ASSP Presents 2018 Safety Management Innovation Award
The winner from Ingalls Shipbuilding developed a real-time safety training simulator to quickly improve trainees' hazard control skills.
SAN ANTONIO -- The American Society of Safety Professionals presented its 2018 Safety Management Innovation Award on June 4 to Christopher A. Buzbee from Ingalls Shipbuilding wat the Safety 2018 annual conference. Sponsored by Cintas Corporation, the annual award celebrates those who bring creativity to managing safety in the workplace. Buzbee's winning innovation is an interactive, real-time safety training simulator designed to rapidly improve hazard control skills.
“Christopher’s innovation recognizes that workers learn best when immersed in the environment where important safety decisions must be made,” said ASSP President Jim Smith, MS, CSP. “It’s inspiring how occupational safety and health professionals are constantly developing new programs that minimize common hazards. We owe a lot to these talented innovators who are committed to finding solutions that enhance workplace safety.”
Buzbee is an ASSP member and system safety engineer based in Pascagoula, Miss. Ingalls Shipbuilding calls his safety innovation “SPACES,” which stands for Situational Perception And Condition Evaluation Simulator. It was originally developed to give newly hired employees a fast introduction to their work environment and to hazard control skills. The program’s success led to its expansion into safety training for a full spectrum of production workforce personnel.
Buzbee received a plaque and $3,000 for his safety achievement.
Honorable mentions, with $500, went to:
- ASSP member Samuel B. Merrell, CSP, ASP, CHST, director of safety and health at Hensel Phelps in Austin, Texas. He developed virtual safety training in which the construction job site is brought into the classroom. Users virtually walk through an environment to learn hazard recognition techniques and how to navigate safety regulations and company policy.
- ASSP member Jean Ndana, CSP, ASP, PMP, project health and safety manager at AECOM. He created an at-a-glance labeling system that uses color-coded shapes and symbols, and portable secondary containers, to reduce the likelihood of mismatches and cross-contamination.