ASSE HONORS
MI’S KATHLEEN
DOBSON AS ONE OF 100 WOMEN MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN SAFETY
DES PLAINES, IL (September 15, 2011) – The American
Society of Safety Engineers’ (ASSE) Women in Safety
Engineering (WISE) Common Interest Group has honored
Kathleen Dobson, CHST, LEED AP, of Smiths Creek, MI for
making a difference in the safety, health and
environmental (SH&E) field as part of the WISE ‘100
Women, Making a Difference in Safety’ project. Women
from around the world and throughout history have been
honored for their dedication to protecting people,
property and the environment and for going above and
beyond to make a difference.
Dobson is currently the director of multiple divisions
at Alberici Constructors and reports to the company’s
Chief Operations Officer. Dobson is responsible for
managing safety efforts on the projects within those
divisions, as well as for developing educational
programs for the field and office staff. Ultimately,
Dobson must ensure that the company’s efforts in the
realm of safety are communicated to all personnel and
that workers are properly educated and prepared to
perform their daily tasks. She travels extensively to
project sites throughout the country and is
predominantly based in Michigan and Missouri. Dobson
began her career in safety and health while working a
temporary assignment as an occupational health nurse at
a manufacturing company, where she learned the critical
nature of safety in the daily lives of workers. Her
first official safety, health and environmental (SH&E)
role was at J.S. Alberici, Inc., a union construction
company. Dobson’s hard work and dedication throughout
her career has resulted in numerous employees returning
home from work injury and illness-free each day.
In addition to her many professional accomplishments,
Dobson is a long-time member of ASSE and is an active
member of the Greater Detroit Chapter. She has achieved
the designation of Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design Accredited Professional and
Construction Health and Safety Technician. She was
appointed to Commissioner of the Michigan Construction
Safety Standards Commission in 2008 by the state of
Michigan’s Governor Jennifer Granholm and is an adjunct
professor at Oakland Community College in the
Construction Management program.
When asked about being honored as one of 100 women
making a difference in safety, Dobson stated, “I am
proud to be part of this elite group of women and I am
honored to be recognized by my peers.”
The ‘100 Women, Making a Difference in Safety’ project
honors women who, throughout history, have dedicated
their careers to promoting innovation in safety, health
and environmental issues. The valuable contributions of
women to the SH&E profession have been recognized
through this project and later this year WISE will
consolidate the profiles of all 100 honorees into a
single publication, titled 100 Women, Making a
Difference in the Safety, Health and Environmental
Profession as part of ASSE’s (1911-2011) 100th
anniversary.
WISE was established to foster the advancement of women
in the SH&E profession. The group provides professional
development opportunities, evaluates the ongoing state
of women in SH&E, mentors women in the profession,
provides opportunities for women to obtain professional
certifications and promotes the development and peer
review of written material related to issues specific to
women in the SH&E workplace. For more information about
WISE and upcoming events, please visit
www.asse.org/practicespecialties/wise/mission.php.
Founded in 1911 and celebrating its centennial, the Des
Plaines, IL-based ASSE is the oldest professional safety
society and is committed to protecting people, property
and the environment. Its more than 34,000 occupational
safety, health and environmental professional members
lead, manage, supervise, research and consult on safety,
health, transportation and environmental issues in all
industries, government, labor, healthcare and education.
For more information, please go to www.asse.org and to
view the new ASSE – A Century of Safety film go to
www.asse.org/assecenturyofsafety. |