First Quarter 2024

Message from the President of the Board

Ashok Garlapati, CSP, QEP, CFIOSH, FASSP

Greetings, respected SH&E professionals. I extend warm regards to each of you from the State of Kuwait. I hope these first few months of 2024 have brought you success and fulfillment in your endeavors.

It is with great pride that I step into the role of President of the BCSP Board of Directors, following in the footsteps of many distinguished leaders before me, including my esteemed colleague and 2023 Board President Bruce Lyon.

I am also honored to serve as the first Board President from outside the United States, demonstrating the continued global growth of our organization.

As I consider my unique perspective and my responsibility to shepherd the Board through this year, I am often reminded of one of my favorite mottos – “Think globally, act locally.” This principle underscores the importance of recognizing the broader impact of our work while also seizing opportunities to effect change within our communities. BCSP embodies this ethos through its global outreach efforts and commitment to empowering safety, health, and environmental (SH&E) professionals to make a local difference.

The first pillar of our strategic plan emphasizes the advancement of the industry, expanding reach and awareness to support the development of a robust and diverse SH&E workforce for the future. Our international and educational efforts are playing a large role in the fulfillment of this pillar.

The establishment of our support office in Dubai has grown our credential holder base in India, the Middle East, and Africa (IMEA), enhancing SH&E practices in the region. Meanwhile, the expansion of our Qualified Equivalent Programs (QEPs) has recognized the value of international safety programs and provided more of their students with a path toward certification through the Transitional Safety Practitioner (TSP) designation.

From an educational perspective, The Hub, launched at the end of last year, is an engaging digital platform connecting professionals with industry-leading content at their fingertips. As stewards of SH&E performance improvement, we each have a role to play. The Hub serves as an invaluable tool for accessing relevant resources tailored to our individual needs and interests.

Looking ahead to May 7-9, we are excited to again welcome thousands of SH&E professionals from around the world for our second Global Learning Summit (GLS). By providing three days’ worth of expert-level professional development and networking opportunities at only $25 USD, we are further striving to fulfill our mission to enhance careers, advance the profession, and protect people.

I encourage each of you to register for this transformative event and seize the opportunity to learn from and connect with peers who share our commitment to global SH&E excellence.

As we embark on this journey together, let us be inspired to think globally and act locally, ensuring a safer and more secure world for all.

BCSP Board of Directors

President

Ashok Garlapati, CSP, QEP, CFIOSH, FASSP

Vice President

Bruce D. Hollcroft, CSP, ARM, CHMM

Treasurer

Jay R. Harf, PhD, CSP

Past President

Bruce K. Lyon, CSP, SMS, P.E., ARM, CHMM, FASSP

CEO, Secretary

Christy Uden, CAE, IOM

Directors

Gary W. Clevenger, CSP, CRIS, RRE

Teresa A. Cole, CSP, CHMM

Mary Hjorth, SPHR, SHRM-SCP

Daniel G. Hopwood, MPH, CSP, SMS, ARM

Patricia A. Kagerer, CSP, ARM, CPCU, CRIS

Sarah Long Sparks, CSP, SMS

Donald A. Robinson, PhD, CSP, P.E., ARM-E

Mike Sutton, CFRE, CFRM

Recognizing Growing Certification Champions

BCSP's Certification Champions program honors organizations that invest in their safety cultures and employees through certification. Champions are recognized by level based on the number of credentials held within their organizations—Sapphire (5-24), Ruby (25-49), Emerald (50-99), and Diamond (100+)—and earn a wide array of benefits (PDF). Learn how BCSP can help you grow your safety culture by visiting the Workplace Safety and Certification page at BCSP.ORG.

BCSP is proud to recognize the following organizations that have attained a new level in the Certification Champions program for the first time this quarter (as of April 1).

Emerald (50-99)

Aristeo Construction

BAE Systems, Inc.

Central Plateau Cleanup Company

NorthStar Group Services, Inc.

Shambaugh & Son L.P.

Wanzek

Ruby (25-49)

DP Electric

Ergon Refining, Inc.

NECA Washington D.C. Chapter

Sapphire (5-24)

Alaska Occupational Safety & Health

Maricopa County Risk Management

Phillips and Jordan, Inc.

Taft Electric Company

TEAM, Inc.

Texas Sterling Construction

Truebeck Construction

U.S. Compliance

View All BCSP Certification Champions

BCSP's 2024 GLS is Quickly Approaching

There's still time to register for this unique opportunity

BCSP's 2024 Global Learning Summit (GLS) is right around the corner. Building on the success of the inaugural GLS two tears ago, this year's event will take place virtually May 7-9.

