The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) has announced the recipients of its two annual awards that recognize leaders in electrical safety.
John J. Engel, chairman, president and CEO of WESCO International, received the Foundation’s annual Outstanding Service Award in Honor of Harold Leviton, an award that was formally established in 2008 as a tribute to Harold Leviton’s impressive legacy and dedication to improving electrical safety. The award honors an individual who has gone above and beyond the call of duty in expanding the Foundation’s interests through steadfast involvement and effective leadership. ESFI chairman David Tallman presented the award during ESFI’s Fall Board of Directors Dinner held in San Diego, Calif. on November 6, 2014.
During his seven years of service on ESFI’s Board of Directors, Engel has been instrumental in guiding the organization on its path to establish itself as the premier organization addressing electrical safety in the home, school, and workplace. While serving on the Executive Committee as vice chairman, Mr. Engel helped ESFI to establish clear strategic goals while providing the framework that has allowed ESFI to expand its reach and influence.
UL (Underwriters Laboratories) was named as the recipient of the 2014 Safety Award for Excellence (SAFE), for its efforts in fighting counterfeiting and piracy. The SAFE Award recognizes a company, nonprofit association or other industry-related organization for active and sustained efforts in support of ESFI’s mission to reduce electrically-related fatalities, injuries and property loss. Ben Miller, SVP & president, UL Commercial & Industrial division, accepted the honor on behalf of UL during the National Electrical Manufacturers Association’s 2014 Illuminations Dinner at The Grand Del Mar in San Diego, Calif. on November 8, 2014.
In 1993, before many within the electrical industry recognized the threat posed by counterfeit products, UL began to incorporate anti-counterfeiting technology into its labeling format. In the years since, UL has continued and bolstered its efforts to fight this growing hazard to public health and safety. Through a number of outreach and training initiatives, UL is committed to educating consumers – both young and old, retailers, distributors, manufacturers and governments about the risk posed by counterfeit products using innovative, creative and technologically savvy approaches. In addition, UL assists law enforcement to identify and prosecute counterfeit operations in the effort to reduce their prevalence. UL is a sponsor of ESFI’s latest anti-counterfeiting initiative, “Zero Tolerance for Counterfeits” and continues to help ESFI develop groundbreaking programs to further the Foundation’s mission of reducing electrically-related fatalities, injuries and property loss.
