Alfred
C. Blackman
Class of 2000
Background:
Alfred C. Blackman was an early practitioner in safety engineering
and safety management. He entered the safety profession in
1931. Throughout his career he understood the need for and
promoted the importance of research. He influenced the safety
profession and the professional development of thousands of
safety practitioners. Specifically, he was a leader at and
significant contributor to the American Society of Safety
Engineers (ASSE), the State of California and NIOSH.
He is
a Professional Engineer, a Certified Safety Professional and
has been awarded the Honor of Fellow of the American Society
of Safety Engineers. He is known and recognized internationally
and is an honorary Fellow of the Institution of Industrial
Safety Officers in the United Kingdom.
Professional
Experience:
Early in the 1960s, Mr. Blackman was an impelling force in
the ASSE Professional Development Project. One of its effects,
the definition of the Scope and Functions document, continues
as a definitive standard to this day, 34 years later. The
whole project is a cornerstone for the efforts of ASSE and
the safety profession both in practice and in degree programs.
Through
his leadership, through his concern for the profession, and
through his broad grasp of the functions of the safety practitioner,
Mr. Blackman made a substantial impact on the safety profession.
In ASSE
he was instrumental in developing education programs and courses
and in establishing the Board of Certified Safety Professionals.
Career
Highlights:
As early as 1948, Mr. Blackman's writings reflected concern
for the engineer and for the engineer's responsibility: "The
progress of civilization should not be measured...on the things
it originates for evil, but rather on those it develops for
good. Our Western civilization is based on the...belief that
human life and liberty are our most valuable possessions.
If so, then the measure of science and engineering is its
ability to make life safer as well as more productive. The
two must run concurrently and the engineer is charged with
that responsibility."
As Chief
of Industrial Safety at the State of California, Al set a
cutting-edge standard that continues to this day.
He promoted
the importance of environmental hazard control and the education
of workers, and introduced systems to evaluate procedures
as they related to the prevention of accidents and injuries.
