Third Quarter 2015

BCSP eNewsletter  


Welcome to this Third Quarter 2015 BCSP eNewsletter.

No matter which certification or designation you hold with BCSP, or if you are in the process of attaining one, we have included news and information that will help you in your professional safety career.

See the In This Issue section to the right to navigate to the stories of most interest to you.

Building Bridges for Safety
Cece M. Weldon, CSP, CHST, STSC   
Workplace safety is a team effort, requiring commitment from the worksite to the boardroom. Advancing safety as a profession is similar, and the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) is dedicated to establishing collaborative initiatives with other organizations that would better protect people, property, and the environment.

Earlier this year, BCSP signed partnerships with the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and the Ironworker's Ironworker Management Progressive Action Cooperative Trust (IMPACT). The former endorsed BCSP certifications for their member organizations and the latter developed a method for training and testing their members that includes the use of our certifications. IMPACT has certified over 250 ironworkers as one of over a dozen new Safety Trained Supervisor (STS) and Safety Trained Supervisor Construction (STSC) Sponsors that have joined the sponsorship program in the last year.

The value of certification is not only reflected in the growing number of certificants and certification sponsors. The 2015 SH&E Industry Safety Salary Survey reveals that companies are also greater compensating certificants for their achievements. The survey, which included over nine thousand respondents, indicated that those who held the Certified Safety Professional (CSP) earned an average of over $20,000 more each year than other respondents who did not have a certification.

The demand for accredited, needs-based safety certification is growing exponentially. To meet this demand, BCSP is actively exploring new opportunities and developing a government affairs and outreach plan. Associations, businesses, and government are all stakeholders in the continuous improvement of safety, health and environmental (SH&E) practice.

BCSP certificants share this opportunity to advance professional safety. It is our networks, knowledge sharing, and practical interactions that build the bridges between the organizations to which we belong. We not only ensure safety in our workplaces, but we have many opportunities to improve SH&E practice.

I would like to thank my colleagues on the Board of Directors for identifying our opportunities, BCSP leadership for guiding us to them, the staff for making the most of each, and our certificants, without whom none of this would be possible. I hope you join BCSP in crossing these bridges we share.

 
SalSurveySH&E Industry Safety Salary Survey and Calculator Results Positive for Certificants
BCSP has released the results of an expansive 2015 SH&E industry salary survey conducted in collaboration with the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) , American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH), Alliance of Hazardous Materials Professionals (AHMP), American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), and Institute of Hazardous Materials Management (IHMM). The results from the 2015 survey are available in a new SH&E Industry Salary Survey and Calculator.
 
"This latest salary survey further confirms that safety certification is valuable not only for individuals' professional practice, but the value is often reflected in compensation," said BCSP CEO, Dr. Treasa Turnbeaugh, CSP, ASP, CET.
 
Data for the survey was collected from March 26 to April 7, 2015, and the survey was closed for tabulation with 9,258 responses.
 
The survey results indicate that the median annual base salary of individuals holding the Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM), and/or Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) professional certification exceeds $100,000, about $20,000 greater than the median annual base salary of survey respondents who held no certification. The difference in this median annual salary is greater than $30,000 when compared to the median annual salary of the typical Occupational Health and Safety Specialist, according to the number reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
 
The numbers are similarly positive for certificants holding technician or technologist level certifications as well, with Occupational Health and Safety Technologists (OHST) and Construction Health and Safety Technicians (CHST) earning about $10,000 and $9,000 more in their median annual base salaries than respondents with no certifications, respectively. With median annual base salaries exceeding $92,000, there is an even greater contrast between these certificants and the $47,440 median annual salary the BLS reports for the typical Occupational Health and Safety Technician.
 
Results from this survey clearly indicate a growing recognition of the value of safety, and the reward that comes from proving your value with an accredited safety certification.
 
Further data and the interactive calculator can be accessed online at the SH&E Industry Safety Salary Survey and Calculator webpage.

 
Air Force Safety Center Offers Opportunity to Achieve BCSP Safety Certification
BCSP is working with the United States Air Force Safety Center to raise awareness on new opportunities for more than 1,000 active duty safety professionals and safety civilians to obtain BCSP certification.

