From Jack Slotnick, BEAC Chair 2010:

Since the formation of BEAC in 1997, participation in the organization has grown steadily over the years. One of the reasons for this growth is that auditors understand the value of a high quality, recognized certification in a competitive market place.

These certifications are valued both by internal environmental, health and safety (EHS) auditors as well as external auditing firms who provide EHS audit services to their clients for a variety of reasons. BEAC certified auditors must pass a rigorous exam in the specialty as well as on general EHS auditing knowledge. In addition, being certified by BEAC requires each auditor to agree to abide by a strict code of ethics and maintain competency with ongoing professional development. Using a BEAC certified auditor provides a company with a level of assurance that they are employing a reputable, well trained EHS auditor.

Certified auditors are available in the following areas:

• EH&S Management Systems (e.g. ISO 14001, VPP)
• Environmental Compliance
• Health & Safety Compliance
• Responsible Care (American Chemistry Council program)

As we move forward, a number of challenges face the EHS auditing world. New areas such as Greenhouse Gas reporting and Sustainability will require auditors to understand new regulations, geopolitical climates, and social trends. Further, recent EHS incidents around the world, including several large explosions and fires in the Petroleum industry, have placed an increased focus on Process Safety Management. To answer these challenges and new requirements, BEAC is currently evaluating the need to have certifications in these arenas.

Several Working Groups are being initiated to evaluate future certification requirements and ongoing membership needs and tools.
-- BEAC Website redesign
-- Working Group for Greenhouse Gas
-- Working Group for Process Safety Management
-- Global Environmental Compliance Auditor Program

If you are interested in participating on a BEAC Committee or Working Group, please contact the BEAC office by sending an email to info@beac.org.

If you have any comments about BEAC's certification programs that you would like to discuss with me, send an email to jack@beac.org.

In October 2009, Verité and CREA released the Standards for the Knowledge and Skills of Social Auditors as Phase I of the Social Auditor Standards Program. The Standards provide a benchmark to assist social auditor training organizations to identify what social auditors should know at the foundational level. In Phase II, social auditor training and institutionalization of the Standards are discussed.

Help insure your voice is heard in the discussion on these crucial issues by taking the short Survey on Baseline Social Auditor Training and Institutionalization. The Survey will remain open until March 26th, 2010. After the Survey results are compiled, a wiki dialogue process will be held through May 2010 here.

It is important to note that this Program's goal is not to create standards for training or create an institution to oversee the Standards, but simply to facilitate discussion on these matters.

About the Program:
The Social Auditor Standard Program, sponsored by the US Department of State's Office of International Labor Affairs and Corporate Social Responsibility, developed Standards for the Knowledge and Skills of Social Auditors through the use of research, surveys, interviews, and multi-stakeholder dialogue and engagement processes. The Program also encourages dialogue on training, testing and institutionalization of the Standards.

For more information about the Social Auditor Standards Program, contact standardsparticipation@verite.org or visit the Project wiki.

The free course, developed through an OSHA Susan Harwood Grant, is intended to be useful to anyone desiring to learn about the elements of ANSI Z10-2005 and practical strategies for integrating them into existing management systems.

This course will provide a thorough review of the ANSI Z10-2005 Standard, Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems. The integration of this Standard with international management systems for Quality (ISO 9001) and the Environment (ISO 14001) will be addressed.

View a sample agenda here.

BEAC CPEAs can earn 7 Continuing Professional Development hours by attending this course.

South Central Regional Meeting
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Hosted by Bracewell & Giuliani
111 Congress, Suite 850
Austin, Texas

"Continuing a Goal - From Compliance to Sustainability: Value Added"
This Auditing Roundtable meeting continues discussion on the role of EHS in going beyond compliance, incorporating auditing and sustainability concepts to business operations to improve EHS performance and reduce industry's impact on the environment, while adding value to the company's bottom line.

When: May 22 - 27, 2010
Where: Denver, CO

Stop by and visit the BEAC exhibit booth.

Link to the conference website.

On Monday, there will be a presentation comparing the ISO 19011 standard to BEAC's Performance and Program STANDARDS for the Practice of EHS Auditing.

The Auditing Roundtable EHS Basic Auditing Skills Training is being offered April 28-29, 2010.

Location:
AArcher Institute of Environmental Training
910 Commerce Road
Annapolis, MD 21401

What: Safety 2010
Where: Baltimore, MD Convention Center
When: June 13 -16

CPEAs are currently scheduled to present sixteen sessions / CEU courses. See the list.