The Award for Innovation in Occupational Safety Management recognizes those who bring innovation and creativity to managing safety in the workplace. The award will be presented annually. ASSE invites you to submit an application in accordance with the following policy and procedures.
The recipient will receive an engraved plaque at the Society’s annual Professional Development Conference, Safety 2015, in Dallas, Texas, June 7019, 2015, as well as a $3,000 cash prize.
Applications judged to have considerable merit but that are not the winning application may receive “Honorable Mention” recognition at ASSE’s discretion. Up to five Honorable Mention applications may be approved and each will receive $500.
ELIGIBILITY
The award is open to members and non-members of the Society, except for members of ASSE’s Board of Directors, Society staff, anyone involved with the selection process for the Award for Innovation, and anyone who is currently employed or has been employed in the last five years by the sponsor either full time or part time or as a vendor.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES AND POLICY
All applications for the award must be submitted online at http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Safety-2015-Innovation-Award-Application or using the form with this call for applications . A complete application will consist of four parts (see below for more details):
- Application form
- Description of the Innovation
- Biographical Information
- Reference Information
DEADLINE
All applications for the 2015 award must be sent to ASSE Headquarters and postmarked or emailed no later than March 31, 2015.
APPLICATION POLICIES
Online Submission
Online submissions are preferred.
Multiple Submissions
An individual may submit no more than two applications. Applications must be complete and represent the work of the applicant. Complete a separate application form for each proposed innovation.
Length of Materials Submitted
Except where noted, no specific minimum length is required. In general, the package of application materials should not exceed 20 pages.
Other Sources
Innovative applications derived from of other sources, such as a management theory or practice, are eligible for consideration. The source should be cited and the description of the innovation must explain how use of the source is innovative. If an application/software developer is involved with the project, the name of that organization or person should be cited and their role explained.
APPLICATION PACKAGE
❑ Application Form (online applications preferred)
❑ Description of the Innovation
Describe the innovation and its intended purpose. Explain in general its effects on the organization, particularly the effect on safety management. In particular:
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Specify the range to which the innovation has been or is intended to be applied. This may include whether one or more programs or work sites are affected, the size of the workforce to which the innovation applies and the overall breadth of applicability. Note whether the innovation is fully implemented and, if not, to what extent it has been implemented.
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Describe the innovation’s management benefits. These may include efficiency improvements, problem resolution or improved decision making. If the innovation was implemented to solve a problem, then include a concise statement of the problem and how it was solved or otherwise addressed by the innovation. To the extent possible, include quantitative data outcomes that substantiate the benefit.
- Describe the innovation’s safety benefits. This may include specific safety outcomes, such as reductions in injuries and/or fatalities, or elimination of hazards or exposures. Other potential benefits may include improvements such as making a process safer, improving program effectiveness, or building the safety knowledge or awareness of the workforce.
- Provide a brief description of your innovation for public release (approximately 50-100 words).
❑ Biographical Information
Applicants must provide the following on a separate page with the package: a single sheet with the applicant’s full name as it appears on the application form and the following additional information: education [name of institution, degree(s) held]; current position and organization; a summary of work experience as it might apply to the innovation for which the application is submitted. Do not include information over and above that specified (such as a multiple-page resume or cv).
❑ Reference Information
The package must include at least two and no more than five reference statements from individuals who can corroborate that the innovation is the applicant’s work. The statement should comment on the innovation’s applicability and effectiveness in managing safety. Appropriate references include supervisors, colleagues or other individuals with knowledge of the innovation. Reference statements should be no more than two pages in length, and should contain the signature of the individual making the statement and his/her contact information (telephone number, postal and e-mail addresses). List the names and contact information of each reference on the application form, and include the reference statements with the application package.
JUDGING APPLICATIONS
Judges will be appointed in accordance with procedures approved by ASSE’s Board of Directors. Applications will be evaluated for their overall innovativeness and degree of effectiveness in accordance with the following weighted factors:
- The range of application of the innovation in managing safety (20%)
- Management benefits of the innovation (40%)
- Safety benefit(s) attributable to the innovation (40%)