As part of a larger initiative to professionalize safety practice within the service, Air Force leadership in May 2015 officially updated the terms of reimbursement for certifications attained by Air Force safety professionals. As a result of initiative by the Air Force Safety Center (AFSEC), the agency responsible for developing, implementing, executing and evaluating Air Force mishap prevention, the whole service now recognizes 16 different certifications for reimbursement- five of which are maintained by BCSP (CSP, ASP, OHST, CHST, and STS). This is the first time AFSEC recognizes the ASP and CSP, in particular, for reimbursement.

This increase demonstrates the Air Force's ongoing commitment to improve occupational health and safety within the service, while also increasing career knowledge and opportunities for servicemen and women.

"This is big news for our Airmen, our safety program, and for our Air Force at large," commented Joshua Franklin, SMSgt, CSP, ARM, CET, Career Field Manager of the military safety career field. "Certifications, such as the ASP and CSP, bring credibility and legitimacy to our training and career progression paths and have been well received across the safety career field."

What is particularly unique about this initiative is that it strengthens a path to certification for more than seven hundred civilian Air Force employees that do not qualify for certification benefits traditionally reserved for enlisted Airmen. "We've had so much interest from our DAFC (Department of Air Force Civilians)...they are so excited...it's becoming a real goal for many military and civilian safety professionals!" said Franklin.

The Air Force is the only service of the U.S Armed Forces that provides a dedicated designation for enlisted "safety professionals." Additionally, while other services' safety practitioners typically only work on a short-term and/or part-time basis, the Air Force dedicates full-time safety professionals to manage occupational safety roles. Air Force leadership trains and promotes within the career field, and therefore hold a large pool of eligible candidates for certifications like the ASP and CSP. AFSEC is also working on an initiative to provide certification preparation materials to interested persons, including active-duty Airmen, Reserve, Guard and civilians, which will further serve to professionalize Airmen in the safety field.

BCSP has long supported the military to advance safety professionalism within the services by providing waivers for application fees. BCSP is now working with staff from AFSEC to develop marketing materials and collaborate on outreach campaigns to ensure all eligible Air Force safety professionals know about and are able to pursue BCSP certification. BCSP believes this collaboration will set the standard for how to engage other agencies and military branches on ways to professionalize safety practice in the military through certification.  

 
GovtandOutreachAdvocating Better Understanding of Safety, Health and Environmental Practice in Government
Laws and regulations have a significant impact on the safety profession. On one hand, they play a substantial role in the day-to-day operations of many businesses. Just ask any safety practitioner how much of their time is dedicated to maintaining their OSHA 300 logs and ensuring their companies are compliant with local, state and federal SH&E safety requirements. On the other, they can set standards that have long-term impact on the operations of entire industries, which we are seeing now as many companies are working to implement compliance with new OSHA standards around silica exposure and confined spaces.

Erica Poff, IOM, BCSP Government Affairs and Outreach Manager
BCSP wants to ensure that when lawmakers make decisions that affect the practice of occupational health and safety- and, by extension, safety practitioners- they are doing so with the most accurate, up-to-date information about the safety industry. This can be a challenge for most government officials. As safety practitioners well know, effective safety practice requires knowledge from a variety of fields, including science, engineering, business, health, human behavior, and computer technologies, among others. And unfortunately, few lawmakers have any direct experience working in safety prior to being elected office. As a result, lawmakers do not have the information or experience to keep up with industry trends and changes in safety through legislation.

Fortunately, lawmakers do not need to be safety professionals to create safer work environments through legislation. Instead, lawmakers should create laws that recognize and empower the work of those that are most qualified to keep America's workers safe- certified safety professionals. Safety professionals whose knowledge, experience and competence have been tested and proven through accredited certification understand how to create safety systems that result in fewer accidents and deaths, lowered workers compensation payments, and increased productivity with a happier, healthier workforce.

