Academics > Colleges/Schools and Departments > College of Health Sciences and Human Services > Occupational Safety & Health > Professional Organizations

Professional Organizations

Each Occupational Safety and Health student has access to various professional organizations and current events within these organizations. These organizations enable occupational safety and health students to look closely into their chosen area of study reviewing opportunities and information relative to current events in that field. Participation in student chapters of certain professional organizations is strongly encouraged.

American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE)
Founded in 1911 ASSE is the oldest and largest professional safety organization. Its more than 32,000 members manage, supervise, and consult on safety, health, and environmental issues in industry, insurance, government, and education. ASSE is guided by a 16-member Board of Directors which consists of 8 regional vice presidents; three council vice presidents; Society president, president-elect, senior vice president, vice president of finance, and executive director. ASSE has 16 practice specialties, 151 chapters, 28 sections, and 58 student sections.

Purchase Area ASSE Chapter
The mission of the Purchase Area Chapter is to promote the advancement of the safety profession and the safety professional; to foster the technical, scientific and managerial knowledge and skills of safety, health, and environmental (the profession) professionals; and to promote the technical, societal and economic well-being of safety practitioners within the Purchase Area.

Middle Tennessee ASSE Chapter

In the spring of 1947 a group of safety professionals in the Middle Tennessee area met regularly to discuss and promote the safety and well-being of residents living and working in the Middle Tennessee area. The group is affiliated with American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), the world's largest safety organization. Since that first group gathering in 1947 our Chapter has continued to be a significant member of the community, making numerous contributions. Chapter membership is in excess of 270 members who maintain the mission of ASSE: to promote the advancement of the safety profession and foster technical, scientific, managerial and ethical knowledge, skills and competency of safety professionals.

American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA)

The American Industrial Hygiene Association® (AIHA) is one of the largest international associations serving the needs of occupational and environmental health and safety professionals practicing industrial hygiene in industry, government, labor, academic institutions, and independent organizations. We are devoted to achieving and maintaining the highest professional standards for our members; work with the American Board of Industrial Hygiene to promote certification of industrial hygienists; administer comprehensive education programs that keep occupational and environmental health and safety professionals current in the field of industrial hygiene; and operate several highly recognized laboratory accreditation programs based on the highest international standards. These programs help ensure the quality of the data used in making critical worker protection decisions.

Founded in 1939, AIHA® is a nonprofit organization with 73 local sections. AIHA's 10,240 members are highly educated professionals; 96 percent are college graduates, 51 percent hold master's degrees, and 12 percent possess doctoral degrees.

Human Factors and Ergonomic Society (HFES)

The Society's mission is to promote the discovery and exchange of knowledge concerning the characteristics of human beings that are applicable to the design of systems and devices of all kinds. The Society furthers serious consideration of knowledge about the assignment of appropriate functions for humans and machines whether people serve as operators, maintainers, or users in the system. And it advocates systematic use of such knowledge to achieve compatibility in the design of interactive systems of people, machines, and environments to ensure their effectiveness, safety, and ease of performance. The Society was founded in 1957. It has 23 technical groups and numerous local and student chapters.

International Ergonomic Association (IEA)

The International Ergonomics Association is the federation of ergonomics and human factors societies from around the world. The mission of the IEA is to elaborate and advance ergonomics science and practice, and to improve the quality of life by expanding its scope of application and contribution to society.

Kentucky Safety & Health Network (KSHN)

The Kentucky Safety and Health Network, founded in 1985 and incorporated in 1986, represents individuals from all facets of Kentucky's workplaces. Membership is open to any and all individuals with an interest in occupational safety and health. The Network is governed by a President, President-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer. A volunteer Board of Directors, elected from the membership, directs the activities of the Network. KSHN’s mission is to increase the awareness of safety and health in the workplace. The organization draws on the experience and knowledge of its members who represent business, education, government and labor.

Semiconductor Environmental, Safety & Health Association (SESHA)

SESHA is the premier Environmental, Safety & Health association serving the global semiconductor and associated technology industries. We provide value to our members through education and professional development. SESHA was formed in 1978. An informal meeting of nine safety and health professionals desiring to exchange safety information has grown into an annual international conference attended by over 600 professionals representing virtually all high technology disciplines. SESHA membership has grown to approximately 500 members including several countries around the world.

SESHA is truly a unique organization dedicated to the prevention of workplace injuries and accidents through the sharing of safety and health information and the promotion of technological advances in high technology, safety and health. Since its founding SESHA has established itself as the premier international organization promoting the effective communication of safety, health and environmental information to the electronics and related high technology industries.