The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) and the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) have formalized a memorandum of understanding that outlines how the organizations will collaborate on advancing workplace safety and health over the next five years.

ASSP President Rixio Medina, CSP, CPP, and KOSHA President Dooyong Park signed the agreement at a global workplace safety and health sustainability event in Paris. Both organizations understand the importance of research and shared knowledge in developing and applying preventive measures and best practices in occupational safety and health. (Photo above shows Medina (right) with ASSP board member Joel Haight as Medina signs the memorandum of understanding.)

“We have a common mission to prevent or reduce workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities, so we want to benefit from each other’s experience and combine resources where possible to improve occupational safety and health performance,” Medina said. “Joint efforts can go a long way in achieving great progress on important issues affecting workers’ well-being.”

According to the memorandum of understanding, the collaboration between ASSP and KOSHA may consist of the transfer and implementation of research results; development and dissemination of workplace safety information at conferences; sharing staff training techniques; exploring scientific activities of a common interest; and other cooperative ventures that aim to advance occupational safety and health outcomes worldwide.

“We will formulate an action plan that identifies specific targets and objectives in the occupational safety and health arena,” Medina said. “We’re definitely looking forward to everything we can gain from each other over the next several years to positively affect worker safety and health and business safety performance.”

ASSP and KOSHA were among 40 organizations from around the world that joined forces in 2017 for the landmark signing of the Singapore Accord. The Accord, spearheaded by the International Network of Safety and Health Professional Organizations of which ASSP and KOSHA are members, presented a global capability framework for the occupational safety and health professional that can increase the effectiveness and impact of the role in every industry.