If you aren't already signed up to join us, make sure to register now so you don't miss out on all the engaging and informative content.

The full agenda for the event includes more than 100 professional development sessions led by some of the brightest minds in the safety, health, and environmental (SH&E) profession, plus networking opportunities with fellow SH&E practitioners around the world. And all for only $25 USD.

The 2022 event drew thousands of participants, and this year's event is primed to again deliver high-quality, accessible content at an affordable cost.

Full Session Agenda

Learn from Leaders with My Big Safety Challenge

Real People. Real Stories. Real Impact. Combining the safety expertise of BCSP with the leadership training mastery of Dale Carnegie to offer insight for tackling today's industry challenges.

Learn from the experiences of proven safety leaders to influence positive outcomes in your own organization.

Listen Now!

Share Your Safety Stories with Us

We want to tell your safety story. Whether it's a personal story of how you became involved with the safety profession, or a proud company safety moment, we want to hear from you!

If you have an interesting story to share, please contact safetystories@bcsp.org and a member of our team will reach out to you.

Your story could be featured on the BCSP social media channels, a promotional video, or many other avenues.

Looking For a New Career or Your Next Superstar Employee?

The BCSP Career Center connects job seekers with prospective employers in the safety, health, and environmental industry at no cost!

Posting open positions for companies looking to hire individuals who hold our credentials is also free. This site is your direct route to qualified individuals!

Subscribe to our eNewsletters!

BCSP offers unique eNewsletters:

Partners eNewsletter

For sponsors, business persons, and collaborating agencies

Collegiate eNewsletter

For university faculty and students

BCSP Quarterly eNewsletter

To stay up to date with all the latest news from BCSP

Click to Subscribe

Get an Early Taste of GLS

Want a taste of the exciting and informative content you will discover at the Global Learning Summit (GLS)? Check out this upcoming BCSP Webinar featuring OSHA. Please note, registering for this webinar does not register you for GLS. You can find out more about GLS by visiting BCSPGLS.COM.

OSHA Enforcement and Guidance on Protecting Workers within the Cannabis Industry

A complimentary webinar from BCSP presented by Yasmine Daniels, PhD, CIH and Virginia Weaver, MD, MPH

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

(11:00 AM ET) – 1 hour

*also available later On Demand

Research has shown that workers within the cannabis industry are at risk for developing occupational allergies due to allergens or biotoxins from cannabis plants. These workers may also become exposed to additional biological, chemical, and physical workplace hazards associated with producing cannabis. Although this is a relatively new industry and OSHA has no standards that are specific to occupational allergies to cannabis plants, there are current OSHA standards that may help to reduce or prevent these occupational allergies from occurring and also protect workers from other hazards they may face within this industry.

This presentation from OSHA Industrial Hygienist Yasmine Daniels and OSHA Medical Officer Virginia Weaver will review OSHA’s enforcement and compliance resources and highlight a few recent OSHA inspections within this industry.

New to "The Hub"

The Hub, BCSP's digital resource library launched late in 2023, continues to grow. New content is added weekly to assist safety professionals with the work you do each day.

The Hub features content in a variety of formats – from articles and eBooks to videos and webinars to podcasts and interviews

Some of the latest additions to The Hub include ...

From the frontline worker to the senior executive, The Hub has something to offer. Visit BCSPHUB.COM to check it out today. Users with a BCSP profile can log in to view content using their credentials, while new users can sign up for a free account.

Visit The Hub Today

BCSP Credential Holder Directory

The Credential Holder Directory offers a database for verifying individuals' BCSP certification status.

The directory is searchable by name, company, location, and more, featuring digital badges and credential information for each credential held.

Visit BCSP's Affinity Products Page

As a BCSP credential holder, you have access to exclusive products! Design custom BCSP Apparel in the BCSP store. Get unique pins and rings.

Through BCSP's collaboration with the Financial Planning Association® (FPA®), certificants further qualify for a 20% discount on first-year financial planning services with CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional members.

Click here for more info!

BCSP Expanding Its examCORE Options with Live Online Courses

New option offers a live instructor in a virtual format

Are you interested in an exam preparation option with a live instructor, all from the comfort of your own home? examCORE Live Online may be the answer for you.

The newest member of the examCORE family, the Live Online option combines the convenience of BCSP's examCORE Online with the face-to-face value of examCORE In-Person.

The course is conducted in a virtual format with online instruction by a subject matter expert holding BCSP certification.

BCSP piloted the ASP version of the course at the end of 2023 and is offering the course again April 29-May 1. Space is limited, so register now via your My Profile to reserve your spot.

