professional development and credentialing in safety willis construction risk management conference...
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Professional Development and Credentialing in Safety
Willis Construction Risk Management Conference New Orleans, LA / September 11, 2013
Bradley D. Giles, CSP, PE, STSPast President Board of DirectorsSenior Vice-President Environmental, Safety, Health & Security - URS
Credentialing Leader
BCSP is recognized as the leader in high-quality
credentialing for safety, health, and
environmental practitioners.
BCSP establishes standards for and verifies
competency in professional safety practice and
evaluates certificants for compliance with
recertification requirements. Gold
Standard
About BCSP
• Established in 1969• Not-For-Profit• 10 Directors• Not a membership
organization• All certifications are
protected by ® Registered Trade Mark
• 8 affiliated Sponsorship Organizations– AIHA– ASSE– IIE – ISSS– NESHTA– NFPA– NSC– SFPE
George Gorbell announces the
certification program in 1969:
“. . .The evidence of competency in safety furnished by certification will improve the individual, raise the general level of competency in
the safety profession,
promote high standards of professional conduct, and
assure management that it will receive top
quality job performance.. . .”
What is Certification
• Voluntary process– Set standards
• Educational• Experience• Examination
– Evaluates individuals against standards
– Awards certification and use of mark
– Requires continuing professional development
• It is NOT– License to practice– Permanent– Membership– Certificate of
completion
Value of Certification
• General– Raises bar– Levels playing field– Provides benchmark– Demonstrates
competency
• Employers– Prescreens candidates– Public image– Indicator of
professionalism
• Safety Professionals– Personal fulfillment– Peer recognition– Pay and position
• CSP makes >30% more than non-certified (2012 survey)
– Competitive advantage– Demonstrates credibility
• Government Agencies– Contract qualifications– Task performance
qualifications– Higher public assurance of
competency
Certification vs. CertificateCertification Certificate
Results from an assessment process Results from an educational processTypically requires some amount of professional experience
For new comers and experienced professional alike
Awarded by a third-party, standard-setting organization
Awarded by training and educational programs or institutions
Indicates master/competency as measured against a defensible set of standards, usually by application or exam
Indicates completion of a course or series of courses with a specific focus; is different than a degree granting program
Standards set through a defensible, industry-wide process (job analysis/role delineation) that results in an outline of required knowledge and skills
Course content set a variety of ways (faculty committee; dean; instructor; occasionally though defensible analysis of topic care)
Typically results in a designation to use after one’s name; may result in a document to hand on the wall or keep in a wallet
Usually listed on a resume detailing education; may result in a document to hand on the wall
Has on-going requirements to maintain; individual must demonstrate knowledge of content; holder must demonstrate he/she continues to meet requirements
Is the end result; individual may or may not demonstrate knowledge of course content at the end of a set period in time
National and International Accreditations
• International Accreditation– American National Standards Institute (ANSI/ISO) 17024
• CSP Only• National Accreditation
– Institute for Credentialing Excellence• National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA)
– CSP, OHST/CLCS, CHST, STS• Council of Engineering & Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB)
– CET/CIT (currently)
Accreditation Assures• Governance
– Nominations/elections– Peer participation– Public participation
• Financial disclosure– Stability and financial condition– Budget details
• Fairness to candidates• Examinations
– Validity– Reliability– Passing scores
• Recertification• Independence from preparation• Management systems
Pathway to Success
“Today knowledge has power. It controls access to opportunity and advancement.”
