A location for
the preservation and display of safety/health instruments, devices,
and equipment.
SHHOFI was organized
to provide participation from any organization having a vested interest
in safety and health or concerned with elimination of recognized hazards.
Those organizations willing to serve as a cooperating organization
could designate a representative for the Governing Council, which
in turn elected, from that membership, a board of Governors.
The Board of Governors was empowered to employ an Executive Director
to perform ongoing tasks on a day-by-day basis and also to provide
expertise for actions requested or planned by the Board of Governors
and the Governing Council. From that structure, committees were
formed to provide action in each area of the organization’s business.
Central to SHHOFI’s mission was the Selection Committee, which developed
the format and process to be utilized in the selection of nominated
candidates for induction to the Safety and Health Hall of Fame.
In October 1987
the first “class” of six individuals was inducted in Chicago during
the National
Safety Congress. From 1987 through 1996 SHHOFI remained
at Central Missouri State University. During that period 52
individuals were inducted. SHHOFI was moved from Central Missouri
State University to the National
Safety Council following the November 1996 induction ceremony.
The Safety and
Health Hall of Fame International was born of an idea promulgated
by the Veterans of Safety (VOS). VOS obtained the cooperation
of fourteen charter member organizations, a commitment for Central
Missouri State University to house the organization and to provide
monetary support for its leadership and program activities.
Following a planning
study that indicated a difficult prospect of fund raising, plans were
made to relocate to an entity which was highly visible in the field
of safety, health, and environment. The result was an organizational
move to the National Safety Council, Itasca, IL, where it has been
housed and continued to be active in selecting individuals for the
“Hall of Fame”.
Update:
The Safety and Health Hall of Fame International is in the process
of moving from the National Safety Council (NCS) in Itasca, Illinois
to the Construction Safety Council in Hillside, Illinois. At this writing, SHHOFI is seeking sponsoring
members to assist the organization and to nominate members to join
a newly constituted board of directors. The National Safety
Council and Veterans of Safety are currently represented on a three
person board, but it is anticipated that the number will grow to 10-15
in the near future. Individuals and organizations interested
in financially supporting the organization are encouraged to contact
Tom or Sharon Broderick at (800) 552-7744: Tom at extension
207 and Sharon at extension 206.
SHHOFI is an international
treasure that honors the life work of men and women whose contributions
to improving health, safety and the environment have positively impacted
society. Going forward, the stewards of the organization will
strive to promote SHHOFI and share the information about its inductees
with the millions of people whose lives have been improved, even saved
by their contributions.
