COMMITTEE CORRESPONDENCE





August 24, 2006



Re: Safety & Occupation Health Committee Outreach Program


Dear Safety Committee Chairs and MA Leaders,



The WEF Safety & Occupational Health Committee (S&OHC) has embarked on a new venture to develop and maintain an Outreach Program that will facilitate and encourage networking between WEF and the Member Associations (MAs), and directly between MAs. The S&OHC recognizes that we each share in our individual struggles to obtain and sustain active membership on our safety and health committees and to promote safety and health awareness within our industry on a continuous and perpetual basis. It is our belief that, by pooling our resources and working together toward this mission, all of our organizations can be more successful. 



To spearhead this cooperative effort, the S&OHC would like to become a clearinghouse to facilitate information sharing. Just a few examples of things the S&OHC would like to see shared among the MAs and WEF include, but are certainly not limited to:



· Journal or newsletter articles, technical papers, puzzles, and other safety-related materials for publishing.

· Quality technical presentations and speakers.

· Accident and injury statistics gathered, and example surveys used to gather this data.

· Awards and other rewards that recognize safe behavior, and effective safety programs and activities.

· Examples of innovative approaches, programs, policies, incentives that have successfully raised safety awareness or encouraged safer behavior.

· Example programs that expand beyond just “safety” to cover the related issues of security, occupational health, public health, and environmental health.



The first step in this process is to create a database of MA contacts through which the safety information will flow to/from the clearinghouse (S&OHC). We are asking that each MA identify an individual within your organization for this purpose, most appropriately, the Chair of your Safety/Health Committee Chair, if you have one. Please forward the full name, mailing address, and email address of your MA safety contact to our S&OHC member heading up this task, Ms. Patricia C. Passariello, P.E., at passarip@wseinc.com or direct fax number 978-573-4159. We would also appreciate the updating of this information as new individuals assume this role of liaison with our committee. 



The S&OHC thanks you for your cooperation in this matter and looks forward to the day when our clearinghouse can assist in your efforts to promote safety in your MA. We also encourage your MA to have a member on our WEF S&OHC. Please feel free to contact me regarding committee membership at (314) 432-2786.



Very truly yours,







Al Callier, Chairman

WEF Safety & Occupational Health Committee





Stacy J. Passaro, P.E., BCEE

Technical & Educational Services

Water Environment Federation

(703) 684-2400, x-7060

spassaro@wef.org