U.S., Russia Workplace Safety Organizations Join Efforts to Advance Global Occupational Health and Safety

- The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) and the Russian National Association for Centers for Occupational Safety and Health (NACOT) agreement will improve global workplace safety

CHICAGO, July 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- One month after signing an agreement to work with Chinese workplace safety professionals, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) today announced it will work with Russia's National Association of Centers for Occupational Safety and Health (NACOT) to, among other initiatives, improve "vocational training and professional development of managers and consultants in the field of occupational safety," according to a memorandum of understanding signed during ASSE's recent national convention  and exposition in Las Vegas – Safety 2013.

According to the agreement, ASSE and NACOT will develop and strengthen a partnership in the field of occupational safety on the mutually beneficial conditions the two organizations share. For ASSE, it is another "long stride" in the march toward increasing its global outreach to workplace safety professionals around the world.

"We value and are committed to workplace safety, the occupational safety and health profession as well as our global membership," said ASSE President Kathy A. Seabrook. ASSE has professional members in 80 countries around the world and it continues to grow.

"We appreciated the opportunity to visit one of the most prominent global events in occupational safety – Safety 2013.  During this conference, we continued a productive dialog that started between our two organizations back in July 2012 in Moscow during NACOT's international conference. By executing initiatives that are outlined in this MOU, we are hoping to make progress in this very challenging, but extremely important task of providing safe conditions at work," said NACOT's Executive Director, Dr. Nikolay Novikov.

"We are honored to have a formal working relationship with NACOT, and look forward to working with its leadership to improve workplace safety, as well as to meet the growing needs of occupational safety professionals in our countries," Seabrook said, speaking of the arrangement which covers sharing best practices, joint preparation and implementation in the areas of training and professional development, and a regular exchange of scientific, technical and other information related to developments in occupational safety of shared interest.

Founded in 1911, the Chicago-based ASSE is a global professional safety organization and is committed to protecting people, property and the environment. Its more than 35,000 occupational safety, health and environmental professional members lead, manage, supervise, research and consult on safety, health, transportation and environmental issues in all industries, government, labor, health care and education. For more information, please go to www.asse.org.