BCSP has established a government affairs program to ensure that lawmakers at all levels of government fully understand the role and importance of the certified safety professional in America's workplaces. Through education, raising awareness and advocacy activities, BCSP will encourage lawmakers at the local, state and federal levels to create laws that advance professional safety practice as recognized through accredited certification. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that safety laws and regulations create opportunities to advance the safety profession while also reducing unnecessary and potentially burdensome requirements on safety practitioners.

BCSP is an independent, non-partisan organization and does not take positions on any new or existing laws, regulations or orders. Rather, BCSP's focus in government affairs is to ensure that the interests of certified safety professionals are consistently and accurately represented in relevant legislation. There are several ways in which BCSP is working to educate lawmakers on the safety profession and the importance of accredited safety certification:

Provide Expert Commentary on Safety-Related Bills, Orders and Regulations

In July, BCSP publically commented on a 'guidance' document issued by the Department of Labor, providing recommendations on how they and all other federal government agencies should implement the terms of a President Obama's 2014 Executive Order, "Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces". Executive Order 13673 requires prospective government contractors to disclose labor violations in the preceding 3-year period as part of any federal contract bid. BCSP recommended that the federal government should specifically recognize accredited safety certification as part of the pre-award procurement process and post-award reporting and compliance. This approach provides a tool by which federal contracting agencies can more efficiently and effectively identify safe, responsible sources for contract awards, without adding any burdens to potential contractors. This also serves to recognize the important contribution that certified safety professionals bring to their companies when bidding for government funding.

Engage Government Officials in Dialogue

In May, BCSP collaborated with the Ironworker Management Progressive Action Cooperative Trust (IMPACT) and construction contractors in Philadelphia to educate local government stakeholders on the importance and value of recognizing BCSP's accredited certification as an effective means to increase safety on construction and demolition sites. This meeting was held in response to a new City Ordinance requiring all workers and supervisors directly performing permitted construction or demolition to complete a specified OSHA safety training or an approved equivalent. Safety practitioners that have proven their competency by achieving a BCSP certification, such as the Safety Trained Supervisor® and Safety Trained Supervisor Construction®, and continue to build their knowledge in safety through ongoing education over the course of their careers, certainly meet the standards of safety knowledge required under this ordinance. BCSP continues to engage city officials to ensure that the STS and STSC are recognized as an 'approved equivalent' under this new ordinance.

Educate Government Stakeholders on the Significance of Accredited Certification

When government officials do require certified safety professionals and practitioners for public contracts, BCSP wants to ensure that only the best credentials for safety candidates are considered. It is important for public officials to understand that not all certifications are created equal. There are over 300 different certifications, certificates and designations in SH&E related fields, offered by dozens of organizations. Only 13, however, are nationally accredited by standards authorities, like the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). National accreditation is important because it is the yardstick for acceptance of a certification by many federal, state, and local agencies. Accreditation standards cover fairness in testing, audited financial disclosure, independence in governance, validated examination content, non-discrimination of candidates, and many other criteria. Nationally-accredited credentials, such as those offered by BCSP, cannot simply be bought; they must be earned and maintained. BCSP safety certification is the mark of distinction for safety professionals, who have met educational and experience standards and passed rigorous examinations validated against the practice of hundreds of other safety professionals. Practitioners with accredited certification represent the highest standards of safety practice, and will serve as the best investment of public funds.

If you have any questions about BCSP's Government Affairs program, or would like more information on specific legislation or governance issues, please contact Erica Poff, BCSP's Government Affairs and Outreach Manager.
 
 
STSSTSCSponsorsSupervisory Certifications STS and STSC Grow as Part of Safety Programs
The Safety Trained Supervisor® (STS) and Safety Trained Supervisor Construction® (STSC) are being utilized by an increasing number of organizations to programmatically build sustainable safety leadership. In the last year, the STS and STSC Sponsorship Program added eight more companies to reach a total of 82 organizations using safety certification.
 
STS and STSC sponsors account for over 5,000 active supervisor certificants. There are several organizations new to the program that have established systems to systematize certification of their supervisors. Since joining in 2014, Idaho Power, PCL Construction, and IMPACT have added 100, 150, and 250 STSCs to their respective ranks.
 
