Certified safety professional
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The Certified Safety Professional (CSP) is a certification offered in the United States by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) [1]. The CSP has been accredited in the United States by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies [2] and the Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards [3], and internationally by the International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission(ISO/IEC 17024) (see ANSI).
BCSP is preparing for some significant changes in 2009. The changes will involve applicants, candidates in process for the CSP certification, and those holding the CSP or CSP retired status. Changes will involve four areas: new examination editions, changes in applicant qualifications, a change in how knowledge of ethics will be handled, and the implementation of new certification management software. Complete information on all upcoming changes and their implementation is posted at http://www.bcsp.org/changes.
The requirements to become a CSP are:
- an associate's degree in safety and health, or an accredited bachelor's degree in any field
- four or more years of professional safety experience
- passing the Safety Fundamentals and/or Comprehensive Practice examinations
Contents
About the Board
The BCSP was established in 1969 based on recommendations from a study performed by the American Society of Safety Engineers. Six professional organizations are affiliated with the BCSP; they are:
- American Industrial Hygiene Association
- American Society of Safety Engineers
- Institute of Industrial Engineers
- National Safety Council
- Society of Fire Protection Engineers
- System Safety Society [4]
On September 26, 2003, the BCSP signed an alliance with the United States' Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Council on Certification of Health, Environmental, and Safety Technologists (CCHEST) to collaborate on training, education, outreach, and advocacy.
Other safety certifications
Other certifications related to safety, such as Certified Safety Auditor and Certified Safety Manager, are offered by the National Association of Safety Professionals. The Council on Certification of Health, Environment and Safety Technologists [5] (CCHEST) offers accredited certifications for the Occupational Health and Safety Technologist (OHST), Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST) and Safety Trained Supervisor (STS).
The Occupational Health and Safety Technologist (OHST) certification covers general occupational health and safety practices. Typical job roles include conducting worksite assessments to determine risks, identifying potential hazards and recommending controls, evaluating risks and hazard control measures, investigating incidents, maintaining and evaluating incident and loss records, and preparing emergency response plans.
All CCHEST programs are nationally accredited by the Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB) and the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
CRSP (Canadian Registered Safety Professional)
Similar to the CSP in the US, Canada offers the CRSP (Certified Registered Safety Professional) designation, through the Board of Canadian Certified Registered Safety Professionals [6]
Pre-Requisite
Applicants must meet some prerequisites prior to submitting a formal application:
- Educational Pursuits: Must have minimally completed high school. By 2009, this requirement will change to college or university education in health and safety.
- Past Work Experience: Must have at least three years of continuous work experience in the Occupational and Environmental Health & Safety field
- Current Employment: Must include greater that 50% (over 900 hours/year), in Occupational and Environmental Health & Safety activities.
Registration Process
1. Application: Once the applicant has met the prerequisites, they must complete the "Application for Canadian Registered Safety Professional Designation", obtained from the BCRSP board. The lengthy application requires a compilation of all the applicant’s course and job descriptions.
2. Evaluation: The BCRSP Board reviews the application. The applicant is then advised if they meet the minimum requirements or not. If the application is accepted, then the applicant is advised that they will soon be contacted for an interview.
3. Interview: The interview is set up with a member of the BCRSP’s Regional Screening Centre personnel in the applicant’s geographical area. It’s an informal meeting, where the applicant’s work and educational Occupational Health & Safety experience are discussed.
4. Examination: The applicant has to write a comprehensive 3.5 hour multiple choice exam that covers Accident Theory, Environmental Practices, Ergonomics, Fire Prevention and Protection, Health Promotion, HSE Auditing, Law and Ethics, Occupational Health Safety and Environment Systems, Occupational Hygiene, Risk Management, and Safety Techniques and Technology. Study guides and books are recommended by the Board, and numerous preparatory courses are available through:
4. Approval: If the applicant minimally achieves the passing score on the examination, they receive notification of such.
5. Confirmation: The applicant revives the CRSP Designation along with their designation registration number.
Career Development:
Ongoing career development is expected and monitored through Certification Maintenance Points.
Also internationally, other countries have set up similar schemes, like the UK where the highest professional standing is that of a chartered safety and health practitioner. This is regulated via the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) [11], Europe’s largest body for safety professionals. Like the North American schemes, to achieve this grade the applicant must be professionally qualified and have relevant experience. Continuing professional development (CPD) is also a strong requirement of membership.
