The Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) offers a variety of certifications that both provide safety practitioners a way to emphasize their expertise and which support organizations’ efforts to ensure competency among employees who share responsibility for safety.
The Certified Safety Professional (CSP) and Associate Safety Professional (ASP) are perhaps the most widely known BCSP certifications. The CSP and ASP have reputations as representing the “Gold Standard” of safety certifications for their rigorous examinations and design standards. Each holds accreditation through the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The CSP is, and will continue to be, the premier certification for the dedicated safety professional, held by over 15,500 individuals.
Safety is best maintained as part of a team, and many companies have found engaging supervisory-level employees in this team effort as good business practice. The Safety Trained Supervisor (STS) and Safety Trained Supervisor Construction (STSC) are held by over 8,000 people and supported by STS and STSC Sponsors, organizations who recognize the value of safety and are ready to invest in it. Many of these companies report greater participation in hazard identification with certified supervisors, and the program has earned endorsements from many organizations, including the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America.
BCSP offers the Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST) and Occupational Health and Safety Technologist (OHST) for safety practitioners at the technician and technologist level and who have specialist knowledge in construction safety or industrial hygiene. For STS or STSCs, the CHST and OHST are pathways to careers in safety. Last year, the number of individuals who achieved the CHST was double what it was in 2013, exceeding 1,000 new certificants in 2015.
Supportive of any member of this safety team is the Certified Environmental, Safety & Health Trainer (CET). The CET is held by those with experience and expertise in developing, designing, and delivering safety, health and environmental training. It is an important indicator of a quality trainer.
BCSP is preparing a new certification that will test safety professionals for the knowledge and skills required of senior safety managers. Various stakeholders have highlighted a need for a quality certification that includes safety skills, management aspects, and recognition of experience. There was a gap identified between the professional and technician/technologist levels and this new certification completes the spectrum of those responsible for safety throughout an organization. BCSP is now forming a panel of subject matter experts (SMEs) to study this, and more information on the certification will be released in the course of its development.
Our vision of “Creating a safer world through safety, health and environmental certification” can only be realized when organizations make safety a value. BCSP offers a comprehensive set of quality, accredited certifications that both complement one another and recognize safety as a team effort.