About ICPHSO
International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization

What is ICPHSO?
ICPHSO (pronounced IC - FA - SO) was founded in 1993 as an organization dedicated to addressing health and safety issues related to consumer products marketed globally. ICPHSO is the only organization which attracts an international membership of health and safety professionals who meet annually to exchange ideas, share information, and take leadership roles in addressing health and safety concerns affecting all consumers.

ICPHSO members represent government agencies (local, state, federal, international), manufacturers, importers, retailers, certification/testing laboratories, law firms, academia, standards writing organizations, media, and consumer advocacy groups.

The Annual Meeting and Training Symposium
Professionals mark a "must attend" event on their planning calendars. Each year, the program is packed with up-to-the-minute news and information on issues and topics facing today's product health and safety professional.

The annual events are usually launched with a one-day seminar devoted exclusively to all facets of one specific topic (i.e., pool/spa safety, fire safety, etc.) having as a goal the significant reduction in related consumer injuries and deaths. Here you can hear, meet, and interact with experts from around the globe who have been brought together to share their expertise with ICPHSO members.

The next day is reserved for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the American Bar Association (ABA). These popular sessions give professionals the latest information on how to comply with product safety regulations, how to conduct product recalls, recent legal interpretations of mandatory statutes, and much more.

One and a half days of interactive workshops, poster sessions and roundtables round out the annual meeting and training symposium's program with a diversity of topics ranging from newly developed mechanical product testing procedures to psychological factors affecting consumer purchasing choices. In addition to these program formats, evening receptions and socials give attendees the opportunity to gather new materials, new perspectives, and new contacts for back home on-the-job use. Industry groups, consumer groups, and government officials, all participate.

Regional Training Workshops  
 ICPHSO offers a unique professional outreach service in the form of periodic regional one-day workshops. ICPHSO brings valuable information to manufacturers, importers, distributors, retailers and others about their respective product safety responsibilities. Current issues relating to mandated rules and regulations as well as consensus-developed product safety voluntary standards keeps attendees abreast of "need-to-know" developments. Attendees receive relevant hands-on materials to use back home.

The Committees 

Six working committees and two caucuses reflect the varied interests of the ICPHSO membership:

Strategic Planning
To create a vision of ICPHSO's direction by molding collective experiences of its past into paradigms for the future.

Symposium Planning and Program
To plan effective and engaging components for the three-day Annual Meeting and Training Symposium and one-day opening Seminar to meet the needs of ICPHSO's diverse membership.

Membership
To provide ICPHSO with long-term growth and diversity in terms of member services, participation, and international representation.

Outreach
To provide ICPHSO membership with good communication tools and access to effective and available information and education programs.

Events
To respond to ICPHSO membership needs with unique programs or events . For example, in November 2004, ICPHSO held a one-day international meeting in London, England.

Sponsors and Scholarships
To enhance ICPHSO national and international effectiveness by encouraging members' organizations to sponsor events or scholarships.

State and Local Caucus
To facilitate the exchange of consumer health and safety information and programs among state and local health organizations, and advocacy groups.

International Caucus
To provide the opportunity and forum for the international product safety community to identify common issues and workable plans for improving the safety of products in the global marketplace.

Through these committees and caucuses, each ICPHSO member has the opportunity to apply her or his own knowledge and commitment for the betterment of consumer product health and safety. As an ICPHSO member, you are invited to participate in one or more of these committees. For more information, please contact: Paul Rossmann, 414-908-4930 x109 or p.rossmann@icphso.org

How Do ICPHSO Members Stay Current With ICPHSO Happenings?

The Web site: ICPHSO maintains an active Web site at www.ICPHSO.org. With a click, visitors to the ICPHSO Web site can review last year's Annual Meeting and Training Symposium presentations, schedules for upcoming events - including regional training workshops, current and back issues of ICPHSO newsletters, links to health and safety organizations, and more. Keep a bookmark at this Web address for quick reference.

The Newsletter: Four times a year, ICPHSO Update gives members current information on product safety issues, upcoming relevant meetings and conferences in addition to those hosted by ICPHSO, trends in the area of health and safety, personalities in the field, and regulatory topics.

Membership Directory: Annually, ICPHSO updates its membership roster and distributes it to members. This provides the ICPHSO membership with an easy way to keep address books of professional contacts updated.

How Do I Become a Member?

ICPHSO was founded in 1993 as a not-for-profit organization dedicated to addressing health and safety issues related to consumer products marketed globally.

ICPHSO (International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization) is the only organization which attracts an international membership of health and safety professionals who meet annually to exchange ideas and share information. Our 2008 annual symposium drew 450 attendees and presenters from 18 countries. Every year since inception, ICPHSO has enjoyed an increase in participation from consumers and consumer advocates, government agencies, businesses, legal firms, and academia.

Join us! You can help ICPHSO continue its mission of addressing consumer product health and safety issues by becoming a member. Memberships are available at several levels, and all levels of membership enjoy benefits such as: discounted conference rates, opportunities to network via our membership directory which is available to members only, and online access to presentations made by highly respected health and safety professionals.

For more information about ICPHSO, contact our Membership Department at (414) 908-4930 x 116, or by email at icphso_membership@icphso.org.