability claims and indirectly causes losses on the economy in the form of products and services that are never produced as a result of the fear of litigation.

"Increasing capital invested, including research, in preventing losses and injuries provides a greater return on investment," ASSE President Mark Hansen said. "Increasing safety reduces health and turnover costs, business interruption, insurance costs and, of major importance, saves lives."

Hansen noted that safety is critical to a productive, profitable work environment. One of the tools occupational safety, health and environmental professionals use to increase awareness of this and to better understand the causes of work-related diseases and injuries and the potential hazards of ever-evolving workplace technologies and practices is through sound research.

"Before we began our emergency preparedness program survey of West Virginia schools, there were no programs in place," Dr. Daniel E. Della-Giustina, College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, W.Va., said of his 1999 ASSEF study titled 'How to Cope with Terrorism in the Schools.' "Now they are informed as to what could happen and what they can do about it to address all types of contingency situations. Before we began our research they were unaware of the risks and the remedies."

An added benefit to research is the experience for the students and the benefit to their future employer. "In doing the research you learn about data collection, analysis skills, and literature review procedures. I use these techniques in my job now, especially when it comes to quantifying the information, and researching regulations and reviewing workplace safety statistics and injury reduction stats," Scott Kerr, hazardous materials manager for Fed Ex Ground, and a former student of Dr. Della-Giustina, said. Kerr, an ASSE member, earned his BS degree in environmental protection and his MS in safety and environmental management.

The Kentucky-based trucking company that was the center of the 1999 ASSEF 'Stress Factors Experienced by Women in Non-Traditional Occupations' research by Tracey Bernard, Ph.D. and Linda Bouck, Ed.D. utilized the tips from the findings and reduced their personnel turnover rate and costs. Human resource executives estimate that when all factors are considered--not only the headhunter's fee but also the loss of that employee's leads and contacts, the new employee's depressed productivity while they are learning, and the time co-workers spend guiding the new employee -- replacement costs can be as much as 150 percent of the departing person's salary.

"Good research, like effective safety systems, pays," Hansen said. "We encourage and urge students, corporations and all organizations to tap into this resource and utilize the findings."

Through the ASSE Foundation (ASSEF), ASSE and corporate donors support and promote such research. The ASSEF is accepting applications for over $60,000 in scholarship and research grants. For ASSEF scholarship applications and research findings check the www.asse.org/foundat.htm website. ASSEF funds are from corporate donations and individual ASSE members. Large corporate contributions to support ASSEF research grants are from the Liberty Mutual Group Fund at the Boston Foundation, the Liberty Mutual Research Center, the DaimlerChrysler Corporation Fund, New United Motor Manufacturing Inc., the UPS Foundation, the Ford Motor Company Fund, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and Summit Training Source, Inc.

Founded in 1911, ASSE is the oldest and largest professional safety organization and is dedicated to protecting people, property and the environment. Its over 30,000 members manage, supervise, and consult on safety, health and environmental issues in all industries, government and education. For more information visit ASSE's website http://www.asse.org.