With this letter's publication, it will be nearly one year since BCSP moved into its new world headquarters. I am both excited and honored to play a leading role as BCSP's 2012 President, joining other new Officers and Board Members in further dedicating ourselves to advancing the safety profession. BCSP has grown tremendously in content and reach over this past year - In January a record was set for most CSP applications received in a one month period.

BCSP is made strong by the diversity of its team members. Each contributes an important expertise. Thomas Adams, BCSP Executive Director, was recently included on ANSI's Personnel Certification Accreditation Committee for outstanding work in maintaining accreditation standards. J. Terrence Grisim, CSP, one of our new Board Members, received the NSC's highest award last year, the Distinguished Service to Safety Award. Rixio Medina, CSP, and 2012 BCSP Vice President, works consistently with the ASSE common interest group Safety Professionals in the Latino Workforce (SPALW) and made the initial donation to its new professional education grant. These are only a few examples drawn from a group where every person contributes essential experience in important fields of safety practice.

Inspired by the recognition of the value of safety work, BCSP will also sponsor the First Annual Award of Excellence Luncheon at Safety 2012, ASSE's Professional Development Conference & Expo, Wednesday, June 6 from 12:00-1:30PM. We seek to honor certified individuals who, through their efforts, represent the exceptional skillset and dedication which certification embodies. The last day to nominate yourself or a colleague for the Award of Excellence is March 31, 2012 - Don't miss out on this opportunity.

Finally, I'd like to recognize the BCSP staff for their commitment to making sure BCSP continues to set the standard for quality safety certification.

Each of us - certificants, the Board, the staff - are engaged in work every day that makes the world a better, safer place.

Thomas Adams, Executive Director and CEO of BCSP, announced in March that he would resign from his position at the end of August, 2012. Since 1986 Adams has, in addition to BCSP, served as President & CEO of the Association of Clinical Research Professionals, President & CEO of the Medical Group Management Association, and Executive Vice President & CEO of the Wisconsin Medical Society.

"After a quarter century as a CEO I've decided that the time has come to be near my children and grandchildren on the East Coast. We are looking forward to moving to Southern Pines, North Carolina, and beginning the next chapter of our lives." Adams said. "BCSP has an unlimited future," Adams continued. "Its leaders provide the type of voluntary strategic leadership that will ensure its certifications remain the gold standard for certification in the safety industry."

"Tom helped move BCSP forward significantly during his tenure in Champaign" according to Carl Heinlein, Board President. "Tom's contributions include working with the Board of Directors and BCSP staff in the design and construction of our modern headquarters building, reaccreditation of our CSP certification program by ANSI, reaccreditation of all our certifications by NCCA, plus the acquisition of the CET/CIT certification programs."

During his tenure Adams was also named to the Professional Certifications Advisory Committee for ISO 17024 administered in the US by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

"For his many accomplishments Tom will be long remembered," Heinlein concluded. "We wish Tom well as he enters this new phase of his life."

"The staff will miss Tom, but we wish him much happiness," adds Treasa Turnbeaugh, Chief Operating Officer. She continued, "Tom has been a visionary for BCSP and has led by example in helping us all to look to the continuous improvement and success of this organization. Tom has been a great mentor to me personally and has always had an open-door policy; a proponent of life-long learning, he is never too busy to share time and knowledge."

"In the final analysis, BCSP is about people," says Adams. "I will miss the great staff, committed Board and interactions with our certificants."

The following BCSP Board of Directors were elected as officers on the 2012 Board and began their terms in January: Carl Heinlein, CSP, OHST, ARM, CSHM as President; Rixio Medina, CSP, CPP, CMIOSH, STS as Vice President; and David West, CSP, P.E., CHMM as Treasurer.

A news release on the New Board and Officers shares more information on these Officers' accomplishments.

Additionally, four new members joined the Board: Mark Friend, Ed.D, CSP; Daniel Fuqua, CSP; J. Terrence Grisim, CSP, CDS, CPSM, ARM; and Bruce Guiliani, CSP, CET, CIT.

The new Board Members visited BCSP world headquarters for orientation in January.

The 2012 BCSP Board of Directors includes: Margaret Carroll, CSP (Past President); Rick Cook, CSP, CHST; Jack H. Dobson, Jr., CSP; Don Eshelby, Ed.D, (Public Director); Lon Ferguson, Ed.D. CSP; Mark Friend, CSP; Daniel Fuqua, CSP; James A. Gentry (Public Director); J. Terrence Grisim, CSP; Bruce Guiliani, CSP, CET, CIT; Carl Heinlein, CSP, OHST (President); John E. Hodges, CSP; Ed Jones, CSP; Rixio Medina, CSP, STS (Vice President); Cece M. Weldon, CSP, STS; and David West, CSP (Treasurer); Thomas L. Adams, LHD, CAE, Executive Director.

Like a person, a profession harbors a variety of strengths as well as areas where it can improve. An important part of the success of either person or profession comes from learning the nature of strengths and applying what you learn where you want better results. For Hector Escarcega, CSP, ARM, this idea has particular importance.

