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OSH Spotlight

Murray State University ASSE Student Chapter Hosts a Tornado Relief Drive

On February 10, 2013, an F4 tornado tore through Hattiesburg, Mississippi causing numerous injuries and millions of dollars in damage. Several dorm buildings of Southern Mississippi University (SMU) were damaged and many students were left without living quarters.

In an effort to assist Hattiesburg in rebuilding and educate our own community in Murray, our ASSE chapter held a Tornado Relief Drive in the storefront of Dollar General on March 2, 2013. We asked patrons of the store to purchase and donate certain items needed in Hattiesburg. We also handed out Red Cross Emergency Preparedness and Home Hazard Hunt Checklists to the public. The purpose behind these handouts was to educate our community on what preparations they need to make in the case an emergency such as a tornado ever hit our area. The Home Hazard Hunt Checklist instructed people on how to control hazards in the home.

Thirteen MSU ASSE members came to the event to assist in the collection of donations. We collected several hundred dollars worth of much needed goods. The items donated for the SMU tornado relief were taken to a distribution center in Hattiesburg by SMU alumni.

Spring 2013 OSH Graduate Assistants/NIOSH Grant Recipients

National Safety Council Designates Murray State University a Safe Community

The National Safety Council designated Murray State University as an "International Safe Community" on December 7, 2012. Murray State is the 1^st public university in the world to receive this designation and is only the third university to be designated. It is the 22^nd community in the United States, the 299th worldwide. As the first public university to become designated, it 's a real differentiator.

In 2011, it was suggested by the Murray State University, American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) Student Section President that the university pursue the Safe Community designation and the process began. Dr. David Fender, Professor in the Department of Occupational Safety and Health, was largely responsible for applying and receiving the designation for Murray State.

This designation means that Murray State University has demonstrated that it is a leading institution in addressing a wide variety of safety and health issues. We have processes in place to keep the campus safe, both from a safety and health viewpoint. It does not mean that the university or the community is 100 percent safe, nobody could make that claim, but we do have successful active prevention programs as well as having processes that if something were to happen, then we know exactly what needs to be done.

Safe Communities America is an international program that was developed more than 20 years ago by the World Health Organization's (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Community Safety Promotion in Stockholm, Sweden. It started at the local level and caught on across Sweden before the WHO took notice.

The program is a proven approach to community injury reduction structured around a broad coalition of coalition of community partners, including businesses, civic organizations, local government, non-profits, and local residents.

The United States and the National Safety Council has been involved with this since 2007, and since that time 23 communities that have been designated. It takes a lot of work and requires a significant effort to achieve the designation and is quite a prestigious honor. To receive the designation communities must have and document extensive safety and health programs in a wide variety of areas and pass an on-site review with an international review team.

Rho Sigma Kappa, OSH Honor Society, Inducts New Members (Fall 2012)

Dr. Randal Keller Receives Special Recognition

Dr. Randal Keller has received a special recognition as a result of his efforts working with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Chemical and Biological Technologies Department: Advance and Emerging Threat Division. Dr. Keller has been part of a distinguished Review Panel for the annual project-level technical review team. This year’s Science and Technology (S&T) Review Symposium included more than 40 projects that were funded at almost 40 million dollars. Dr. Keller was nominated and competitively selected as a reviewer and subject matter expert for this project. He was commended by his peers for his scientific insights and practical, logical comments throughout the process. Congratulations Dr. Keller for serving as an ideal ambassador for MSU and the OSH Department!

Dr. Gary Morris presents "Noise Exposure at an NCAA Basketball Arena" at the

ASSE Safety 2012 Poster Session

MSU ASSE Student Chapter Participates in the 2012 Mudicine Run

The Murray State University ASSE Student Chapter got “down and dirty” to help the local community. Approximately 30 OSH students and 2 OSH faculty members participated in the first ever “Mudicine Run” in Marshall County. The proceeds of this 5k were raised to help support the new free health clinic. Students showed up bright and early ready to run, the race started with a 2 mile run followed by a mile of muddy obstacles. The morning was filled with laughter and cheering as each team crossed the finish line. This is just one of the many ways our local ASSE chapter is building friendships and giving back to the community.

Murray State University, Occupational Safety and Health Alumna, Dr. Treasa Turnbeaugh Named New Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Turnbeaugh has realized a ground breaking accomplishment for the safety, health and environmental industry by becoming the first female to head the international certification body the Board of Certified Safety Professionals.

The Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) is pleased to announce Treasa M. Turnbeaugh, Ph.D., MBA, CSP, CET, as the new Chief Executive Officer effective September 1, 2012. Dr. Turnbeaugh was selected after a national search for this position and will succeed retiring CEO, Thomas L. Adams, LHD, CAE.

