Issue 22, May 2023

Commitment, Confidence, Connection

Lu Yuan, Sc.D., CSP, Professor of Occupational Safety, Health, and Environment, Southeastern Louisiana University

Congratulations, Class of 2023:


You made it! Your great achievement is quite special considering all that has happened in the last three years. Whether it was the last-minute change due to the COVID shutdown, transitioning to a significantly different way of learning, or gradually returning to normalcy, you have mastered all of the challenges presented to you. As we celebrate your graduation and wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors, I would like to share with you the three "C"s I always bear in mind.


The first "C" is commitment. Like you have learned throughout the safety, health, and environmental (SH&E) curriculum, management commitment and employee participation are keys to the success of a safety and health program. It requires all of us, the SH&E professionals, to commit to the collective effort as well. No matter which industry or organization you will join to start your career or continue your journey, your dedication to practically applying your knowledge and competence in safety and health will always help your organization succeed.


The second "C" is confidence. You will experience challenges that are new and different from the ones that you faced in classroom or through virtual learning during your studies. It is critical that you show respect to all with whom you work, prepare to learn from the field, and make an impact by showcasing your abilities in a realistic and secure way. On the other hand, as you continue your professional development by pursing certifications and/or advanced degrees, it is essential that you have faith and be confident in order to accomplish your goals.


The third "C" is connection. We always say, "safety is a people business." There is a very well-known saying in my program, "the opposite of networking is not working." How you connect, communicate, and interact with others will play a significant role in your career success. A number of SH&E-related professional organizations, especially BCSP, the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), and the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), are always there to provide support and resources to help you move forward. You should consider being actively involved in these organizations to make contributions to the SH&E field.


Commitment. Confidence. Connection. Are you ready? Again, congratulations! 

BCSP Academic Database

BCSP maintains the Safety Degree Directory for those seeking the knowledge required to become SH&E professionals, looking to earn recertification points, or looking to stay knowledgeable of the latest developments in safety practice.

Promote the Value of BCSP to Your School!

If your academic program is a Qualified Academic Program (QAP), BCSP would like to work with you in making sure individuals seeking quality SH&E education know your school produces future leaders.


Contact Kathleen Golding, Program Manager, Credentialing for more information. 

Hey Grads, Don't Forget to Apply for Your GSP!

Class of 2023, congratulations on your achievement! We are eager to see the role you will play in advancing the safety profession.


Remember that as a graduate of one of BCSP's Qualified Academic Programs (QAPs), you can get a head start on your professional career with the Graduate Safety Practitioner (GSP) designation.


Once you have earned your degree, all it takes is for you to apply. Simply sign into My Profile at BCSP.ORG or create your profile and apply.


You must apply within one (1) year of your graduation.


Not only does holding the GSP allow you to enter the workforce already with a credential to your name, it also puts you on the fast track to achieving the Certified Safety Professional (CSP) – the Gold Standard in safety certification.


The GSP permits you to pursue the CSP without first achieving another qualifying credential. You must sit for and pass the CSP examination within six (6) years of the awarding of your GSP.


You've done the hard work to graduate. Don't forget to start your career on the right foot by applying to secure your GSP.

Apply for the GSP

Join Us in August for the Third BCSP Foundation Research & Innovation Summit

The BCSP Foundation's biennial Research & Innovation Summit is coming up Aug. 7-10 at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis.


The R&I Summit is a forum for leaders and organizations with an eye toward shaping the future of the SH&E profession. Share research and ideas centered on making our world safer and better.


This year’s R&I Summit features keynote speakers from Boeing, Grainger, Jacobs, Dale Carnegie, and SC Johnson.


Topics include Environment, Social & Governance; Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; Mental Health in Safety; Psychological Safety; and Supply Chain Worker Safety.


Haven't participated before? Check out highlights from the 2021 R&I Summit to see what it's all about.

Active undergraduate and graduate students can purchase tickets at a discounted rate of $150. Lock in your tickets today.

Purchase Tickets

Collaborate with Other QAP Faculty in Special Event Before R&I Summit

BCSP invites faculty members from our Qualified Academic Programs (QAPs) to a pre-session workshop on Aug. 7 ahead of the official start of the BCSP Foundation's 2023 Research and Innovation Summit in Indianapolis.


The workshop, exclusive to QAP coordinators and faculty, will serve as a forum to collaborate on research, innovation, and best practices. It is an opportunity to share ideas and expertise with one another to benefit safety, health, and environmental study.