It took Escarcega more than one attempt to pass the first CSP exam. Seeing his initial results did not deter him from achieving the CSP. He used his score report to adapt. "I replaced any negative feelings or self-talk with positive self-talk and developed a plan of action," says Escarcega. "What I couldn't learn on my own I found studying with friends and in study groups." Using his success formula, he then passed the first CSP exam and went on to pass the second exam on his first attempt.

Determination to persevere has continued in Escarcega's work. He is now the President and CEO of Bilingual Solutions International/Risk Management Services (BSI), training and consulting others in how they can meet their goals in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and numerous countries in Central and South America. Escarcega also helped establish, and became the first Chair of, Safety Professionals and the Latino Workforce (SPALW), an ASSE common interest group focused on overcoming cultural and language barriers that exist with the Spanish-speaking workforce in the safety profession.

"I felt like part of being the best I could be was making the decision to achieve the CSP," says Escarcega. "Achieving the certification, and finding my strengths and areas of improvement, helped me gain the confidence and vision to develop BSI and chair SPAWL."

Reflecting on his experience, Escarcega explained that his vision not only applied to his own development, but that it led to a desire to make a positive and lasting contribution to safety practice. Escarcega focused on the issue of safety culture in a multicultural workforce, where different levels in worker safety currently indicate a shortcoming in safety practice.

Specifically, Latino workers are becoming injured at a greater rate than the workforce as a whole. Fatal injuries among the Latino population account for 15 percent of the total fatal work injuries, with a fatal work injury rate of 3.7 per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers. The fatal work injury rate for all workers is 3.5 per 100,000 FTE workers.

Addressing this shortcoming requires safety professionals adapt.Escarcega emphasizes the necessity of integrating proven safety practices with cultural awareness to create effective communication and training in a multiethnic workforce.

"You can have people working together without understanding each other, but they won't be effective in working towards a common goal," says Escarcega. "Hazards and accidents continue."

In a 2007 interview with OSHA Compliance Advisor, Escarcega explained how Latino workers who are immigrants may not express when they do not understand a precaution or rule. This is often the result of a fear those in charge will think less of them if they ask questions. He emphasized the importance of being proactive in asking for input about hazards and solutions.

"Safety culture requires that everyone feels like part of a team," says Escarcega. "If you have people of Hispanic ethnicity working as part of your company, and you don't make an effort to understand them, safety culture doesn't work."

Safety practice has been increasingly successful in preventing workplace injury as the idea of safety culture has encouraged workplace teamwork. By applying the lessons they have learned achieving certification, and committing to continued leadership, certified safety professionals have contributed significantly to the success of safety cultures. Differences in workers' safety being increasingly identified as an issue, certificants promise to play a significant role in linking the world's many cultures to safety culture as well.

Dr. Michael Larrañaga, CSP, CIH, P.E., was appointed to the NIOSH Board of Scientific Counselors by Kathleen Sebelius, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, in February, 2012.

He will serve a three-year term on the Board, which conducts research, experiments, and demonstrations to advance occupational safety and health.

An advocate for BCSP's Graduate Safety

Professional (GSP) program, Dr. Larrañaga is the Department Head of the Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology program at Oklahoma State University. He also serves as a Director for ABIH, and is a member of ASSE, AIHA, and NFPA.

"Dr. Larranaga is an accomplished and enthusiastic safety and health professional," says BCSP Board Vice President Rixio Medina, CSP, CPP. "He is making a difference as an educator and mentor of new professionals. We at BCSP congratulate Dr. Larrañaga on his appointment to this important NIOSH Board and look forward to his future contributions to the protection of workers' safety and health."

If you or a colleague of yours best represents the exceptional safety practice of CHST, CLCS, OHST, or CSP certificants you have until March 31, 2012, to seek recognition by submitting a nomination for an Award of Excellence.

All applications can be either self-nominated or nominated by peers. The individuals selected will have met specific certification criteria as well as having shown a continued commitment to the SH&E field.

The Award of Excellence ceremony will take place at Safety 2012, ASSE's Professional Development Conference and & Expo, Wednesday, June 6 from 12:00-1:30PM.

The guidelines and forms necessary for nomination are available at www.bcsp.org/awardofexcellence.

Safety 2012 Professional Development Conference & Exposition is three education packed days, June 3-6, where you will trade ideas with your peers and learn from today's foremost safety leaders and thinkers. Safety 2012, in Denver, Colorado, gives you the opportunity to evaluate your current practices, develop new skills, revitalize your passion for the profession and build a powerful community of colleagues. 

New to the conference is BCSP's Award of Excellence and presentation by Bruce S. Wilkinson, Making Safety a Value - Not just a priority, Wednesday, June 6 from 12:00-1:30PM. BCSP will recognize outstanding leadership, knowledgeable expertise, and commitment to the advancement in the SH&E field.

Register by March 30 to save over $100 off on-site fees at www.safety2012.org or call +1 847-699-2929.

