Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all! The end of 2020 is finally upon us, and what a year it has been. Most everyone has been challenged in unprecedented ways including Safety Professionals who have seen their roles expanded to include pandemic advisors due to Covid 19 and in some cases security officers in the wake of social unrest. It is reassuring to see how the safety community has banded together to meet the needs of the employees we help protect, our employers’, and ultimately the communities we serve.
The ASSP Society has been at the forefront of networking and providing the resources to help safety practitioners meet these challenges. And the Chesapeake Chapter has been right there all the way, supporting the Society as well as our local members. By being flexible, going virtual with meetings and training sessions the Chapter and the Society have continued to bring members the information and resources needed to address these ever-changing issues.
While the pandemic is not over yet, in fact many areas are still showing a rise in cases, there is good news: the formulation of vaccinations that appear to be quite effective in preventing the further spread of the Covid 19 virus. Of course, with every new advancement comes a new challenge, including the most effective and fair distribution of the vaccine. I am certain that Safety Professionals will again be there to assist in this challenge. I am proud of what we have accomplished in 2020 in spite of the challenges or perhaps because of the challenges. I look forward to a great year in 2021.
So again, I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a safe and healthy holiday season.
James F Kane (Jim)
President, Chesapeake Chapter
American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP)