As a global organization, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) works with its members from more than 80 countries to elevate the safety profession and help protect workers through education, advocacy and standards development. Its latest success was the 2017 Nigeria Safety Summit held March 21-25 that included sessions led by ASSE President Tom Cecich, CSP, CIH.

“It was an honor to support the summit because it reflects the commitment of our members to advance occupational safety and health (OSH) in the many countries in which they live and work,” Cecich said. “Cultures and regulatory systems differ from nation to nation, but safety messages are a universal language.”

The fourth-annual Nigeria Safety Summit, hosted by ASSE’s Nigeria Chapter, brought together hundreds of OSH professionals from Africa, the Middle East, the United States, and other countries to discuss and learn about the latest industry trends and practices. The multinational event was held at the Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria.

“I was impressed with the knowledge and professional insight of our Nigerian chapter members,” said Cecich, an ASSE member for 44 years. “While I was there to impart some of my expertise, I also learned a number of things from that enthusiastic group.”

The summit identified emerging safety issues and prepared participants to improve safety management and risk assessments at their organizations. It put attendees face-to-face with safety thought leaders, regulators and industry experts to provide a practical and informative networking experience. And for the first time in Nigeria, the summit offered the ASSE Global Safety Management Certificate to members attending the three courses of a pre-conference workshop, taught by Cecich.

“The summit coordinated the exchange of great ideas and the sharing of best practices that can boost workplace safety globally,” Cecich said. “It definitely prepares our members for the challenges faced in their OSH fields such as oil and gas, and construction, which were strongly represented at the conference.”

In addition to Cecich, the global presenters included U.S. Consul General John Bray and representatives from Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Addax Petroleum, Nigerian Local Content, Federal Road Safety Corps, Brickwall Group Management, CLMI, BCSP, the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria, and the Nigerian Society of Engineers. Topics included strategies for improving safety culture; best OSH practices in construction; occupational health and industrial hygiene; road transport safety; and process safety management.

“In a fast-paced world where change is common, the attendees enjoyed getting current on the latest global safety practices and benchmarks,” Cecich said. “The event achieved its mission of providing tools that enable occupational safety and health professionals to advance their careers and make significant contributions at work to effectively manage risk.”

ASSE launched its Nigeria Chapter in 2007, and its membership has grown progressively ever since. Nearly 200 members from Nigeria now participate in a variety of OSH activities, including ASSE’s industry-leading professional development conference held every June in the United States.

About ASSE

Founded in 1911, the American Society of Safety Engineers is the world’s largest professional safety society, headquartered in the Chicago suburb of Park Ridge. The nonprofit society is the champion for workplace safety. A global membership of more than 37,000 occupational safety and health professionals covers every industry, creating safer work environments by preventing fatalities, injuries and illnesses. ASSE advances its members and the safety profession through advocacy, education and standards development. Its flagship publication, Professional Safety, has been a leader in the field for more than 50 years. Visit www.asse.org and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.