Peter Drucker
BCSP Certifications and Designations
• Professional:– Associate Safety Professional (ASP) – (designation; soon to be certification)– Graduate Safety Practitioner (GSP) – (designation)– Certified Safety Professional (CSP)
• Technician, Technologist, Supervisor:– Occupational Health and Safety Technologist (OHST)– Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST)– Safety Trainer Supervisor (STS) – General Ind., Construction, Petrochemical, Mining
• Trainer:– Certified Environmental, Safety and Health Trainer (CET)
• ASP 1,039• GSP 1,270 • CSP 13,643• CHST 2,778• OHST 1,854• STS 7,006• CET 465
Current Certificants
As of 4/23/13
Certification Confidence
300+ Safety Certifications
12CSP – Certified Safety ProfessionalCIH – Certified Industrial HygienistCHP – Certified Health PhysicistCHMM – Certified Hazardous Materials ManagerCFPP – Certified Fire Protection ProfessionalCMS – Certified Mine SafetyOHST – Occupational Health Safety TechnologistCHST – Construction Health & Safety TechnologistSTS – Safety Trained SupervisorCOHN – Certified Occupational Health NurseCSS – Certified Systems SafetyCET – Certified Environmental, Safety and Health Trainer
Psychometric Development of ExaminationsBasic Process – Peer Developed
Step 1: Role Delineation/Job Analysis
• 2-3 day meeting of 8-15 subject matter experts (SMEs) with respective certification – Geographically, industry, and demographically dispersed– Review/revise blueprint
• Domains; Tasks; Knowledge; Skills
– Determine for each task• Importance
– knowledge of task is essential to job performance of minimally competent professional
• Criticality – adverse effects could result if professional is not knowledgeable in the task
• Frequency – time the professional spends performing duties within the task
Step 2: Validation SurveyThis survey determines how many questions belong in each domain
• Send new blueprint to 1,000+ (if available) credential holders to re-establish for each task– Importance– Criticality– Frequency
• Role delineation and validation survey report is submitted by the Psychometrician and reviewed/approved by the Board of Directors Examination Committee followed by the Board
Step 3: Exam Assembly
• Exam department revises exam items based on:– New blueprint specifications– Annual statistical analysis of each item
• New Exam is reviewed/revised by the Psychometrician– Typically “experimental” items
• Not scored• Statistically determine future usability as scored item• For example: 200 question exam has 25 non-scored items
– New items pulled from “experimental” items– Also from item bank
Step 3 Side Note:New Items Development
• SMEs and chartered groups of SMEs write and submit items– Reviewed by Chief Operating Officer– Sent for second review to different SMEs
• Verified for validity by SMEs
Step 4: Cut Score
• 2-3 day meeting of 8-15 SMEs w/certification– Geographically, industry, and demographically dispersed– SMEs take the exam, Psychometrician uses modified Angoff method to
determine cut score range• Statistical mean of the group’s ratings regarding difficulty of individual items• Generally accepted best practice and well supported by case law
• Cut score process and recommended range is reported by Psychometrician
– Results reviewed/approved by Exam Committee & Board
• Exact cut score based on recommendation of Psychometrician
– Board approves cut score decision– Conservative score is chosen and stats are run on first 100-200 exams to ensure
adequacy of cut score
Step 5: Annual Statistics
• Run on all exams annually• Stats are analyzed to determine eligibility for
future or continued use of items– Stats are on reliability of entire exam and each item
• Level of difficulty• Discrimination• Uniqueness• Implausibility of distracters• Miskey of distracters
• Scored items vs. non-scored– NOTE: There are “experimental” items in each exam that are not
scored, but stats are run on them to determine usability in future exams
• 200 question exams have 25 non-scored items
Step 6: Revalidation
• Why– Keep examinations current– Protect program– Protect validity of examinations– Maintain accreditation
• Terms of Retaining Accreditation – Revalidate examinations every 5-8 years– Demonstrate reliability and validity of exam product– Maintain security to ensure intellectual property and
confidentiality
The Certification Process• Apply• Qualify
– Education– Experience
• Pass Examination(s)– Pearson VUE Sites
• 5000 test centers• 175 countries
• Recertification Criteria
Application Fee Waivers
• Faculty• ABET Graduates• Government Employees• Military and Veteran
– Exam fees may be reimbursed through:• Montgomery GI Bill• Veterans Education Assistance Program• Post 9/11 GI Bill
STS
Does this pay?
