Greetings!
Welcome to the new CCHEST E-Newsletter. All the same information you used to receive in the once-a-year print newsletter, will now be sent via email. While it may be a new format, we will continue to keep you informed, showcase our certifications across the world and hopefully reach an even larger audience through our recipients forwarding the email to colleagues, students and others in the industry.
Please send us feedback about our new format. It's our ongoing goal to improve and make this publication essential reading.
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Note from the President
The Future of CCHEST
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I would like to take this opportunity to let everyone know
what a privilege it has been to serve the past 6 years on the Board of
Directors of CCHEST. I have seen many changes over the years in the way CCHEST
manages its' business and have been very impressed with the constant growth in
our Certificants.
As the President for 2009, it has been a very interesting
year since CCHEST was purchased by BCSP in December. I have been working with
BCSP very closely this year to better define the direction of CCHEST in
conjunction with the Board of Directors of BCSP. BCSP is working very closely
with CCHEST to assure that there will be no interruptions or major changes in
the way we do business. We can assure our certificants that there will be no
effect on their certifications and that we as a Division of BCSP will strive to
improve the way we do business presently.
I have been very fortunate to be part of the Board of
Directors and especially to serve as President this year. The one thing that
most of us forget at times is the employees of BCSP and CCHEST who serve the
Board and our Certificants in a very professional and timely manner. The Board
of Directors, the staff and the employees have spent many more hours than
originally planned to see that the transition to BCSP will be successful and I
congratulate and thank each of them for their hard work. I would also like to
take this opportunity to thank ABIH for all their assistance since the
inception of CCHEST and we hope to continue to join forces to provide the
finest Health, Safety and Environmental Certification Programs.
For many years, we as an organization have attempted to
create a solution to what I consider the missing link in safety, health and environmental certification.
The missing link is the Mining Industry and we have made huge strides to connect
this link over the past year. I am very proud, since I was a miner for many
years, to announce that we will have a new product the beginning of next year
and it will be "STS MINING". We have made great progress toward completing this
new STS Mining Program and are very hopeful to have it available for the Mining
Industry in the first quarter of 2010.
There has been a significant increase in STS Construction
certificants and we fully expect the General Industry STS and the Petro
Chemical STS to continue to grow. The CHST and the OHST have also seen good
growth. It appears that our products are doing well during these troubled
financial times.
I feel that we have made significant strides over the past 6
years and now with us being a division of BCSP, we will see much greater growth
and will be better equipped to meet the needs of the safety, health and
environmental professions.
I would like to also thank all of the many safety professionals
and technologists that have served on the Board of Directors for their part in
making this organization what it is today. Please consider volunteering to
assist in any way possible to further the safety, health and environmental
professions to sustain our future and growth. Remember that our professional
future is now graduating from our nation's colleges and technical schools, so
each of us should consider being a mentor for the talent that will grow our
profession. Once again, on behalf of the CCHEST Board of Directors I thank all
of our certificants, employees and staff for their continued dedication to
CCHEST and to the profession.
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BCSP Buys Out ABIH Interest in CCHEST
CCHEST now Division of BCSP
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Early in January, everyone holding a certification with
CCHEST received a notice reporting that BCSP had purchased the interests of the
American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH) in the joint venture. The notice also reported the change had
no impact on the certifications and those holding them.
Why was their a change in organizational structure? Since the origin of CCHEST and its initial
certification, Occupational Health and Safety Technologist (OHST), the organizational
structure was a joint venture between ABIH and BCSP. The established agreement placed 100% of the
responsibility for operating CCHEST upon BCSP. With the growth of CCHEST
certifications and the complexity required to operate the organization, the two
parent Boards sought an organizational structure that would be more effective
in the future. Several options were
considered and pursued. Finally, the
approach agreed upon that would provide an effective structure for the future
was having BCSP purchase the ABIH interests.
For the full story, click here for a PDF Article.
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2009 Officers, Public Director Announced
Officers Serve Two-Year Terms
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 The following CCHEST directors were elected as officers on the 2009 Board of Directors and began their terms on January 1st: Rick P. Callor, CSP, STS as President; Jessica Bohan, CSP, OHST as Vice President; and Gustavo J. Garcia, CSP, OHST, CHST continues his two-year term as Secretary-Treasurer.
For the full story, click here for a PDF Article.
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Thank You for Participating in the Salary Survey
Search Engine to Go Live in August
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On April 2, CCHEST and BCSP sent out an online Salary Survey as the first step in creating an online searchable database. This database, when complete, will provide
industry professionals with enhanced salary statistics and a better
understanding of the value of certification.