Keep an eye out for examCORE Live Online options for additional certifications in the future.

*To ensure impartiality, BCSP utilizes subject-matter experts for the development of the examCORE program and products who are independent from the certification examination development process.

What Does Safety Look Like at The Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens?

Check out the latest episode of Safety on Location

The newest episode of BCSP's Safety on Location podcast is available now, featuring Dr. Christie Bautista, CIT, the Environmental Health and Safety Manager at The Huntington, a research and educational institution in San Marino, California.

Bautista gives BCSP CEO Christy Uden, CAE, IOM a tour of the grounds at The Huntington as the two discuss everything that goes into safety in a library, art museum, and botanical gardens.

Check out the clip below for a taste of the episode. Then subscribe to Safety on Location or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to Safety on Location

Prep for Your Exam!

BCSP offers exam training, both online and in-person, through BCSP examCORE*. Visit examCORE.ORG for more information.

Online trainings include: CSP, ASP + CSP Connect, SMS, ASP, OHST, CHST, STS, STSC, and CIT. In-person training is currently available for the STS and STSC with more to come.

*To ensure impartiality, BCSP utilizes subject-matter experts for the development of the examCORE program and products who are independent from the certification examination development process.

Assess Your Knowledge

BCSP also offers Self-Assessments to help you determine your knowledge level in each subject area of an exam. Utilize the Self-Assessments to evaluate your strengths, weaknesses, and test-taking pace and plan your studying accordingly.

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.

Report Unauthorized Use

Find Unauthorized Use on the Credential Directory

Present on Behalf of BCSP!

Presentations on safety certification can be done for recertification credit! BCSP has many resources available for certificants to use during presentations, including pre-made PowerPoints, technical reports, and videos.

These resources can be found on our Presentations and Outreach webpage.

Become a BCSP Webinar Presenter

Do you have wisdom or best practices to share? Valuable insights to reveal? BCSP Webinars wants you as a presenter.

To express interest in presenting, please view and complete the Webinar Presenter Interest Form. List your areas of expertise and submit the form for consideration.

If you have further questions, please contact webinars@bcsp.org.

Safety Stories:

Lisa Dickey, CHST

Why I Stay in Safety

I began working for a construction management business in 2007. My employer strongly encouraged me to go to school for my construction management degree, so I took that advice. While there, a safety class was a requirement. Being a single mom, I knew then that I wanted to get into safety so I could take care of the people that were working and possibly putting their lives on the line.

When I was getting close to my graduation date, my employer suggested that I would make a good field engineer, looking over specs for submittals that were coming in. When I told him that I wanted to pursue safety, he looked at me like I had lost my mind and said, "Safety? Nobody likes the safety person." I just told him that I was a mom, and my kids didn't like me half of the time, so I was okay with it.

That's how I got into safety. Now for why I stay. Everyone was breaking for lunch on a jobsite, and I was walking through the mezzanine of the building. One of the electricians had left a tool on an air handler and was standing on the next-to-the-top step of a ladder. I didn't say anything to him, just went and held the ladder. He started apologizing ... TO ME!

I asked him why he was apologizing to me. I asked if he was married, and he told me that he was engaged. I told him to go home and apologize to her because if he had fallen, at best I was going to have to call her and have her meet us at the emergency department. At worst, I was going to have to call her and tell her that he wasn't ever coming home.

This young man had a look on his face of total disbelief. Then he told me that no one had ever explained it to him and made it personal.

The next day, he called me over when I was walking around the site and asked if I had a minute. I told him I did, and he called his fiancé. She wanted to thank me personally for making him aware that his safety on the job affects more than people on the job, or just him.

I know that he took what I said to heart and then he took it home. That is why I will stay in safety throughout my career.

Share Events With Us

Have an upcoming job fair, conference, or chapter meeting that you would like to share with readers? Would you like to invite a BCSP representative to attend an event? We would like to hear about it!

Submit information on upcoming events using our new Event Request Form.

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.

National Safety Stand-Down Coming in May

OSHA’s 11th annual National Safety Stand-Down is scheduled for May 6-10 with the continued goal of preventing falls in construction.

The National Safety Stand-Down encourages employers to set aside time to prioritize speaking with their employees about potential fall hazards and ways to prevent falls. It also serves as a reminder to review your organization’s fall prevention plan, inspect safety equipment, and develop or revise rescue plans.

OSHA provides an outline to guide you in creating a Stand-Down event and extensive resources to help you and your employees mitigate fall hazards. Plan your Safety Stand-Down event today and share on social media using #StandDown4Safety.

National Safety Stand-Down