CHSTOHST
ASP/CSP/GSPCET
Financial Impact of Safety Certification
CHST: Median Annual Salary$24,000 more than averageOccupational Safety and HealthTechnician - $79,000
CSP: Median Annual Salary$25,000 more than averageOccupational Safety and HealthSpecialist - $98,000
Safety Trained Supervisor® (STS®)Certification
Qualifications
• Education:– 30 hours of formal safety-related training
• Experience:– Two years industry experience plus one year
as supervisor OR– Four years industry experience if not a
supervisor• Competence:
– Demonstrated through examination
Examinations
• 4 STS Examinations Available:– Construction, General Industry, Petrochemical, Mining
• Computer delivered– Available daily at testing centers
• 2 hour exam with 100 multiple choice questions• Recertification every 5 years
– 30 hours of safety and health courses or retake STS exam
• Costs:– Application fee $120*– Exam fee $185**– Annual Renewal $ 60* •non-refundable; subject to change without notice
Safety Committee MembersDepartmental Safety Liaisons/Champions
Senior ExecutivesManagers at all levels within the organization
• Crew Chiefs• Foremen• Future Supervisory Candidates
Supervisors
Leadership
Group Leaders
Targeted Toward
Safety Trained Supervisor® (STS®) Examination Contents
• 10 Tasks:– New Employee Orientation 9.5%
– Basis S&H Hazard Recognition 10.7%
– S&H Meetings 9.3%
– Inspect Tools & Equipment 9.7%
– Job S&H Inspections 9.7%
– Pretask S&H Hazard Analysis 10.6%
– Issue & Monitor PPE 9.6%
– Plan for S&H Hazard Prevention 10.7%
– Apply S&H Standards on Jobsite 11.1%
– Investigate Accidents/Incidents 9.3%
Does This ProcessReally Work?
RESULTS
Observed Benefits – URS 2000-2012
• 88% reduction in recordable injuries & illnesses• 88% reduction in worker’s compensation costs• Increased competence in supervisory safety decisions• Improved quality of safety inspections & audits• Demonstrated commitment to employee professional
development• Enhanced technical confidence level• Improved productivity and profitability on projects• Continued professional development• Demonstrated commitment to Zero Injuries vision• Project Managers achieving STS Certification• Executives & Engineers achieving STS Certification• 400 Projects: 85% Zero Recordables & 95% Zero Lost Time
Observed Benefits – Clark Const.
• Decreasing incident rates• Increased involvement in all safety efforts• Decreased worker’s compensation and general
liability• Increased overall safety program and OSHA
compliance• Increased professionalism and safety ownership• Increase morale• Better client and subcontractor relationships• Increased\better marketing capabilities
Hensel Phelps Construction Co.
• Better training and preparation of supervision
• Met and sustained challenge of zero accidents
• STS supervisors able to take on additional project safety responsibilities
• Contributed to support of safety culture and zero accident values
• Overall better organization
“The utilization of the Safety Trained Supervisor (STS) program has provided a path for greater training and retention of safety knowledge, confidence to make safety decisions and actively manage the safety related functions in our daily work execution for our supervision. The STS training, certification and validation process is the single best activity we have implemented for all levels of our supervision and management.”
Brad Giles, CSP, P.E., STSSr. V.P. EH&S and Security, URS
Occupational Health and Safety Technologist® (OHST®) Certification
OR
Construction Health and Safety Technician® (CHST®) Certification
Qualifications Education:
◦ Have high school diploma/GED Experience:
– Have 5 years of health and safety experience with 35% of primary job duties in safety and health
◦ Experience can be waived or partially waived if:◦ associate degree or higher in safety (ABET 5
yr; non-ABET 4 yr), ◦ associate degree in technical scientific
disciplines (2 yr), ◦ other fields (Assoc 1 yr Bachelor or Master 2
yr) Competence:
◦ Demonstrated through examination
Examination
Computer delivered◦ Available daily at testing centers
4 hour exam with 200 multiple choice questions, covering:◦ Worksite Assessment – 34%◦ Hazard Control and Loss Prevention – 31%◦ Verification – 17%◦ Disaster Planning and Emergency Response – 14%◦ Professional Responsibility – 4%
Counts as 1 year of experience for CSPRecertification period every 5 years
– 20 points neededCosts:
◦ Application fee $140*◦ Exam fee $300*◦ Annual Renewal $120*
•*non-refundable; subject to change without notice
Qualifications
Education (meet 1 of 3):◦ Have high school diploma/GED AND
Qualify as an OSHA-authorized instructor OR Have 40 hours of formal safety training OR Have 3 years of construction experience with 35% of duties in
safety◦ Have 9 semester hours or 14 quarter hours of college credit in
safety◦ Hold an associate degree or higher in safety
Experience:◦ 3 years construction AND 2 years supervisory (can be concurrent)◦ 3 years construction AND 2 years with 35% of duties in safety◦ 2 years construction AND 9 semester hours or 14 quarter hours of
safety college credit◦ 2 years construction and associate or higher degree in safety◦ 1 year construction AND associate or higher degree in safety (ABET)
Competence:◦ Demonstrated through examination
Examination
Computer delivered◦ Available daily at testing centers
4 hour exam with 200 multiple choice questions, covering:◦ Program Management – 29%◦ Worksite Auditing – 40%◦ Training – 27%◦ Professional Responsibility – 4%
Counts as 1 year of experience for CSPRecertification period every 5 years
20 points neededCosts:
◦ Application fee $140*◦ Exam fee $300*◦ Annual Renewal $120*
•*non-refundable; subject to change without notice
Associate Safety Professional® Designation (ASP®)
AND
Certified Safety Professional® Certification (CSP®)
Education Requirement ASP®/CSP®
• Minimum– Associate in Safety (from an accredited school)– Bachelor’s in any field (from an accredited school)
• Academic Requirement– 48 points needed for Safety Fundamentals (ASP)– Additional 48 points needed for Comprehensive Practice (CSP)– Points awarded based on degree type earned + additional
experience
• Eligible for Safety Fundamentals when Academic Requirement met– Graduate study counts toward experience
Experience Requirement
• 1 month = 1 unit• 4 years minimum• Professional Experience
– Full time position (or part time – 900 hrs/yr)– Safety is at least 50% of position– Must be at professional level (responsible charge)– Breadth: safety tasks, hazard types, etc.
• OHST/CHST count as one year of experience – they are stepping stones to the CSP for many
Recertification Requirements
• 25 Points Every 5 Years
• Aligned with CIH and CHMM
• Costs:◦ Application fee
$160*◦ Exam fee
$350*◦ Annual Renewal $150*
• 10 Categories– Practice– Membership– Service– Publishing, presenting, patents– Writing exam questions– Professional Development
Conferences– Safety-related courses, seminars,
quizzes– Continuing Education– New Advanced Degree– Other Certifications/re-examination
•*non-refundable; subject to change without notice
Reciprocal Agreements for CSP Certification
• Waiver of the Safety Fundamentals exam– Reciprocal Agreements:
• Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals• Institution of Occupational Safety and Health • Singapore Institution of Safety Officers• Safety Institute of Australia
– Waivers:• CIH• P.E.• GSP
GSP Requirements• Benefits of Becoming a GSP
– Recognition for being in a path toward the CSP certification.– Recognition for the level of preparation for professional safety practice. – A waiver of the application fee.– A waiver of the Safety Fundamentals examination.– A certificate awarding the GSP designation.
• Applying for the GSP– Submit the GSP Application through your program’s QAP Coordinator. – If you graduated within the program's ABET accredited period, submit the GSP
Retroactivity Application forms and official transcripts directly to BCSP. – BCSP will send you a GSP package indicating you have been awarded the GSP
designation and you may begin using the mark.• GSP Time Limit
– GSPs must sit for and pass the Comprehensive Practice examination within three years of the date on which you become eligible. GSPs may pursue up to two, one-year eligibility extensions.
Continuing Education • Opportunities Available
– Traditional Programs• University or College – 4 year programs • Jr. College – 2 year programs
– None Traditional Programs• Nights and/or Weekend programs• Online programs
– Hybrid Programs• Online and Traditional (combination of both programs types)
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
Nelson Mandela
Educational Programs
1) Distance Learning – Accredited Programs– Trinidad Community College – AS– Findley University – BS– Oakland University – BS/MS
2) Traditional Universities (GSP)– 16 ABET Accredited Safety & Health– 40 Industrial Hygiene, Fire Protection,
Environmental
The Future• ASP designation into a stand-alone certification
• Expanded GSP program (from 16 at 15 universities to 56 programs at 40 universities)
• eSafetySource launched
• Job Board will continue
• BCSP will continue to enhance our infrastructure to provide efficiency and meet the needs of our certificants, candidates, BCSP staff, and the safety profession.
Thank You
