The National Safety Council’s (NSC) 2024 Safety Congress and Expo is underway in Orlando and the organization made several announcements on Monday.
The NSC named three news members to its Board of Directors, including:
- Rob Loose, safety and risk consultant at Stout Building Contractors in Bountiful, Utah. A dedicated human resources executive and certified safety professional, Loose has more than 20 years of experience in performance development, safety management system design, employee engagement, compensation programs, risk management, leadership development, and recruiting. In addition, he has served on several boards, including the NSC Southeastern Chapter, the American Society of Safety Professionals, and the Aiken County Career Center.
- Rick Murray, CEO of the NSC Arizona Chapter, where he helps businesses understand the profitability behind a safer workplace. With more than 25 years of experience in the professional association, nonprofit, small business and healthcare industries, Murray has consulted for hospitals, physicians, dentists, and dozens of small business owners. He currently sits on the board of directors for the National Small Business Association, the Arizona Small Business Association, Abrazo Central Hospital, Abrazo Scottsdale Hospital, and Abrazo Cave Creek Hospital.
- John Perkins, the vice president of worldwide safety services for The Walt Disney Company Experiences Segment, which includes parks, cruise line and entertainment. In this role, he is responsible for occupational safety strategies and leads the global safety services team. A certified safety professional and global environment, health, safety and sustainability executive, he has more than 25 years of strategic and operational EHS experience across several industries, including automotive, steel, electronics, distribution, and construction.
Robert W. Campbell Award
In other news, the NSC announces Corteva Agriscience as the winner of its 2024 Robert W. Campbell Award. The honor, named after the Council’s first president, is one of the top accolades an organization can achieve and recognizes companies that have attained business excellence through the integration of environment, health and safety management as a key business function. Five years after launching as a standalone company, Corteva is the youngest company to receive the award.
Corteva CEO Chuck Magro accepted the award on September 16 during the opening session of the 2024 NSC Safety Congress & Expo, the world’s largest gathering of safety and health professionals. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Corteva is a leading global agricultural company that delivers cutting-edge technological and digital solutions to help farmers feed and fuel the world.
“With nearly 23,000 employees and contractors operating in 120 countries, Corteva’s safety record and culture stand out in not only the agriculture industry but among all fields,” said Lorraine Martin, NSC President and CEO. “At Corteva, the value of safety is embedded at its core with ‘safety’ being the top word used to describe its company culture by employees and leaders at every level. NSC is proud to recognize Corteva’s commitment to safety with the Campbell Award.”
Campbell Award applicants are evaluated based on their ability to integrate their EHS management system into business practices. Corteva is committed to looking at safety from every angle, incorporating all aspects of their strategy as well as employee health and wellbeing into every facet of its operations. Thanks to its dedication, the company’s North American safety performance is eight times above the agriculture industry standard.
Marion Martin Award
The NSC also announced the winner of its Marion Martin Award, presented annually to one or more outstanding female safety professionals. The winner is Jasmine Omar, the global director of worldwide ergonomics and safety experience at Amazon. In six years, Omar has advanced from an individual contributor to leading a team of over 200 safety and health professionals. She implemented an information management system, launched a safety observation program with 200,000 observations in 2023, and established the first safety learning and development team, boosting training effectiveness by 30%. Her efforts helped the Amazon Worldwide Health and Safety team achieve a 60% reduction in Lost Time Incident rates and a 30% reduction in Recordable Incident Rates since 2019. Omar has been passionate about creating a more inclusive work environment, with 75% of her direct reports are women—well above industry norms. She has helped promote over 30 women and supports more than 2,500 members as the executive sponsor of Amazon’s Women in EHS (WinEHS) affinity group.
In addition, Omar mentors young women aspiring to enter the EHS field. She led a career development program for over 125 Amazon leaders, enhancing safety expertise and fostering a culture of growth and inclusion. Prior to joining Amazon, Omar focused on compliance, governance and safety culture improvement for PepsiCo where she aligned operations with 42 EHS standards, designed and launched PepsiCo’s first EHS information management system for 185,000 employees in 15 languages as well as developed the first global competency strategy, safety communication strategy, and safety culture model, which led to a 23% positive increase in safety culture.
Distinguished Service to Safety Award
The NSC honored six individuals with the Distinguished Service to Safety Award, the highest award given to safety professionals by the Council. Candidates were nominated by both the general public and NSC members and reviewed by NSC Division Committees. The following individuals were selected for recognition this year:
- Alfred Chinbuah, Managing Director, Fire Safety Consulting Services Ltd. He significant impact on health and safety in the mining industry over his 33-year career is marked by numerous achievements and contributions that have defined the landscape for safety management. His long-term dedication has helped curb the spate of incidents that previously characterized the industry.
- Mike Hill, Safety Director, Performance Contracting Group. Throughout his career, Hill has demonstrated exceptional leadership and innovation in safety. Currently, he oversees a team of over 10,000 employees, ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
- Mei Li Lin, PhD, Senior Vice President, Digital Services and Strategic Partnership, Dekra Insight. Dr. Mei Li Lin’s career is a testament to her visionary leadership, global impact, and commitment to improving workplace safety. Her contributions have left a lasting legacy in the field of occupational safety and health and include the development of the Campbell Institute at the National Safety Council where her leadership established it as a leading authority on environmental, health, and safety (EHS) practices.
- Barry K. Logan, PhD, Senior Vice President & Chief Scientist, National Medical Services, Inc. Through his leadership, research, education, and policy influence, Dr. Logan has made substantial and lasting contributions to the field of forensic toxicology, significantly advancing public safety and reducing harm from drugs and alcohol and has been a pivotal figure in forensic toxicology for 34 years, driving advancements in the detection, quantitation, and interpretation of drugs, alcohol, and poisons. His work has been crucial in legal matters, particularly those involving injury and death.
- Kathy A. Seabrook, Founder, CEO, Global Solutions, Inc. Through her leadership, educational efforts, and strategic advisory roles, Seabrook has advanced the field of occupational health and safety, influencing safety practices and culture across various industries and regions worldwide. Her contributions have led to improved organizational health and safety management systems, ultimately reducing injury rates and enhancing overall corporate performance and sustainability.
- Daniel Snyder, EdD, Safety Scientist and Philosopher, Safety Mentor, LLC. Dr. Daniel Snyder has dedicated over 30 years to enhancing the field of occupational safety and health (OSH). His impact spans mentorship, research, standards development, and leadership within professional organizations. He has mentored thousands of EHS professionals, helping them develop skills in risk assessment, problem-solving, communication, and leadership, and his influence is reflected in the personal and professional growth of many safety professionals who regard him as a pivotal figure in their careers.