Professional Safety Board

Safety Management by Means of a Professional Safety Board... 

Given the importance and the complexity of safety management and given the fact that legislation falls short, the involvement of a professional safety board, consisting of heavy-weight professionals with a mission, with authority, with knowledge, and with skills, seems a useful alternative. 

In The Netherlands, we already have experience with a professional safety board for the endovascular treatment of the abdominal aortic aneurysm (de Mol, 2000). The aneurysm, in this case a dilated part of the abdominal aorta, often needs to be removed because of the risk of rupture, especially when its diameter continues to increase. Removal used to involve major abdominal surgery, with a mortality rate of approximately 5 percent. This mortality rate applies to a selected group of patients. Many patients with such an aneurysm do not qualify for this treatment, because they are elderly and often not fit enough for major surgery. 

In The Netherlands, this professional safety board for the endovascular treatment of the abdominal aortic aneurysm has acted as a model. The introduction of a professional safety board for many other health care devices and procedures is now generally advocated by safety experts and health authorities for the following reasons (Wood et al, 1998) ... 

Frank R. Spellman is Assistant Professor of Environmental Health at Old Dominion University. He is a professional member of the American Society of Safety Engineers, the Water Environment Federation, and the Institute of Hazardous Materials Managers. He is also a Board Certified Safety Professional and Board Certified Hazardous Materials Manager with more than 35 years of experience in environmental science and engineering. He is the author of more than fifty books, including Water Infrastructure Protection and Homeland Security (GI, 2007) and Food Supply Protection and Homeland Security (GI, 2008)... 

In 1995, a study by the National Transportation Safety Board on fatal accidents in professional trucks drivers (27) showed that the mean duration of sleep among drivers was below 6 hr of sleep in the last 24 hr before the accident. Connor et al. (8) showed that sleepiness at the wheel increased the risk of causing a traffic accident by 8.2-fold. Sleeping less than 5 hr in the 24 hr before the accident and driving between 2 and 5 a.m. were also significant risk factors for accidents [odds ratio (OR) = 2.7 and OR = 5.6, respectively],... 

All organizations can learn from the experience of others. In spite of the litigious atmosphere in which the process industries work, information on accidents is available. Organizations such as the Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS) and the Chemical Safety Board (CSB) publish information, as do industry trade groups and specialist groups at professional meetings. 

For further discussion on items 1 and 2, see Chapter 7, Heinrich Revisited Truisms or Myths. Furthermore, I am a member of the Editorial Advisory Board for the magazine Professional Safety. The number of articles submitted for publication that commence with one of the Heinrich myths is disturbing.)... 

This code sets forth the code of ethics and professional standards to be observed by holders of documents of certification conferred by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals. Certificants shall, in their professional safety activities, sustain and advance the integrity, honor, and prestige of the safety profession by adherence to these standards. 

The Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) is recognized as the leader in high-quality credentialing for safety, health and environmental practitioners. BCSP establishes standards for and verifies competency in professional safety practice and evaluates certificants for compliance with recertification requirements. BCSP also operates technician, technologist and supervisoty SH E certifications that provide additional career paths for safety pracffoneis. Since 1969, over 30,000 individuals have achieved the CSR OHST, CLCS, CHST, or STS credential. Board of Certified Safety Professionals, www.bcsp.org, 217-359-9263 Circle 299... 

A recognition title of an individual awarded by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) based on the individual s knowledge and experience as demonstrated to the board by the individual s application documentation and an examination based on safety fundamentals and/or comprehensive practice. Knowledge is demonstrated by educational degree accepted by the board and experience by demonstrated acceptable professional safety practice. Certified Safety Professional and CSP are registered certification marks awarded to BCSP by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. See also Board of Certified Safety Professionals. 

An individnal who, by virtne of specialized knowledge and skill, training, and edncational accomplishments, identifies hazards and develops appropriate controls for these hazards, that when effectively implemented, prevent occnpational injury, illness, and property damage. These individuals may also have been awarded or earned the status of Certified Safety Professional by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals. See also Loss Prevention Engineer (LPE) Safety Professional Safety Representative. 

Safety Professionals Industrial Hygiene Health Physics Occupational Health Nursing Occupational Medicine Certified Safety Professional (CSP) Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) Certified Health Physicist (CHP) Certified Occupational Health Nurse (COHN and COHN-S) Board Certification in Occupational Medicine (BCOH) Board of Certified Safety Professionals American Board of Industrial Hygiene American Board of Health Physics American Board of Occupational Health Nurses American Board for Preventive Medicine... 

For the development and implementation of the program to be the most effective, professional safety and health personnel should be used. Certified Safety Professionals, Board Certified Industrial Hygienists or Registered Professional Safety Engineers are good examples of professional stature for safety and health managers who will administer the employer s program. 

Board of Certified Safety Professionals, American Board of Industrial Hygiene, American Board for Occupational Health Nursing... 

With the dissertation from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals titled The Safety Professional Today and with a good position description in ASSE s Scope and Functions of the Professional Safety Position, why go further to define the practice of safety ... 

Professional Safety Management in Practice The Safety Board AT Work... 

This board promotes safety and uniformity in the construction, installation, repair, maintenance, and inspection of pressure equipment. It promotes safety and educates the public and government officials on the need for manufacturing, maintenance, and repair standards. The board offers comprehensive training and education for inspectors and pressure equipment maintenance professionals. The board promotes an inspection process through the commissioning of inspectors. Inspectors must pass a comprehensive examination administered by the national board. The board also sets worldwide industry standards for pressure relief devices and other appurtenances. The board investigates pressure-equipment incidents involving code compliance. The board develops installation, inspection, repair, and alteration standards for the National Inspection Code. 

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