BCSP Collegiate
eNewsletter
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Welcome to the BCSP Collegiate
eNewsletter!
Whether you are a SH&E professor, student, or recent graduate, the Collegiate
eNewsletter will include 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.
Thank you to all who contributed to this issue.
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A Commencement Speech for Safety Students and Graduates
Todd William Loushine, PhD, P.E., CSP, CIH, Associate Professor of Occupational & Environmental Safety & Health Coordinator of Fieldwork/Internships at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
 Congratulations graduates, and to all students finishing another academic year!
It is truly an amazing time to be entering the occupational safety and health field. Whether you're graduating and starting your first position in safety, starting your summer internship, or simply taking some time off this summer, you need to take time to assess and consider all the opportunities that are available to you.
You need to apply and practice the lessons you learned in your classes and dedicate yourself to continuous personal and professional improvement. Your goal should be to make your boss look smart for selecting you, and this means working beyond expectation, beyond work hours, developing relationships in all levels of the organization, and not expecting "praise" or "recognition" for that effort. You also need to be thinking about your future, and looking for specialized training/education and documenting your achievements.
Regardless of all the employment opportunities, don't allow yourself to think you've got it made. Much to the contrary, companies are expecting more from college graduates than ever before. Students have access to degree programs accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) and/or approved as a qualified academic program (QAP) by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP), which means graduates of these programs can apply for the Graduate Safety Practitioner (GSP) designation. This demonstrates that the degree holder completed coursework that met or exceed stringent external standards and has a process for continuous improvement. It also gets the holder a "head-start" toward advanced certifications, such as the Certified Safety Professional (CSP), and commits the holder to a higher ethical standard.
Students (and graduates) are expected to be members of professional organizations, like the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) or the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA). Professional membership provides access to educational and networking opportunities that are vital to our development both professionally and socially. The OSH field is a "tight-knit" group, and we rely on each other for assistance and advice.
No matter where you are in your career, dedicate time to your professional development and expanding your professional network. Follow these tips, and there will be no measure to the limit to your career success and satisfaction. Bon Voyage!
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Continued Learning is Part of Being a Safety Professional
Scott Gautreau, GSP
I graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University (SELU) in 2010. I have a BS in Industrial Technology, concentration in Occupational Safety Health and Environment, ABET accredited.
I was on a different career path and decided that it was not suitable for my long-term goal. My family has worked in different fields within the petroleum and chemical industry in Louisiana. The only exposure to construction I had thus far was on a few short term projects working as a laborer. I learned about the possibility that SELU was going to have a four-year safety program, so I enrolled as an undeclared major and started right away.
Today, I am a Safety Coordinator for a global leader in Ready Mix Concrete, Cement and Aggregates. My area is the Southern Region, New Orleans, Louisiana. To keep people safe, I engage the leadership team in rolling out our company safety programs, auditing batch plant operations and visiting our customer jobsites. I think the most important thing we do to keep people safe is through having productive safety interventions. This is an opportunity to reiterate the employee empowerment for safety; responsibility for the safety of themselves, their team members and to the public.
SH&E students can best prepare for their career, while still in school, by getting field experience anywhere they can. The construction industry is a huge job market for safety and engineering. This industry has been booming in Louisiana. You will be in competition for jobs with people who have years of experience over higher education. Also, take a class in Microsoft Office. I don't think a day goes by that I am not working in a spreadsheet, typing a procedure or scheduling a meeting.
Once the OSHE program was accredited, we received an email that informed us of the ability to apply for the GSP. This was imperative for me since the main requirements for positions asked for either 5 or 10 years of experience and a credential. The credentials were all through BSCP. Locally, certifications like NCCER or COSS are more prevalent. Having a GSP definitely separates you from other applicants.
I don't think that saying there is importance in continued learning is accurate-Continued learning is morally imperative. Each plant you go into has a different way of doing things, every company or contractor is different. Each opportunity you have to gain exposure is eye opening. People who just stay in one place will never get to see what everyone else in the industry is practicing. Not only that, but seminars, classes and training will improve upon a skillset that you just began to build in college.
The only other thing that I would like to add is that the best way to pay gratitude to everyone who helps you along the way is paying it forward. Every time you have an opportunity to teach someone what you have learned so far, open the floodgates. Set the incoming techs up for success. I couldn't have succeeded in life without learning from my mentors. Now I know how good it feels to be able to see others prevail that have come to me with problems, questions or advice.
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ISASI Safety Students Partner with Naval Museum to Investigate WW2 Aircraft Accident
Kimberly Fuentes, student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
 Since 2016, the Deland Naval Air Station Museum has been working diligently to recover a WWII Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless aircraft. During the war, the SBD-5 was used as a naval scout aircraft and a dive bomber. From 1942 to 1946, the Deland airport was classified as a Naval Air Station, where numerous pilots trained for combat operations. On November 27, 1944, a pilot and passenger were conducting dive bomb training over a water target. As the pilot began to pull out of the dive maneuver, the nose of the aircraft struck the water, resulting in the total loss of the aircraft. Unfortunately, the pilot and the observer perished upon impact.
