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Nsafety managementInvest in SafetyCertificationsBy George KennedySafety management is not just a job — it is anhonorable profession. Safety professionals andpractitioners are all of the safety managers, directorsand coordinators currently working forcompanies today. They do not have to be certified, nor dothey need a lot of letters after their names, but it is to theiradvantage and to that of the companies they work for tohave certification.Professional certification can be found in almost everyindustry. Certification as a Certified Safety Professional(CSP) or Construction Health and Safety Technician(CHST) identifies an individual’s level of competency inthe field of safety. The CSP or CHST certifications identifyindividuals who have met educational and experiencestandards and passed examinations which have beenvalidated by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals(BCSP). These are not the only accredited certificationsavailable, but in my opinion, they are the most recognizedsafety certifications by government agencies andemployers.In the past 20 years, the responsibility of safety professionalsin all industries has expanded. Safety issues andregulations have become more complex, and today’s safetyprofessionals must be continually better qualified — andone way to accomplish this is to achieve and maintain certification.CSPs are among the most highly educated, trained andexperienced in the safety field. A CSP has met educationand experience standards, has demonstrated by examinationhis or her knowledge of professional safety practicesand continues to meet recertification requirements establishedby the BCSP.The CHST is a certification awarded by the BCSP tosafety practitioners who meet and continue to meet allrequirements established by the BCSP. The BCSP awardsthe CHST certification to individuals who demonstratecompetency and work in safety and health activities devotedto the prevention of construction injuries and illness.Candidates for the CHST certification are typicallyemployed as safety specialists by construction companiesand are responsible for safety on one or more significantconstruction projects. Many CHSTs use their designationas a stepping stone to greater roles in safety and health.Education, knowledge and communication are necessaryto being an effective safety director. Today, safetydirectors have to be professionals. They must be knowledgeableabout the type of work the company performs,concepts of safety management, safety and environmentalregulations, safety technology, communication, trainingand more. In many respects, the only way to obtain allthe information they need is to study the right materials— most of which are required references for taking theexaminations for certification.Just knowing about OSHA regulations is not enoughto be an effective safety manager, director or coordinator.Anyone can be assigned the position, but just like a goodproject manager, he or she must possess the necessaryknowledge and qualifications to accomplish the tasks.Safety professionals and practitioners help their companiescreate and implement safety programs for the benefitof their coworkers and their employers. With this in mind,I encourage NUCA members and all construction companiesto consider encouraging their safety personnel towork toward achieving accredited safety certifications likethe ones mentioned above.Safety and health professionals are and will continueto be hard to find, so why not groom your current safetypersonnel? Sure there is a cost for the application andexamination fees, as well as an annual renewal fee. Butthese minor expenses are an investment in your company’ssafety program and all the benefits that come alongwith having a professional manage the program. And,you may have to give your newly certified employee a paton the back and salary increase too, but think of the expensesthat follow an accident or inspection by a regulatoryagency like OSHA. Certified individuals can honestlymake a difference because they are better educated andinformed.The BCSP provides a host of information about howyour safety personnel can become certified. You can find36 Utility Contractor | August 2013