National Safety COuncil News Release, Oct. 29, 2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 29, 2001 				
CONTACT:  Joe Larkin	 			
(630) 775-2303

Two Federal Executives Assigned to Help U.S.Prepare for 2005 World Safety Congress

ITASCA, IL - Two senior Federal executives have been assigned to work with the National Safety Council (NSC) on preparations for the 17th World Safety Congress, to be held in Orlando, Fla., in 2005.  The NSC is serving as host for the Congress, which will be held in the United States for the first time.

Julius Jimeno, Director of the Office of Safety, Health and Environmental Management for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Marthe Kent, Director of Safety Standards for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), will join the NSC*s Washington, D.C. office on temporary assignments to help develop programs and activities for the event. 

The Congress is a tripartite (government, industry, and labor) effort that is sponsored every three years by the International Social Security Association (ISSA) and the International Labor Organization (ILO), as well as several national governments. 

As representatives of their agencies in helping plan the 2005 Congress, Jimeno and Ms. Kent will be heavily involved in strengthening relations among their agencies, the NSC, and other U.S. and international organizations and government entities involved in safety and health issues. 
 
*The National Safety Council is extremely pleased that EPA and OSHA have demonstrated their commitment to the World Safety Congress through the assignment of such talented and experienced senior executives to this project,* said NSC President Alan C. McMillan. *The participation of Julius Jimeno and Marthe Kent will insure that our nation*s best safety and health practices are incorporated into the programs that will be developed for the 2005 world Safety Congress.*

Jimeno, who has served in his present position at EPA since November 1989, directs the agency*s safety, industrial hygiene, occupational health, medical, and environmental management programs.  He has also been active in a number of Federal committees and advisory boards dealing with occupational safety and health issues.

Ms. Kent has been involved in health and safety programs since 1976.  Most recently, as OSHA*s Safety Standards Programs director, Ms. Kent oversees the offices of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering Safety Standards; Fire Protection Engineering and Systems Safety Standards; and Maritime Safety Standards.  She also serves as Acting Director of Health Standards Programs, managing the offices of Risk Assessment, Risk Reduction Technology, Standards Analysis and Promulgation, and Standards Review. 

*Their wealth of professional experience will be extremely valuable as we work with labor and management organizations and the World Congress* international organizers to conduct a variety of cutting-edge research, demonstration and information-sharing programs over the next four years,* McMillan said. *We will report on the results of those activities at the 2005 World Congress, and take advantage of this important forum to build on the programs already in place and to identify needs for additional work.*

The ISSA was founded in 1927 and serves as a forum for agencies throughout the world that administer workers* compensation programs, sickness and disability insurance, pensions and other worker benefits. The ISSA*s work in occupational safety and health is carried out by *sections* that focus on preventing occupational risks in specific industries, such as agriculture, construction, and mining.

The ILO (http://www.ilo.org) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes social justice and internationally recognized human and labor rights. It was founded in 1919 and is the only surviving major creation of the Treaty of Versailles, which established the League of Nations. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, the ILO formulates international labor standards, provides technical assistance, promotes the development of independent employers' and workers' organizations, and provides training and advisory services to those organizations. Workers and employers participate as equal partners with governments in the ILO*s work. 

The 17th World Safety Congress will be held in September 2005 in conjunction with the NSC*s annual Congress & Expo. The 16th World Congress will be May 26-31, 2002, in Vienna, Austria.

The National Safety Council (NSC) is a not-for-profit, nongovernmental, international public service organization dedicated to protecting life and promoting health. NSC*s 37,500-plus member locations include businesses, labor organizations, schools, public agencies, private groups and individuals. Founded in 1913, NSC's scope has expanded to include highway, community and recreational safety, as well as occupational and environmental health. The NSC estimates that 4.2 million lives have been saved through improved safety practices since the Council was established.

More information on the ILO, ISSA, and the 2002 World Safety Congress can be found at http://www.safety2002.at.

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