Mark your calendars for Aug. 7, look out for more information, and make plans to join us for this unique opportunity.

Take Advantage of 90-Day Access to Virtual Career Fair Content

Couldn't get to all the sessions during the 2023 BCSP Foundation Virtual Career Fair? We've got you covered. Virtual Career Fair registrants can continue to access the event's professional development content for 90 days, so you still have time to catch anything you might have missed.


This year's event featured sessions from more than 20 speakers on various topics related to professional development in the safety, health, and environmental field. BCSP certification holders can earn 0.1 recertification point per session attended.


Sessions can be accessed under the "Agenda" section in the Whova app or website. Sessions will be available to the public following the 90-day period on the Foundation's Learning on Demand page.

Become a BCSP Webinar Presenter

Do you have wisdom or best practices to share? Valuable insights to reveal? BCSP Webinars wants you as a presenter.


To express interest in presenting, please view and complete the Webinar Presenter Interest Form. List your areas of expertise and submit the form for consideration.


If you have further questions, please contact webinars@bcsp.org.

Have Your Degree and Need a Job?
The BCSP Career Center connects job seekers with prospective employers in the safety, health, and environmental industry at no cost!

Visit the BCSP Career Center today, and start your journey to your dream career in SH&E!
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New Dotson Award Recognizes Early-Stage Professionals

The BCSP Foundation is now accepting applications for the Dotson Safety Leadership Award, a grant designed for emerging professionals who display excellence and leadership.


Named for and funded by contributions from Kyle B. Dotson, CIH, CSP, BCEE, the $5,000 grant will recognize the awardee’s contributions to the profession and capacity to advance. Dotson is the founder of DOTSON Group, LLC, an EHS Safety Services organization.


Applicants must be practicing EHS professionals in any sector of public or private industry. They must be 40 years of age or younger at the time of application, hold high ethical standards and technical abilities, maintain the CSP, ASP, or GSP in good standing, and submit three references.


The application deadline is May 30.


The recipient will be formally recognized at the BCSP Foundation’s Research and Innovation Summit, Aug. 7-10 in Indianapolis.

Apply Today

Helping to Fund Your Research & Innovation

Applications are open for the BCSP Foundation's 2023 Research and Innovation Grants. The grants support students and affiliated professionals at accredited institutions of higher education or related research facilities.


The Foundation, under the leadership of the Trustees, awards non-renewable grants in three different categories up to the amount listed:



The financial support is granted to the institution on behalf of the selected grantee to be used for direct support of research. Applications are open through July 7.

View BCSP Foundation Grants

2022 Research & Innovation Grant Recipients


  • Abas Shkembi, University of Michigan – Master's Thesis Grant
  • Dr. Emmanuel Obeng-Gyasi, Indiana University – Early Stage Funding
  • Joshua Becker, M.S., CSP, Capitol Technology University – Doctoral Dissertation
  • Matt Law, MPH, CSP, REHS, Walden University – Doctoral Dissertation
Send Us Your News!

We want to hear from you!


We love to feature current and future certificants in our newsletters! 


Contact Colan Blackwood-Holmes, BCSP Senior Manager, Communications, with any SH&E education story ideas.

BCSP Ambassadors

If you are seeking a speaker, BCSP Ambassadors are trained in presentation and outreach. Available for conferences, career fairs, addressing students, and a variety of other events, learn more on our BCSP Ambassadors page.

Share Events With Us
Have an upcoming job fair, conference, or chapter meeting that you would like to share with readers? Would you like to invite a BCSP representative to attend an event? We would like to hear about it! 

Submit information on upcoming events using our new Event Request Form.

The Latest from SHIFT

Construction Safety Personnel Qualifications: The Impact of Education, Experience, and Certificate Programs

This study examines whether the qualifications of construction safety personnel match recommended qualifications by safety associations and professional organizations, and analyzes the impact of education, experience, and certifications on overall construction site safety performance. (Read Full Study)


Researchers:

Ahmed Jalil Al-Bayati, PhD, PE; Ali A. Karakhan, PhD; and Mostafa Namian, PhD


The SHIFT platform is your platform. Where research prospers, ideas become best practices, and the EHS community collaborates to advance a profession that works smarter and makes lives safer.

 

Not already subscribed to SHIFT? Subscribe today at no cost to receive the latest research, and help us create a safer future through research and innovation.

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