Congratulations to Jan K. Wachter, Sc.D., M.B.A., CSP, CIH, for being published in the February 2023 issue of the ASSP’s Professional Safety. He co-authored the peer-reviewed article titled “Change Agents for Climate Action”. Link to the article in PSJ

Congratulations to Pam Walaski, CSP, FASSP, for being published as a co-author in the February 2023 issue of the ASSP’s Professional Safety in a Standards Insider article titled “Using ANSI/ASSP Z16.1 to Effectively Measure & Improve OSH Performance”. Link to the article in PSJ

The 3rd Edition of the Safety Professionals Handbook has become a standard reference for the OSH professional since the initial release in 2008. Its wide range of topics from approximately 90 of the industry’s outstanding thought leaders, academics, and practitioners present the latest research, ideas, and practical applications in occupational and environmental health and safety, all in one volume.

The author is Joel M. Haight, Ph.D., P.E., Professor of Industrial Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering and a member of the ASSP Western PA Chapter. There were many Contributors to this edition of the Safety Professionals Handbook from the ASSP Western PA Chapter as well.

For mor information, go to the Safety Professionals Handbook page on the ASSP website.

The January Technical Tour was at Giffin Interior & Fixture, Inc. in Bridgeville PA. It was hosted by Dustin Giffin, President at Giffin Interior & Fixture, Inc. and Alec Kinslow, CSP, Director of EHS, Giffin Interior & Fixture, Inc. Thank you to Alec for arranging the tour. Alec is also the Chapter Secretary and ASSP Advisory Group.

The tour was of the manufacturing operation of the custom millwork and casework with various automated processes, woodworking machines, and finishing operations. There were good examples of guarding, automation, ventilation, and training throughout the operation.

Alec and Dustin have expressed interest in having students from the student sections come to see the operation and equipment as a tour with the Student Sections in small groups.

We had an intimate group of 4 plus Alec and Dustin participate in the lunch and tour of the facility.

Attendees of this event are eligible for 0.2 CEUs through ASSP.

A few students did research on a few topics throughout the semester including a slip, trips, falls research study in which many of the members of ASSP are involved in. Not only have these students been working on research studies, but they were also busy building connections in the field of safety by welcoming safety professionals into the classrooms to give presentations on topics ranging from industrial hygiene practice to moving away from home for a job.

With the holidays quickly approaching, the ASSP student section and IUP’s Ladies of Safety organization collaborated and arranged a holiday toy drive in which the Ladies of Safety bought toys, hats, and gloves and walked around to each college asking for donations towards purchasing the toys in the bin. The clubs were able to purchase about $770 worth of toys from the donations. Two weeks ago, the clubs delivered the toys to a local elementary school in which the items would be dispersed to the children based on need and discussions with parents. The elementary school was very grateful for the donation and to see the kids faces light up when they saw the toys made the hard work done by all worth it!

Students also participated in a Safety Sciences Career Fair held in September in which companies from all over the country were gathered to recruit EHS students for either full-time employment, internships, or co-ops. The career fair was successful as many students obtained an internship/job for the spring semester or summer. Many of the ASSP student section officers attended the luncheon prior to the start of the fair and had the opportunity to connect with safety professionals.

We hope to launch many more toy/food drives and welcome many more guest speakers into the walls of Johnson Hall this spring!

Submitted by Madison Piatak

The December Holiday Networking Lunch was conducted as an in-person event on Friday December 16, 2022, at Hofbrauhaus Pittsburgh hosted by the Chapter Executive Committee. We had a buffet lunch, an ASSP Update by Pam Walaski, ASSP Senior Vice President and fellow Chapter Member, and time to talk with fellow Professionals and students. There was also a drawing for many door prizes provided by many of the Professionals and their employers.

We had a total of 40 people in attendance.

Thank you to those who participated in this in-person event and for to those that provided door prizes for our drawing!