By official proclamation, the City of Salem, Oregon has declared May 4 “Occupational Safety and Health Professional Day” in recognition of occupational safety and health professionals and “the work they do to keep people safe at work.

The proclamation issued recently by Salem Mayor Janet Taylor also declares that May 1-2 is “North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) week in the city, in conjunction with the national observance of NAOSH Week, which includes events orchestrated by the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE), OSHA and various federal agencies and industry representatives.

“We are pleased to see Oregonians are aware of the importance of developing and implementing effective workplace safety and health programs,” said ASSE Columbia-Willamette Chapter NAOSH Chair Dave Parsons. “As a safety professional, I work day and night to make sure that all workers leave their job injury and illness free to return home safely to their families.”

Planning for NAOSH Week is in full swing, with ASSE members nationwide developing activities. Parsons’ efforts helped garner the Salem proclamation -- this year’s first from several Oregon cities. In the past, he’s gotten a NAOSH proclamation from U.S. President George W. Bush