The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) has named Kathy A. Seabrook, CSP, CFIOSH, FASSP, EurOSHM, the recipient of the 2021 Thomas F. Bresnahan Standards Medal for her valuable work in developing and advocating occupational health and safety (OHS) standards.

Seabrook, CEO of the management consulting firm Global Solutions Inc. and former ASSP president, has been involved in the development of workplace safety standards for almost 20 years. She is a trusted advisor to safety and health leaders worldwide, helping them collaboratively build a strategic roadmap to create a future state where the value of people and their safety, health and well-being are embedded in all business decisions.

Seabrook is an ASSP Fellow, member of the Global Reporting Initiative 403 OHS standard project group and vice chair of the U.S. technical advisory group to ISO/TC 283 that advises the American National Standards Institute, working on management system standards and reporting metrics that help all industries become safer.

“Kathy is a valuable leader in the way she contributes her technical expertise and extensive knowledge of health and safety management systems,” said Brian Hammer, CDS, chair of ASSP’s Standards Development Committee. “She knows precisely how the consensus process works and brings the experience of working globally and cross-culturally to help manage the standards process.”

Two significant OHS management systems standards in which Seabrook has played a key role are ISO 45001 and ANSI/ASSP Z10. The standards are innovative management tools essential in creating safe and healthy work environments. They are blueprints that set an operational foundation by ensuring critical processes are integrated, which helps organizations reduce injuries, save lives and improve business outcomes.

Seabrook works with committee members from across the United States and around the world to reach consensus on the standards. For ISO 45001, the multi-year process included gathering input from more than 80 countries across six continents. The groundbreaking standard guides businesses and their supply chains in the development of a highly effective health and safety management system for an increasingly interconnected world.

Seabrook is a published author who has made standards presentations at conferences, seminars and webinars; provided project overviews to ASSP chapters; and spoke at a congressional briefing on Capitol Hill on global supply chain initiatives and how voluntary consensus standards play a significant role in creating business solutions that cross borders.

“Better management of risk is needed by businesses across the board to not only protect their people – a company’s human capital – but to achieve growth, performance and sustainability objectives,” Seabrook said. “There are widespread benefits to all stakeholders when a business values the safety, health and well-being of their people and it is reflected in their decision making. I call this the #TrueNorthTest and it is best accomplished through a management systems-based approach.”

The Bresnahan Standards Medal recognizes ASSP members who actively participate in developing voluntary consensus standards that advance worker safety. The award is named in honor of Thomas F. Bresnahan, a former ASSP staff member and Fellow who reinvigorated the Society’s standards development program and helped position the organization for growth in this strategic area.

See past recipients of the Bresnahan Standards Medal on the ASSP website.

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