BCRSP Annual Report 2017 · In 2005, the BCRSP was granted accreditation to ISO/IEC 17024 (Certification Body for Persons) by the Standards Council of Canada. In 2008, the BCRSP was

BCRSP Annual Report2017

MissionThe Board of Canadian Registered Safety

Professionals sets certification standards for occupational health and safety professionals.

VisionSafe and healthy workplaces through

certification.

BCRSP 2017 Annual Report /1

Table of Contents

Contents

Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................. 1

About the Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals (BCRSP) .................................................... 2

Values: ............................................................................................................................................. 2

Governance .................................................................................................................................... 3

2017 Chair's Report ........................................................................................................................ 4

Committee Reports ........................................................................................................................... 6

Certification Maintenance Committee / Continuous Professional Development Committee .................................. 6

Communications Committee ...................................................................................................................... 7

Discipline Committee ............................................................................................................................... 8

Examination Committee ............................................................................................................................ 8

Finance and Constitution Committee ........................................................................................................ 10

Internal Audit Committee ........................................................................................................................ 10

Nominations and Leadership Development Committee ............................................................................... 11

Professional Conduct Committee .............................................................................................................. 12

Professional Credentials Recognition Committee ......................................................................................... 13

Qualifications Review Committee ............................................................................................................. 14

Executive Director’s Report ..................................................................................................................... 16

2017 Auditor’s Report and Financial Statement .................................................................................. 19


About the Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals (BCRSP)On February 10, 1976, a newly designated Canadian Corporation was formed for the purpose of certifying qualified safety practitioners as Canadian Registered Safety Professionals (CRSP)®/ Professionnel en sécurité agréé du Canada (PSAC)®. With the appointment of the first Board of Governors, comprising 10 leading professionals from a cross-section of safety disciplines, the certification of safety professionals became a reality through the new organization.

The Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals (formerly the Association for Canadian Registered Safety Professionals) is a public interest, not-for-profit association with a membership dedicated to the principles of health and safety as a profession in Canada.

The CRSP®/PSAC® is now a widely accepted form of recognition by industry and government in Canada and many employers require the CRSP®/PSAC® in order to qualify for a safety position. BCRSP is a recognized leader in high-quality credentialing for occupational health and safety professionals and its sole purpose is to certify professionals in the occupational health and safety field. BCRSP establishes standards for and verifies competency in professional safety practice and evaluates certificants for compliance with recertification requirements.

In 2005, the BCRSP was granted accreditation to ISO/IEC 17024 (Certification Body for Persons) by the Standards Council of Canada. In 2008, the BCRSP was granted certification to ISO 9001 (Quality Management System) by BSI Group Canada.

Values:Professionalism In All That We DoWe commit to our certificants and stakeholders to provide accountability for our decisions, excellence in our management system, integrity and respect in our interactions.

Passion For Our ProfessionWe are passionate about protecting people, property and environment.

Progressive Thinking And Superior Results We strive to advance the body of knowledge, the competency of the profession, and the value our certificants bring to society. We are never satisfied with the status quo and know that opportunities for continuous improvement and innovation always exist.


The BCRSP Governing Board is comprised of individuals who represent a cross-section of the occupational health and safety profession and the public. Governance is the processes and practices through which BCRSP organizes to achieve its mandate. It is concerned with the structures and procedures for decision-making, accountability, control and codes of conduct. It is expressed through legislation, policies and by-laws, and informal norms. The goal of effective governance is an organization that achieves optimal performance and is accountable to the people it serves.

Chair: Paul Andre, CRSP, Workplace Safety North, North Bay, ON

Vice Chair: Kevin J. Dawson, MBA, P.Eng., CRSP, Omnius Consulting, Halifax, NS

Past Chair: Dave Turner, MBA, PEng, CMSP, CRSP, Turner Safety Systems, Maple Creek, SK

Secretary-Treasurer: John M. Hollohan, B.Sc., BASc, CRSP, EMERA Inc., Halifax, NS

Tareq Al-Zabet, CRSP, Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, Environmental Sciences and Standards Division, Toronto, ON

Robin Angel, BSC, MSc, CRSP, Regional Director Occupational Health and Safety Division, Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Advanced Education, Halifax, NS

Paul Belair, CRSP, MBA, Director HSEQ, Keller Canada, Spruce Grove, AB

Public Member: Andrea Cotroneo, Capital One, Toronto, ON

Alireza Golbabai, CRSP, City of Toronto, Toronto, ON

David S. Johnston, CRSP, Toronto Hydro Electric System, Toronto, ON

Dale Shafer, MBA, CRSP, Director, Operational Management Assurance, Barrick Gold Corporation, Toronto, ON

Monica A Szabo, CRSP, Corporate Safety Manager, WSIB, Burlington, ON

2017 Governors2017 Officers

Governance

Executive DirectorNicola (Nikki) Wright, CAE


2017 Chair's ReportPaul Andre, CRSP | BCRSP Governing Board Chair & CEO, Workplace Safety North

I am honored to have served as chair of BCRSP over this past year. It has been one of the highlights of my OHS career allowing me to contribute to the profession that has provided so much to me over my lifetime.

