The World Safety Organization (WSO) is an international
professional association
A professional association (also called a professional body, professional organization, or professional society) usually seeks to advocacy, further a particular profession, the interests of individuals and organisations engaged in that professio ...
in
safety
Safety is the state of being "safe", the condition of being protected from harm or other danger. Safety can also refer to risk management, the control of recognized hazards in order to achieve an acceptable level of risk.
Meanings
There are ...
. The WSO was founded in 1975 in Manila, Republic of the Philippines,
[WSO. WSO Brochure. URL. http://www.planet-realart.com/graphic/print/WSO_brochure.pdf (accessed 8 January 2010] as a result of a gathering of over 1,000 safety professionals from all continents
at the First World Safety and Accident Prevention Congress (WOSAPCON) held from 16–21 November 1975.
The Second WOSAPCON was held in Singapore from 3–14 July 1978. The WSO gained Special
Consultative Status Category II (NGOs) with the UN
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 1987. The WSO World Management Center was established in the US in 1987, to be responsible for all WSO activities, which includes facilitating its relationship to the
United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...
(UN) and its cooperation with professional safety, environmental and other allied organizations.
Since the establishment of the WSO World Management Centre in the US, international conferences have been conducted annually in the USA.
The WSO is governed by a 21-member Board of Directors and is headed by a President/Director-General, which is currently Dr Vlado Senkovich.
[WSO. Board of Directors. URL. http://www.worldsafety.org/pages/board.html(accessed 8 January 2010)] Its operations are managed by International Offices, Chapters, Divisions, Committees and specially designated WSO Collaborating Centers.
A Global Safety Roundtable is also conducted annually during the WSO international conferences held in the US,
where participants can exchange expertise, experience and knowledge with their counterparts
from other countries on new methods and programs being implemented in their respective areas of specialization.
The Global Safety Roundtable is also a forum for the development of potential resolutions to UN ECOSOC.
Objectives of the WSO
The Objectives of the WSO are to:
* To encourage the effective exchange of information and experiences between members of the WSO;
* Collaborate with other international organizations in areas of mutual concern;
* Promote the continuous advancement of safety and accident prevention technology;
* Strive for a universal level of professionalism and competence among its members and all professionals and practitioners in the multi-discipline of occupational and environmental safety, health and accident prevention; and to
* Advance the WSO overall theme...."Making Safety a Way of Life . . . Worldwide."
Membership and Certification
Membership of the WSO is open to all interested safety professionals (as Affiliate Members) and to others interested in safety (as Associate Members). It also offers Student, Institutional and Corporate Membership. The WSO offers 16 Certification programs, such as the Certified Safety Executive, Certified Safety Manager, Certified Safety Specialist and Certified Safety and Security Director.
[WSO. Certification. URL. http://www.worldsafety.org/pages/certification.html (accessed 8 January 2010)]
References
{{Reflist
Safety organizations
Organizations established in 1975