ASSE to Bush: Talk about Safety and Health When Talking Trade

Sept. 25, 2003
The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), wants President George W. Bush to include the issue of worker safety, health and environmental protections in all future trade discussions.

ASSE President James "Skipper" Kendrick, CSP, applauded the president for including in his recent Labor Day speech the statement, "We expect there to be a fair playing field when it comes to trade." However, Kendrick noted, many ASSE members work in manufacturing and share the concern that, too often, the companies they work for must compete on an unfair playing field that favors manufacturing worksites in other countries.

"For our members who strive to ensure safe and healthy workplaces for their companies' employees, 'unfair' specifically means that their employers' competitors in foreign companies far too often are exempt from providing even similar kinds of protections for worker health and safety that Americans enjoy," Kendrick said.

He said ASSE is urging Bush to include the issue of worker safety, health and environmental protections when the administration follows up on its stated expectation that there be a "fair playing field" when it comes to trade.

"Our members report positive experiences in the past working with the Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs in beginning to move the issue of international occupational safety and health standards forward," Kendrick continued. "We are also pleased to see that the assistant secretary for Occupational Safety and Health, John Henshaw, is engaged with Canada and Mexico in the Trinational Occupational Safety and Health Working Group. Our hope is that this cooperative effort to improve worker safety and health in these three countries not only succeeds but also becomes an established expectation in our trade relations with all countries."

Sponsored Recommendations

3 Essential Elements for a Strong Safety Culture

March 13, 2024
Organizations globally have increased their attention on safety culture: trying to figure out what it really is and the aspects that are necessary to develop and sustain it. And...

Making the Case for Occupational Health Software

March 13, 2024
Deciding to invest in Occupational Health (OH) software can be a challenging leap for many organizations. This article will equip businesses with insightful strategies for effectively...

Fighting the Flu: Solutions for the Workplace

March 13, 2024
Seasonal flu continues to wreak considerable havoc both on individual wellness, as well as on our business continuity and productivity. Explore these solutions for protecting ...

Preventing SIFs with Digitization: Reduce Serious Injuries and Fatalities with Technology

March 13, 2024
This eBook discusses the origins of SIF prevention, outlines principles, models and tools available to EHS leaders to better detect and address SIF potential in their business...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!