The 2014 ASSE Safety Innovation Award Goes to Ali Hasan Al-Failakawi

ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) today named Ali Hasan Al-Failakawi the winner of the 2014 Award for Innovation in Occupational Safety Management for implementing a road safety program that helped reduce motor vehicle accidents. The Award for Innovation in Occupational Safety Management was sponsored by the Cintas Corporation CTAS, a leading provider of on-site safety services and training solutions. Cintas awarded Al-Failakawi a $3,000 cash prize and a plaque recognizing his efforts.

Al-Failakawi is an occupational safety and health team leader for the Kuwait Oil Co., a giant oil and gas utility with more than 30,000 employees who travel more than 5 million miles monthly. He is also a member of ASSE, the Society of Petroleum Engineers and the Kuwait Engineers Society. Al-Failakawi and his team also took the challenge of initiating a program to promote safe driving.

“We're truly inspired by the unique strategies and programs that organizations have implemented in an effort to improve workplace safety,” said Kathy A. Seabrook, ASSE President. “Al-Failakawi and his team stood out for their dedication to promote safe driving whether employees were working or off the clock.”

To develop the program, the team created a process called “SPEED-Management.” SPEED is an acronym that describes a multi-directional approach covering the following areas: Surveillance, including fleet controls, prevailing driving practices, etc.; Policies, suitable, appropriate; Engineering approach and solutions; Enforcement of rules/regulations; and Driver awareness program.

“Every organization should make ongoing safety a priority and this award highlights the best programs and tools of today,” said Dan Braun, Safety Officer at Cintas [Senior Vice President-Value Improvement Initiatives-Operations]. “We hope the ideas from the winner and honorable mentions encourage organizations to analyze their current safety programs and identify ways they can take them to the next level.”

Honorable mentions for the award developed tablet apps for assessing machine hazards, personalized e-learning programs, behavior-based safety approaches and more. The honorees include: John Bennett, M.C. Dean; Todd Christenson, State of Minnesota Department of Administration Risk Management; Jose Rafael Concepcion, Lydall Thermal Acoustical Inc., Michael Dardar, Blackhawk Specialty Tools, LLC.; Ryan Kamerzell, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; Dennis Marolt, DPM Safety Consulting, LLC.; Andrew McLaughlin, The Kellogg Company; David Nadeau, Aristeo Construction Company; Kevin O'Donnell, NextEra Energy Resources, LLC.; Kenneth Phillips, 86 Airlift Wing Safety; Fred Satterlee, Abbott Laboratories; Deborah Stepansky, The Hershey Company; Jamey Wheeler, Montana State Fund; Clint Wolfley, URS Corporation; and Ken Woodlin, Walmart Stores, Inc.

The award was presented during Safety 2014, ASSE's annual professional development conference that runs through June 11. More than 4,000 occupational safety and health professionals are attending the three-day conference and exposition, that each year debuts and examines the latest in workplace safety products, trends, issues and challenges within the industry.

About Cintas Corporation:

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas Corporation provides highly specialized services to businesses of all types primarily throughout North America. Cintas designs, manufactures and implements corporate identity uniform programs, and provides entrance mats, restroom cleaning and supplies, tile and carpet cleaning, promotional products, first aid, safety, fire protection products and services and document management services for more than 1 million businesses. Cintas is a publicly held company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS and is a component of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index.

About American Society of Safety Engineers:

Founded in 1911, the Des Plaines-based ASSE is the oldest professional safety organization and is committed to protecting people, property and the environment. Its more than 36,000 occupational safety, health and environmental professional members lead, manage, supervise, research and consult on safety, health, transportation and environmental issues in all industries, government, labor, health care and education. For more information please go to www.asse.org.