Company Profile
American Society of Safety Engineers
Company Overview
American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) is the oldest professional safety society and represents more than 38,000+ Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) practitioners committed to protecting people, property and the environment and are at the forefront of safety engineering, design, standards development, management and education in virtually every industry, governmental agency, labor and in institutions of higher education. Presently, ASSE has several chapters, sections and student sections around the globe with members in over 80 countries. In addition, ASSE is the Secretariat for eleven American National Standards Institute (ANSI) committees responsible for more than 100 occupational safety and health standards. ASSE members also serve on over 40 safety and health standards committees including three with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
We are a visible advocate for professionals through proactive government affairs at the federal and state levels, and in member-led relationships with key federal safety and health agencies. Our members create safer work environments by preventing workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses.
Company History
Currently in Park Ridge, Illinois, American Society of Safety Engineers was founded on October 14, 1911 in New York City as the United Association of Casualty Inspectors with 62 members soon after the tragic fire that occurred on March 25, 1911, when 146 garment workers, women and men, died in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire.
In 1914 the United Association of Casualty Inspectors changed its name to the present American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) and headquarters were established in New York City. Information about ASSE and its benefits spread by word of mouth as more states passed workers compensation laws and insurance companies hired more inspectors. As the Safety, Health & Environmental profession grew over the decades so too did the practitioners’ commitment to increasing workplace safety resulting in an increased public awareness of occupational safety, health and environmental issues and their impact on everyone’s quality of life.