History of the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society (From Creation through the First Five Years)

On 21 June 2003, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), through its Technical Activities Board (TAB), voted to create a new professional society, Product Safety Engineering. The Product Safety Engineering Society (PSES) became the IEEE´s 38^th TAB. Society, identified as S43 within This article describes efforts to attain IEEE society status, define various acronyms, and years of service associated with an ad hoc product safety community through an unofficial newsletter, on-line web resources, and professional development through chapters affiliated as sub-entities under local IEEE EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) Society chapters. The basic organization that started this process became unprecedented in size, constituency and lifespan. Its vitality was never taken for granted by those familiar with other organizational attempting to create a forum for safety engineers. Our history indicates there always has been a need for a professional association related to this highly specialized niche, or field of interest.