ASSE Helping OSHA Collect Donated PPE
The donated items will be sent to 501c3 organizations in areas still recovering from Hurricane Sandy's damage.
The American Society of Safety Engineers, the largest safety professional association in the United States, is asking its members' companies and chapters to donates PPE so people cleaning up the damage of Hurricane Sandy will be better protected. Dave Heidorn, ASSE's government affairs chief, alerted his contacts Nov. 16 that OSHA Assistant Secretary Dr. David Michaels had personally asked ASSE, NSC, and AIHA to reach out to their constituencies seeking a variety of protective products.
"Talking to ASSE members personally affected by this tragedy, it is much worse and much more dangerous than the news can convey. People in that region need your help in protecting themselves as they try to fix their homes and their lives," Heidorn wrote in his email.
ASSE is asking companies and organizations to donate:
- Safety vests
- Gloves (a) cloth, (b) rubber chemical resistant, and (c) leather to handle tree branches
- Hard hats
- Ear plugs
- Knee pads, waterproof coveralls, and cut-resistant chaps
- Fire extinguishers
- Goggles without vent holes
- Electrically insulated watertight boots with steel shank, toe, and insole
- Disposable N95 respirators, but not elastomer respirators
- Bags to contain all of the above
The contact for those interested in donating equipment is OSHA's Cathie M. Mannion, assistant regional administrator for Technical Support, at [email protected] . "OSHA notes that shipping to the individual organizations directly will speed the distribution to the workers. Also, companies should let ASSE know by contacting [email protected] or [email protected] on what donations are being made and where they are being sent to ensure the efforts are coordinated," according to ASSE's online information about the request.
"At this point, any help is much needed," ASSE NY City Chapter Past President Peter Amato said.