ISEA to Honor Christine Branche of NIOSH with Distinguished Service Award

Press Contact: Christina Spring (202) 245-0633, Lydia Baugh (703) 525-1695

ARLINGTON, Va. (November 24, 2014) – The International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) will honor Christine Branche, Ph.D., the Principal Associate Director and the Director of the Office of Construction Safety and Health for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with the prestigious Robert B. Hurley Distinguished Service Award, at the association's Award Dinner on Dec. 3 at the Westin Alexandria in Alexandria, Va.

ISEA presents the award each year to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the advancement and promotion of workplace safety and health. “Dr. Branche brought her dedication and passion for public health to the world of occupational safety and health. As an association, the ISEA, along with its members and safety partners, are united in the goal of protecting the health and safety of people worldwide who are exposed to hazardous and potentially harmful environments. We are pleased to recognize her commitment in the often challenging field of keeping workers safe,” said Dan Shipp, ISEA’s president.

“Dr. Branche’s dedication and hard work has made significant impacts in the lives of workers,” said NIOSH director John Howard, M.D. “We are thrilled to see Dr. Branche recognized for her exemplary service to the field of occupational safety and health.”

Dr. Branche has conducted extensive research and program development in injury prevention and has led the NIOSH Office of Construction Safety and Health since its inception in December 2009. She received her B.A. in biology from the University of Rochester in New York, and her M.S.P.H. and Ph.D. in epidemiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

ISEA’s annual Fall Meeting is the association’s largest national meeting where leaders in the design, manufacture, testing and application of protective clothing and equipment converge to address issues affecting workplace safety.

For more information on the event, please contact ISEA Meeting Planner Sabra Decker at sdecker@safetyequipment.org or at 703-525-1695.

Located in Arlington, Va. ISEA is the trade association for personal protective equipment and technologies. Established in 1933, ISEA supports its member companies in manufacturing and marketing the highest-quality products to protect the safety and health of people who may be exposed to potentially harmful situations while working on the job or at home. For more information visit: www.safetyequipment.org

NIOSH is the federal agency that conducts research and makes recommendations for preventing work-related injuries and illnesses. It was established under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. For further information, visit www.cdc.gov/niosh/

Note to editors – an MS Word version of this release can be found in the ISEA online newsroom at www.safetyequipment.org/c/newsroom.cfm .