ATLANTA (January 24, 2019) – The labor and employment law firm Fisher Phillips has launched a new company called Fisher Phillips Safety Solutions, a workplace safety and health consulting firm that assists clients with developing and implementing state-of-the-art safety risk management systems with the goal of achieving ISO 45001 certification. The new ISO 45001 Safety Standard is designed to help organizations reduce work-related accidents or diseases and was developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the organization behind other well-known standards such as ISO 9001 for quality management.
Edwin G. Foulke, Jr. is the president of the wholly owned subsidiary of Fisher Phillips. A partner with the law firm, he was one of only two attorneys from the United States who was on the committee that developed the new safety standard. Foulke took this leadership role as he served on the U.S. Technical Advisory Group of the American Society of Safety Professionals. He also has served as Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA under President George W. Bush.
Approximately 70 countries participated in the development of the international 45001 certification standard.
Foulke said: “Fisher Phillips Safety Solutions is immediately offering to assist companies to achieve compliance with the new ISO 45001 Safety Standard. We are seeing increased pressure from clients, investors, consumers and regulators on companies to put a greater emphasis on the health, safety and well-being of their workforce. This means that health and safety programs must be embedded in company culture and address the unique intricacies of organizations, no matter the size of the organization or its industry.”
Joining Foulke at Fisher Phillips Safety Solutions is Executive Director Robert Smith, a highly experienced safety professional with a diverse background in manufacturing operations, management, business development, regulatory compliance, employee training and development, and marine and boatyard safety. Smith has been instrumental in helping a wide variety of companies develop robust safety programs that have led to safer and healthier workforces. He added, “Fisher Phillips Safety Solutions stands ready to work one-on-one with our clients to create the most efficient and effective safety risk management systems that protect our clients’ workforces and bottom lines.”
Fisher Phillips Chairman and Managing Partner Roger Quillen said: “Our new safety solutions company rose, in part, from our firm’s commitment to excellence when delivering tailored solutions that address our clients’ workplace health and safety issues. Employers will benefit from the incredible experience our team brings to solving complex workplace safety challenges. Ed advocated strongly for the creation of Fisher Phillips Safety Solutions after his extensive involvement in helping to develop the ISO 45001 standard. He recognized immediately that enlightened employers would be eager to achieve the new certification that benefits their employees.”
Quillen added: “Robert’s familiarity with OSHA regulations coupled with his results-oriented approach to building excellent safety programs makes him not only a strong executive director for Fisher Phillips Safety Solutions, but also an active participant in and champion for our clients’ successes.”
The Fisher Phillips Safety Solutions team includes other professionals who had key roles in development of the global ISO 45001 standard and have experience developing and implementing world-class safety management systems.
Also joining the leadership team is Steve Davis, who has spent more than 35 years directing and managing major risk management consulting engagements for clients in North America, Latin America, Europe and the Pacific Rim.
The seasoned professionals with Fisher Phillips Safety Solutions will guide employers through a variety of issues, including:
Conducting audits and providing assistance and technical know-how to clients in order to achieve ISO 45001 safety management compliance and certification
Regulatory safety and health compliance assistance
Consulting and safety and health program development
Safety training
Catastrophe management and response
Active shooter, as well as, workplace violence assessment, prevention and response