Dr. Turnbeaugh most recently served as the Chief Operating Officer of BCSP, where she was responsible for all examinations, marketing, customer service, and business development as well as the development of new initiatives for BCSP to bring value to its certificants. Dr. Turnbeaugh is experienced in the Safety, Health and Environmental (SH&E) field and in the field of professional certification. Additionally, Dr. Turnbeaugh brings experience and leadership in the business arena of both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.

Dr. Turnbeaugh holds a Ph.D. in Health Services Research, with a minor in Epidemiology and a Master of Public Health from Saint Louis University; a Master of Business Administration from Lindenwood University; and both a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety and Health, with a specialization in Industrial Hygiene, from Murray State University. She is a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers, the American Industrial Hygiene Association, and the American Society of Association Executives. Dr. Turnbeaugh has been in the SH&E profession for over 25 years, has held her CSP certification over 20 years, and is a Certified Environmental, Safety & Health Trainer (CET).

"Dr. Turnbeaugh's leadership and management skills along with knowledge of the SH&E industry bring exactly the right blend of business to continue moving BCSP forward in advancing the SH&E profession and to bring value to our certification holders," stated Carl Heinlein, President of the Board of Directors of BCSP. "The Board and the entire team at BCSP are looking forward to continued success and growth with Dr. Turnbeaugh as the CEO." On her new appointment, Turnbeaugh said, "I am honored to lead the excellent team at BCSP; we have had a rich history of providing exceptional service in competency based testing for the SH&E industry and together with the Board, we will continue to move the organization forward through sustainable service, growth and innovation."

OSH Awards & Recognition Reception

The Department of Occupational Safety and Health celebrated its annual Awards and Recognition Reception on April 27, 2012, at the Richard H. Lewis Lodge at Cherokee Park. OSH students were recognized for receiving over $60,000 in scholarship money, as well as over $64,000 in NIOSH grant tuition assistance. Twenty-eight students were recognized for receiving the Graduate Safety Practitioner (GSP) designation and fourteen students were inducted into Rho Sigma Kappa, the OSH Honor’s Society. In addition, thirty-six students were recognized as May/August 2012 graduates, twenty graduating with a B.S. in OSH and sixteen with a M.S. in OSH. The undergraduate Honor’s Recipients for outstanding academic performance, outstanding senior, and outstanding contributor were also named.

Dr. David Fender is Recognized for Fifteen Years of Outstanding Leadership, Dedication, and Success as the Murray State University American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) Faculty Advisor.

The Board of Directors of the Institute for Safety and Health Management (ISHM) has recognized the Department of Occupational Safety & Health’s Bachelor and Master of Science degrees. Students graduating with a B.S. or M.S. in Occupational Safety & Health may immediately apply for the Associate Safety and Health Manager (ASHM) certification and with two years experience in the safety and health management field apply for and take the Certified Safety and Health Manager (CSHM) exam.

The Institute for Safety and Health Management is the credentialing organization founded by the National Safety Management Society (NSMS), to promote the establishment of professional standards. Through the ISHM certification program, the Institute promotes the advancement of safety management through the application of management principles and the integration of safety into all levels and activities of management. For more information go to www.ishm.org.

The Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) has recognized the Department of Occupational Safety & Health’s Bachelor and Master of Science degrees. Students graduating with a B.S. or M.S. in Occupational Safety & Health from Murray State University may immediately apply for the Graduate Safety Practitioner (GSP) designation. The Graduate Safety Practitioner (GSP) program is an additional path to the Certified Safety Professional (CSP). The GSP designation is available to safety degree graduates from degree programs which meet BCSP Qualified Academic Program (QAP) standards. A QAP is an academic degree program in safety which meets BCSP standards for participation in the GSP program. Currently, BCSP defines a QAP as a bachelor's or master's degree program holding program accreditation as a safety or similarly named program by the Applied Science Accreditation Commission of ABET (ABET-ASAC). The benefits for obtaining the GSP designation include recognition for bring in a path toward the CSP certification, recognition for the level of preparation for professional safety practice, a waiver of the application fee, a waiver of the Safety Fundamentals examination, and a certificate awarding the GSP designation.

The Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) began in 1969 as a peer certification board. Its sole purpose is to certify practitioners in the safety profession. Since its inception, over 20,000 individuals have achieved the CSP certification and nearly 11,000 currently hold it. The value of the CSP continues to grow. In the U.S., numerous laws, regulations and standards cite it. More importantly, many companies include it in position standards, government agencies rely on it and contracts for safety services require it. The average person holding the CSP credential today earns nearly $20,000 more than others in the safety field who hold no certification. For more information go to www.bcsp.org.

OSH Awards & Recognition Reception

MSU ASSE Student Chapter Participates in the 2012 Mudicine Run