Don Eshelby, Ed.D., presented Rick Callor, CSP, STS, with a plaque commemorating his having the 2012 scholarship named in his honor at the opening ceremony of Safety Fest of the Great Northwest, an annual training provided by URS for all contractors in the Boise, Idaho area. Rick Callor started the program seven years ago after providing free OSHA 10 hour training to 60 instructors from Idaho schools in a joint venture between then Washington Group International and the Idaho Division of Professional-Technical Education.

Callor thanked BCSP Executive Director and CEO Thomas Adams, the BCSP Board and staff. "I wanted to thank you and your entire staff for the wonderful work you produce," wrote Callor. "I am honored to know each of them and would like to thank all of you for any part you may have had in allowing one of the scholarships to be named in my honor."

David West, CSP, BCSP Board Treasurer, presented Pat Clemens, CSP, with his plaque. West says "among internationally recognized experts in the field of System Safety, there is perhaps not a more well-known name than that of Pat Clemens."

Clemens has been a registered Professional Engineer for over 50 years and earned his CSP in four areas of practice: Engineering Aspects (1980), Management Aspects (1981), Comprehensive Practice (1982), and System Safety Aspects (1983). These areas of practice represent a majority of those available in the time they were offered. Clemens went on to become a member of the BCSP Board of Directors from 1983 to 1988, and served as President of the Board in 1987.

"Clemens' list of high honors in the System Safety field is unequaled," said West. "He is a Fellow Member of the System Safety Society and received the Society's Educator of the Year Award in 1988 and its highest honor, the Professional Development Award, in 2002. He is a two-time winner, 1997 and 1998, of the NASA Safety Training Center's 'Top Gun' Award. He received IEEE's Centennial Service Award in 1984 and AIAA's Effectiveness and Safety Award in 1997. He has authored more than 40 published papers in his field and has taught classes for NASA, DoD, ASSE, private industry, and several universities."

West and Eshelby's enthusiasm in presenting Callor and Clemens' their plaques is shared throughout BCSP.

Starting April 2, 2012 BCSP will start promoting certification study sources online. This is a new methodology for BCSP, who currently does not allow promotional ads on the website. For a 12 month insertion rate of $1,800 or only $150 per month, your ad can be seen by thousands of individuals seeking certification. Your ad will be posted on the BCSP website from a new direct link on the homepage. Make your banner stand out from the competition with this one year posting agreement.

Ad Material Specifications:   

Banner Advertisement

280 pixels in length 

100 pixels in height

Exactly 72 dpi

Saved in .jpg or .gif format

Sorry, no animation       

Please contact Lisa Spencer, BCSP Marketing Manager, for your placement today.

Jenny Carpenter is thrilled to have become a permanent part of the BCSP team as Customer Service Clerk, assisting with applications, Recertification, and certificant mailings. Before coming to BCSP, Jenny was the Assistant Director of Ticketing at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts (University of Illinois).

Jenny is currently the lead singer for the band Main Street, as well as backup singer for Jim Hewitt and the Three Chord Circus. With performing in her blood, she has been on stage at Krannert, The Station Theatre, Parkland, and with CUTC as well, and hopes to sing with Prince someday (although he doesn't know it yet). She is happily married to her husband, Jeff, who is a multi-media specialist at NCSA, and proud mom to Paige, a senior, and Nick, a junior, and is stepmom (aka "Wicked") to Iain, 7th grade, and Trinity, 6th grade.

BCSP welcomes Jolene Keach, who is returning to a Customer Service Associate position. Jolene joined BCSP on February 8, 2012, but you may remember her working at BCSP from 2002-2006.

Jolene will be assisting with the GSP program, CSP applications, and various other tasks related to that path to certification.

Jolene is a graduate from the University of Illinois, College of Commerce with a bachelor's degree in Finance. Jolene says she previously worked at an advertising agency "in the role of cat herder extraordinaire, or production manager, if you want to get real technical."

Jolene adds that she has two children in her household: one a two year old Italian Greyhound and the other a seven month old Chihuahua. She enjoys reading, gardening, watching movies and piña coladas in the rain.

BCSP's current changes Index is online. There are a few price changes related to the OHST/CLCS and CHST programs, information on the new OHST Blueprint taking effect in July, and an outline of how policies in place for all our programs have been standardized.

Make the BCSP Current Changes Index your go-to source for this information year-round.

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Have you ever found yourself needing additional Recertification points?

Now, those who have CSP, OHST, CLCS, CHST or STS certifications can earn credits toward their Recertification by reading articles offered by Workplace HR & Safety and taking an associated quiz.

For each eLe@rn quiz passed, BCSP offers Recertification points equal to 0.01 times the number of questions on a quiz. 

eLe@rn sends two quizzes per month by email, plus one bonus quiz in December. The eLe@rn system automatically generates your score and confirmation. It's that easy.

Get started by signing up online. An annual subscription is $150. 

Questions? Contact Amy Lehr or call +1 800-793-4209.   

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CSP 2012 Anniversaries