Dr. Earl Blair, associate professor in the Department of Safety and Security at Eastern Kentucky University, was one of four occupational safety experts honored as a 2019 Fellow by the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), the world’s oldest professional safety organization.
The Fellow title is the most prestigious designation bestowed each year by the ASSP. There are only about 50 living Fellows in the organization, out of about 38,000 members.
“I am honored and humbled to be named a Fellow by the American Society of Safety Professionals,” Blair said. “I believe a big part of their consideration for awarding me Fellow involved my mentoring and working to develop the next generation of safety professionals.”
Blair, an ASSP member since 1982, has more than 35 years of experience in safety management. He has educated safety professionals from all over the world and developed permit systems for Fortune 500 companies. Blair’s systems have improved worker safety while dramatically reducing workers’ compensation costs. He also has published articles on safety management, safety culture development and effective safety leadership in peer-reviewed journals, and delivered scholarly presentations all over the world.
“ASSP Fellows are the heart of our profession and deserve significant credit for their dedicated work to advance occupational safety and health,” said ASSP President Rixio Medina. “Their career achievements in preventing workplace injuries and fatalities are an inspiration, helping to improve business outcomes worldwide.”
Founded in 1911, the ASSP is a global organization with more than 150 chapter communities in the United States and abroad. Through support, networking and continuing education for occupational safety and health professionals, the ASSP creates sound safety practices in the workplace that are both socially responsible and profitable for businesses.