Seventy-three years later, a local resident informed the museum of the aircraft's wreckage location. Since then, the museum has partnered with many organizations, from the Naval History and Heritage Command, to Spruce Creek Scuba (a local diving club) to accomplish their goal, retrieving the aircraft's engine.
The Naval Air Museum is comprised of passionate Navy Veterans who pride themselves in having completed several aircraft restorations. Their goal with the SBD-5 is to recover the engine and any personal items of the deceased to be returned to their families. Through the help of these organizations, the Naval Museum has been able to locate parts of the aircraft, but not the engine. Additionally, the museum was interested in the accident sequence, but did not know what to do. One of their volunteers offered to ask the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI) student chapter.
ISASI is an international organization dedicated to the promotion of air safety by the exchange of ideas, experiences and information about aircraft accident investigations; to aid in the advancements of flight safety. While ISASI has chapters all around the globe, there are only two student chapters, which are both a part of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The Daytona Beach, Florida student chapter partnered with the Naval Air Museum and created a sub group for the investigation.
These individuals, comprised of safety majors, engineers and US veterans, worked tirelessly to assist the Naval Museum. Their research and discussions led them to figure out the type of maneuver the pilot could have used, the deceased relatives, and possibly, the location of the engine. After a few months, the ISASI team joined the Naval Museum at the crash site to find the engine. Thanks to the perseverance of the team, a blip was found that could indicate the engine's location. However, without a Florida certified Archeologist, the museum was unable to retrieve it.
After sending hundreds of letters, Mr. Stan Storz (the head of the Naval Museum) was able to garner the attention of the Governor of Florida and Dr. Price, an underwater archeologist from Tallahassee. With Dr. Price now a part of this venture, the Naval Museum will be able to retrieve the engine.
Currently, the museum and its partners are waiting for Dr. Price's decision to retrieve the aircraft. Until then, the museum will continue its work restoring aircrafts and the ISASI team is planning to publish a report about the investigation.
If you have any interest in aircraft restoration or naval history, please visit the Deland Naval Air Station Museum's website and sign-up to volunteer.
If you are interested in ISASI and would like to join the organization, visit their website at www.isasi.org.
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GSP QAP List Continues to Grow, BCSP Supporting ABET or AABI Accreditation and Students
BCSP added three new GSP Qualified Academic Programs (QAP) to the GSP QAP list. Joining the list earlier this year are:
- Boise State University's Environmental and Occupational Health Emphasis, BSPH
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott's Safety Science, MS
- Indiana State University's Safety Management, BS
Graduates from these and other QAPs are eligible for the GSP upon graduation. Graduates can apply for the GSP by logging into My Profile at bcsp.org.
In addition to connecting more graduates to professional safety practice, BCSP is committed to supporting SH&E students and the academic programs that provide them outstanding instruction.
The BCSP Board of Directors just approved a motion to provide grants of up to $10,000 to support QAPs who apply for ABET or AABI accreditation or for their full renewal of their ABET or AABI accreditation status.
BCSP is also ensuring those who would like to attend college as part of pursuing a career in safety have the resources to do so. In 2016, BCSP supported over 20 SH&E students with a total of $120,000 in scholarships.
Students attending ABET accredited QAPs qualify for BCSP scholarships, applications for which become available in the fall.
Students may also receive scholarships from BCSP and other generous donors through the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), the American Industrial Hygiene Foundation (AIHF), and the American Society of Safety Engineers Foundation (ASSEF).
If you are not yet subscribed to this eNewsletter, be sure to sign up for more information on these grants and scholarships and to share it with those who may benefit. |
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Introducing the BCSP Ambassador Program
To raise awareness about the value of accredited safety certifications, BCSP established the BCSP Ambassador Program in April. The Ambassador Program is an outreach initiative that engages select volunteers among BCSP certification holders to represent BCSP at events and speaking engagements with stakeholders in the safety, health, and environmental (SH&E) field.
These could be events organized as part of conferences, those promoting safety as a career on college campuses, and a variety of other official events.
If you would like to request an ambassador present at your event, contact the BCSP Ambassador Program.
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Send Us Your News
Consider the BCSP Collegiate
eNewsletter
your eNewsletter.
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Newsletters and Annual Reports Archive
BCSP keeps an archive of all of its eNewsletters and Annual Reports. You can view these and other publications in the About BCSP webpage's resources column.
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BCSP Academic Database
BCSP maintains the Academic Database for those seeking the knowledge required to become a SH&E professional, looking to earn Recertification Points, or to stay knowledgeable of the latest developments in safety practice.
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Promote the Value of Your School
If your academic program is a Qualified Academic Program, BCSP would like to work with you in making sure individuals seeking quality SH&E education know your school produces future leaders.
Contact Lisa Spencer, BCSP Marketing and Outreach Director, for more information.
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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, please fill out the Display and Literature Request Form. 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 Presentations and Outreach webpage.
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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.
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