They say charity begins at home. So too, it seems, does safety for multi-national companies doing business in emerging markets. While globalization gets blamed for much of the world’s current economic woes, the improved health and safety of workers in emerging markets is one of the best exports of developed nations.

The importance and positive benefits of improving workplace safety are being recognized in emerging economies, says Warren K. Brown, CSP, ARM, CHMM, president of the American Society of Safety Engineers, which has members in 75 countries including chapters in the Middle East, Africa and South America.

As international companies bring their workplace safety and health expertise to these markets for a variety of projects – those countries are learning how safety is good business.

“This is due to the globalization in the past decade and the massive export/import of products among developed and developing countries,” said Brown who was attending the UK-based Institution of Occupational Safety and Health’s (IOSH) twoday conference in Liverpool, attended by more than 2,000 safety and health professionals.

Though, reputable companies are using international safety, health and environmental management systems to maintain high levels of occupational safety and health, Brown said it is often a challenge for multi-national companies when they move to emerging markets or developing countries.

Even when companies have good corporate management systems, when work begins in many of these emerging economies, the focus on safety and health issues is often relaxed due to a lack of legislation and enforcement.

Many ASSE members believe, as do we, that multi-national companies have a moral responsibility to provide equal attention and maintain programs to protect worker safety and health irrespective of the local conditions.

For instance, one large American-based oil company went above and beyond in building a multi-billion dollar plant in the Middle East when it came to safety. They recognized the culture difference before the project began and addressed this issue head-on. They finished the project three months ahead of time, $20 million under budget and set a company record. Reports show they had 13 million hours of work with three recorded injuries.

“They put safety first, treated all workers equally and provided training in all languages, personal protection equipment, great working conditions and much, much more,” Brown said. “Our members have noted that profitability is credibility when it comes to safety. The safety department is a profit center, not just a cost center. By investing in safety and workers you lower costs and increase profit while keeping employees and customers happy.”

As for the question as to where responsibility lies – home or abroad – Brown said ASSE members feel that with strict regulations and well established standards in the U.S. and U.K., the responsibility lies more at home, and will be transferred abroad as safety and health professionals and companies fulfill their responsibilities.

Preserving the health and safety of workers in emerging markets may be one benefit of globalization, and another export of the United States that we all can be proud of.

Thanks and good luck.