Principles of Safety and Occupational Health Training
To become an occupational health and safety professional you
must have educational qualifications and experience. You also
must pass certain written examinations. All occupational health
and safety specialists and technicians must go through on the
job and classroom training, to learn about the relevant laws and
inspection procedures.
The federal government and some other employers require that you
have a 4-year college degree in safety, or some allied subject,
to be eligible for some specialist positions. To apply for some
positions, it is also necessary to have relevant working
experience. To be successful in this field, it is essential to
be aware of the principles of safety and occupational health
training.
Certification
Certification is available through the American Board of
Industrial Hygiene (ABIH) and the Board of Certified Safety
Professionals (BCIP). The Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH)
and Certified Associate Industrial Hygienist (CAIH) credentials
are offered by the ABIH. The Certified Safety Professional (CSP)
credential is offered by the BCIP. Certification is voluntary,
though many employers encourage it.
The Council on Certification of Health, Environmental and Safety
Technologists is a joint effort between the ABIH and BCIP. It
awards the Occupational Health and Safety Technologist (OHST)
credential. For certification, you must first meet the
qualification and experience requirements and then write an
examination.
Being Up To Date
Health and safety training services aim to keep you informed
about the latest changes in workplace safety, risk assessment
and management, indoor air quality, industrial hygiene,
laboratory design etc. Nuclear safety, radiation waste
management, radiation protection and environmental management
are also covered. The principles of safety and occupational
health training need to be followed for the training programs to
be effective.
Getting a Buy-In
As per the principles of safety and occupational health
training, before starting a workplace health and safety training
program it is better to do a survey to identify the underlying
concerns of the employees to get clarity and to get a buy-in
from employees of all levels.
Employee Health and Safety
Employee health and safety training programs are initiated with
the objective of making employees take responsibility for their
own health. This can be done through programs for enhanced
fitness, weight control, better nutrition and stress management.
Programs for giving up smoking, better use of medical services
and control of chronic illnesses are also organized.
These programs can make employees feel that the employer cares
for their well-being. They can reduce absenteeism, lower health
care costs and make employees more fit to work. Professional
counseling can help employees to deal with issues like substance
abuse and family problems. This is as per the principles of
safety and occupational health training.