CCHEST wishes to extend a huge Thank You to everyone who filled out the survey. Several thousand participants means the information in the database will be up to date and relevant.
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Salary Survey Summary
2009 Statistics
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As we continue to compile the data on
our most recent salary survey, some of the results can be shared. 391 CHSTs and
399 OHSTs participated in the survey. STSs were not included due
to the fact many STSs have a widely fluctuating workload and salary. Aside from
collecting salary and demographic data, the survey asked certificants questions
pertinent to their individual safety practice.
The survey shows the average salary
for a CHST is $84,719 and the average OHST salary is $82,519.
The results show both CHSTs and OHSTs
have held their certifications for five or less years and most have six to ten
years of safety experience. Regarding why they pursued the certification, half
either were encouraged by co-workers, peers and supervisors or said certification
was part of their overall career plan.
The search engine is scheduled to go live on both the BCSP and CCHEST
websites in August, 2009.
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How is a Passing Score Set?
Determining the Quality of Certification
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 How do you set a passing score for a professional licensing or certification examination? Does someone pick a percentage like teachers do? Is scoring based on the distribution of scores like achievement tests or is it like "grading on a curve?"
None of these approaches is acceptable, since a major requirement for certification accreditation is to ensure that all candidates have an equal chance of passing and cannot be affected by the score of anyone else. The answer is criterion-based scoring.
Criterion-based scoring provides for translating test scores into a statement about the behavior to be expected of a person with that score or their relationship to a specified subject matter, which is appropriate for our certifications. This type of scoring involves a cutscore, where the examinee passes if their score exceeds the cutscore and fails if it does not. There must be a passing score based on meeting a standard which applies to all candidates, which is not arbitrarily chosen.
CCHEST follows accepted psychometric procedures for setting a passing score as outlined by CASTLE Worldwide, one of the nation's leading certification and licensure testing companies. The setting of cut scores
requires convening a panel of subject matter experts representing the breadth and depth of the safety profession. The panel evaluates the examination, panel members' individual ratings are aggregated and a cut score is determined representing the minimum competency.
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CCHEST Scholarship Fund
First Scholarship Named in Honor of Patrick J. Conroy
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 CCHEST has established the CCHEST Scholarship Fund as a means to contribute to the safety, health and environmental profession and recognize those contributing significantly to CCHEST.
The first $1,000 scholarship was named in honor of Patrick J. Conroy, OHST, CHST. He served on the CCHEST Board of Directors from 2000 through 2005 and served as Vice President in 2002 and President in 2003. He also became CCHEST's first Program Director. The 2009 CCHEST Patrick J. Conroy Scholarship recognizes his overall contribution to advancing professionalism for paraprofessionals.
The winner of the inaugural scholarship is Joshua B. Ball of Southeastern Oklahoma State University. He is majoring in Occupational Safety and Health/Psychology.
The scholarship is managed by the ASSE Foundation, while CCHEST oversees the scholarship funds and selection of individuals to be recognized. The goal is to grow the funding to achieve an endowed scholarship level. Donations for the CCHEST Scholarship Fund can be made directly to the ASSE Foundation.
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Swinerton Builders Recognized
246 Swinerton People Have Achieved STS Certification
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CCHEST Presentation of Recognition to Swinerton, Inc. for Use of STS Certification. 11/20/2008, Swinerton Office, San Francisco, CA
L to R:
Chris Chan, CSP, OHST, CHMM - Safety Manager, Northern California
Wade Obermann, CSP - Vice President, Director of Safety
Mike Re - Chief Executive Officer
Gary Rafferty - Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer
Roger Brauer - BCSP/CCHEST Executive Director
Rick Cook, CSP, CHST - CCHEST Director
John Capener - Vice President and Director, Risk Services
Steven Schoolcraft - BCSP Examination Director
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BCSP/CCHEST Installs New Phone System
Better Customer Service
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On January 6, BCSP and CCHEST switched to a new phone system that provides new telephone technology. For most customers, there is no impact, since the general phone number remains the same. The new system does include new caller menus intended to help calls get to the support needed quicker.
The system did change the internal extensions for individual staff, but the old extensions still work when used following the prompts. The system also offers capabilities intended for future implementation.
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ClickSafety Exam Preparation Course
Comprehensive Training Provides Eligibility to Sit for STS Exam
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 Headquartered in Alamo California, ClickSafety has
been providing custom Risk Management packages for
Fortune 100/500 customers, the world's largest
Construction companies and the best-of-the-best in
technology companies. Recently, they have created a STS Exam Preparation Course for Construction.
The course is designed to provide detailed information, material and resources to help prepare candidates for the STS certification examination. This program introduces the best known methods used by construction supervisors to obtain world class safety performance. The course includes four primary training modules, three comprehensive practice examinations and dozens of study guides focused on construction safety.