Visit the STS and STSC Sponsorship Program webpage for more information on sponsoring certification, as well as further details on the companies that participate.

 
Ethics an Important Part of Safety Practice
The ethical code as outlined in the BCSP Code of Ethics is something in which certificants can take pride.

"Our ethical standards demonstrate a commitment by each certificant to 'hold paramount' the protection of people, property, and the environment by acting with integrity and in the interests of all," explains BCSP's CEO, Dr. Treasa Turnbeaugh, CSP, ASP, CET.

The Code of Ethics was applied to all certifications in 2013. As examinations are revalidated and new versions released in the next few years, each will have a set of ethics questions.

Included in new certificants' pass packets, the BCSP Code of Ethics can be proudly displayed alongside one's certificate.

 
In This Issue
» Building Bridges for Safety
» SH&E Industry Salary Survey and Calculator Results Positive for Certificants
» Air Force Safety Center Offers Opportunity
» Advocating Better Understanding of SH&E Practice in Government
» Supervisory Certifications STS and STSC Grow as Part of Safety Programs
» Ethics an Important Part of Safety Practice
BCSP
Board of Directors

Cece M. Weldon, CSP, CHST, STSC
(President)

John E. Hodges, CSP, OHST
(Vice President)

Jack H. Dobson, Jr., CSP
(Treasurer)

Treasa M. Turnbeaugh, PhD, CSP, ASP, CET
(Secretary and CEO)

Lon H. Ferguson, EdD, CSP
(Past President)

Patricia A. Cruse, CSP, CET

James A. Gentry, DBA, MBA

Cheryl L. Marcham, PhD, CSP

Linda F. Martin, CSP, ASP, OHST, CHST, STSC, CET

C. Christopher Patton, CSP, ASP

Richard A. Pollock, CSP


Subscribe to Unique BCSP eNewsletters
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Current Changes Index
Over the course of the year, a range of policy changes, procedure updates and other modifications occur. We want to make everyone aware of these changes on a regular basis, as well as keep an archive of the announcements.

Visit the Current Changes Index page on our website to find the most up-to-date policy and procedure information.


CMS Tutorials
If you will be using the BCSP Certification Management System (CMS) for the first time, you may want to view our CMS video tutorials.
Your Source for
Safety Expertise
A Who's Who listing over 1,000 safety professionals, eSafetySource helps individuals and companies find certificants that can assist them with their particular safety needs.

Enroll in or search eSafetySource. 

Mentor Program
The BCSP Mentor Program recognizes certificates who assist the career development of other safety practitioners.

Credential holders who are interested in mentoring an applicant, should visit the BCSP Mentoring webpage.

Those currently mentoring are honored in the Mentoring Honor Roll.

BCSP's Toolkit for Advancing the Safety Profession
Banner displays are a great way to promote BCSP certifications and earn Recertification credit. A display is available to any certificate holder for use at chapter meetings, regional or local conferences, career fairs, and other safety-related seminars, meetings, and presentations. BCSP ships to and from any U.S. venue and provides literature at no cost.

If you would like to reserve a display, fill out a Banner Display Request. Displays are first come, first serve, and must be returned.

Presentations on safety certification can also be done for Recertification points, and BCSP has many resources that can be used for presentations, including pre-made PowerPoints, on our Articles and Presentations webpage.

Item writing illustrates your safety knowledge, earning you Recertification points as well. Find out more on our Item Writing webpage.

Unauthorized Use of Our Credentials
BCSP pursues cases of individuals claiming to hold our credentials without permission. We pursue those cases in which there is clear evidence of the unauthorized use and the individual has a clear responsibility, control, or knowledge of the use. Evidence may be a business card, resume, letter, website, or other publication. If there is no clear evidence, BCSP cannot act on the case.


Career Center
The BCSP Career Center connects job seekers with prospective employers in the safety, health and environmental industry. Results are just a click away!

The Career Center allows job seekers who hold any of our credentials to post an anonymous resume in our resume bank for free.

For companies looking to hire individuals who hold our credentials this is your direct route to qualified individuals.