Most occupational safety and health books explain how to apply concepts, principles, elements, tools of prevention and develop interventions, and initiatives to mitigate occupational injuries, illnesses and deaths. This is not a how-to book. It is a book that addresses the philosophical basis for all of the varied components and elements needed to develop and manage a safety and health program. It is a book designed to answer the questions often posed as to why should we do it this way. It is the "Why" book and the intent is to provide a blueprint and a helpmate for the philosophical basis for occupational safety and health and the justification as an integral component of doing business.

For 37 years Dr. Charles D. Reese has been involved with occupational safety and health as an educator, manager, or consultant. In Dr. Reese's early beginnings in occupational safety and health, he held the position of industrial hygienist at the National Mine Health and Safety Academy. He later assumed the responsibility of manager for the nation's occupational trauma research initiative at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's (NIOSH) Division of Safety Research. Dr. Reese has had an integral part in trying to assure that workplace safety and health is provided for all those within the workplace. As the managing director for the Laborers' Health and Safety Fund of North America, his responsibilities were aimed at protecting the 650,000 members of the laborers' union in the United States and Canada.

He has developed many occupational safety and health training programs, which run the gamut from radioactive waste remediation to confined space entry. Dr. Reese has written numerous articles, pamphlets, and books on related safety and health issues.

Dr. Reese, Professor Emeritus, was a member of the graduate and undergraduate faculty at the University of Connecticut, where he taught courses on OSHA regulations, safety and health management, accident prevention techniques, industrial hygiene, ergonomics, and environmental trends and issues. As professor of environmental /occupational safety and health, he coordinated the bulk of the environmental, safety and health efforts at the University of Connecticut. He is called upon to consult with industry on safety and health issues and is often asked for expert consultation in legal cases.