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Staff Updates
Lisa Spencer and Sean McDevitt
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Lisa Spencer started at BCSP in February 2009 as the new Marketing Manager. She comes to the position with 20 years
marketing experience with the last 14 years at the American Oil Chemists'
Society (AOCS). Lisa oversees
the functions of the Communication and Marketing Department. She contributes to and participates in continuous improvement programs of BCSP,
CCHEST and other BCSP owned/serviced certifications. Lisa holds a B.S.
from Eastern Illinois University.
Sean McDevitt, the new Communications Specialist, started in the BCSP office in February 2009. He will assist Lisa Spencer, Marketing Manager, by writing and designing the official publications of BCSP, CCHEST and BCSP owned/serviced certifications. Additionally, he develops and maintains the contents of the BCSP and CCHEST websites. Sean holds a B.A. from Illinois College and a M.A. from Eastern Illinois University.
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Additional Photos by Saad.Akhtar, |
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CCHEST
Board of Directors
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Rick P. Callor, CSP, STS
President
(CCHEST Elected Director)
Jessica Bohan, OHST, CSP
Vice-President
(ABIH Elected Technician/Technologist)
Gustavo J. Garcia, CSP, OHST, CHST
Secretary/Treasurer
(CCHEST Elected Technician/Technologist)
Kevin Moorhead, CHST
Past President
(CCHEST Elected Technician/Technologist)
Don Eshelby, Ed.D
(Public Director)
Rick Cook, CSP, CHST
(BCSP Elected Technician/Technologist)
M.E. "Eddie" Greer, CSP, OHST
(BCSP Representative)
Carl Heinlein, CSP, OHST, ARM, CSHM
(ABIH Elected
Technician/Technologist)
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| Meet Your CCHEST Representatives |
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| Unauthorized Use of a CCHEST Certification
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CCHEST pursues cases of individuals claiming to hold CCHEST certification 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. If there is no clear evidence, CCHEST cannot act on the case. OHST
Michael Carey, Grand Junction, CO
CHST
Pedro Villarreal, Lafayette, LA
Ronnie Holmes, Fairfax, VA Individuals and their penalty period are listed on the website.
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CCHEST
Mentor Program
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The
CCHEST Mentor Program recognizes OHSTs/CLCSs and CHSTs who assist the career
development of other safety practitioners. All mentors are recognized on the CCHEST website. OHSTs/CLCSs and CHSTs, who are interested in mentoring an
applicant, should visit the website and download the CCHEST Mentor Program form.
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Promoting
CCHEST
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CCHEST and BCSP have and will be exhibiting at the following conferences:
American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE)
Professional Development Conference and
Exposition
June 28 - June 30
San Antonio, TX
Booth #2013
Voluntary Protection Programs Participation Association
(VPPA) Conference
August 24 - 26
San Antonio, TX
Booth #241
AHMP, Alliance of Hazardous Materials Professionals
August 30 - September 2
San Diego, CA
Booth #128
National Safety Council (NCS) Congress and Expo
October 26 - 28
Orlando, FL
Booth #3250
Please stop by our booth if you get the
opportunity. We'd love to meet you!
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CCHEST
Tabletop Display
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Table
top displays are a great way to promote the OHST/CLCS, CHST, or STS
certifications and earn CM credit under Category 3. 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. CCHEST ships to and from any U.S. venue and
provides literature at no cost.
If you
would like to request a display, contact Sean McDevitt. It is best to contact Sean two to
four weeks prior to an event, as the schedule fills up quickly.
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Write Questions for CM Credit
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A no-cost method of gaining CM credit is writing draft examination items. Download the Manual for Writing Examination Items and consider submitting items developed in accordance with the rules and procedures listed.
CCHEST is looking for draft items in all areas
and for all examinations. Certificants can earn 1 CM point for five acceptable
stand-alone examination items.
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Summary of Recognitions for CCHEST Certifications
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Below is a summary of known recognitions for CCHEST designations. If you are aware of others at the federal, state or local level, please notify the CCHEST office.
Kansas: OHSTs recognized in Workers' Compensation law as professionals qualified to provide accident prevention services.
Minnesota: OHST and CHST listed in a law which protects use of safety and health certification titles.
Pennsylvania: OHST listed in a law recognized by Bureau of Workers' Compensation as a qualification to serve as accident and illness prevention personnel.
Nevada: OHST listed in a law which protects use of certain safety and health titles.
Texas: OHST and CHST approved for Field Safety Representative and Approved Professional Source.
City of New York: OHST accepted for certain construction contracts.
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