I would like to thank the Governing Board for their passion and contributions. Their dedication to advancing BCRSP and the profession have supported a year that has had many initiatives and changes for the organization. I would also like to acknowledge the outstanding leadership provided by Nikki Wright, our Executive Director. Nikki and her team at Fletcher Wright Associates Inc. need to be credited for executing the decisions of the Board and supporting the evolution of the organization in a time of significant change.

In late 2017, I had the honour in representing BCRSP in signing the Singapore Accord at the World Health and Safety Conference held in Singapore. The signing was the culmination of years of work on building a capability framework for the OHS profession by the International Network of Safety and Health Practitioner Organizations or INSHPO. BCRSP's work and contribution on this framework was led by current Secretary-Treasurer, John Hollohan, and BCRSP Executive Director, Nikki Wright. Together with our international partners from 14 different nations, the INSHPO Capability Framework sets the knowledge, skill and competency requirements for both professional and entry level OHS practitioners and sets a benchmark for certification bodies such as BCRSP to measure its certification schemes to. It is indeed one of the influencing forces that have supported upcoming changes to eligibility requirements for the CRSP certification scheme and the introduction of the Canadian Registered Safety Technician (CRST) certification scheme.

On July 1, 2018, the eligibility requirements to become a CRSP will change, both in terms of required education and in terms of professional practice requirements. At the same time BCRSP is introducing the CRST certification scheme designed for entry level practitioners, providing for a tiered entry into the OHS field. This ensures Canadian OHS practitioners keep pace internationally and aligns to where the profession is evolving both domestically and abroad.

In May of this year, I represented BCRSP in Melbourne as we signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Safety Institute of Australia (SIA). Similar to our MOUs with our counterparts in the United States and in the United Kingdom, this MOU provides for increased mobility for practitioners from both countries allowing them to move more seamlessly through the application and pre-requisite elements of our respective certification schemes. For Canadian OHS professionals, it adds further value and mobility to your qualifications.

Of note this past year is the work undertaken in advancing the profession. Your Board has been active


BCRSP Volunteer of the Year Award presented to Brenda Marsh, CRSP, Senior Occupational Health and Safety Advisor, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Dartmouth, NS. (centre). Brenda's volunteer service has spanned a number of roles with the BCRSP since 2004. Brenda has served as an item writer, and later joined the Examination Committee where she served as co-chair and then chair. With Governing Board Chair Paul Andre, CRSP (right) and Governing Board Vice Chair Kevin Dawson, MBA, P.Eng., CRSP (left.)

in reaching out to stakeholders, politicians and other government officials in advancing the need for a profession that is regulated, both in terms of title protection and scope of practice. We believe pursuing this goal is in the best interest of society and will support better health and safety outcomes across the country. Related, I would like to acknowledge the work of both the BCRSP Board and the CSSE Board in establishing a strategic partnership that supports role clarity between the two organizations and aligns our efforts to support the advancement of the profession.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge the many volunteers that support BCRSP. The strength of our certification schemes is rooted in the many committees and volunteers that devote their time, effort and passion to the organization. It has been an honour to have met many of you this past year and on behalf of the Board, Thank You!

Paul Andre, CRSP | BCRSP Governing Board Chair


Certification Maintenance Committee (CMC)/ Continuous Professional Development Committee (CPDC)Jodi Howick CRSP | 2017 Committee Chair

The key initiative over the past year has been finalizing the support elements for the transition from the current certification maintenance program to a revitalized Continuous Professional development process. The CMC recently presented its recommendations to the Governing Board, and the Board has approved those recommendations. In summary, these changes include:

a) Changing the program name from Certification Maintenance Program (CMP) to Continuous Professional Development (CPD). It is believed that this change more accurately reflects the intention of the program.

b) Change in the point system for professional development courses to reflect the IACET CEU standard. This standard equates 1 CEU to 10 contact/learning hours. This change will make it simpler to calculate hours, and simplifies the point claim for shorter courses whereby a 4 hour course is equivalent of .4 CEUs, an 8 hour course is .8 CEUs, etc.

c) Review and restructure of the category and sub-category claim areas. The committee undertook a survey regarding the proposed category areas and based on feedback from over 300 CRSPs that participated in the survey, a recommendation was made to the Board regarding the re-alignment of point categories. The new program structure was published in early 2018 in the Winter issue of Governors' Table.

Additionally the committee has provided recommendation on 5 certification assessment point values for certification and licenses with other governing bodies such as the CRBOH-ROHT and reviewed all requests for maintenance point shortfall and extensions.

854 CRSPs, with the exception of those certified in 2016 and non‐practicing CRSPs, whose registration numbers ended in either “5” or “0”, were notified of their CMP submission requirements in January. Worksheets and documentation were due on March 30, 2017. After the expiry of a three month grace period ending June 30, 2017, 35 CRSPs had their certification suspended for failure to submit CMP worksheets as per BCRSP Bylaws. This number represents 4% of certificants required to submit their CMP worksheets. This is a slight decrease from the previous year's suspensions of 5% in 2016.

Throughout the upcoming year, the committee will begin work on the templates to support members in meeting their CPD requirements with the first priority being a template for a career development plan.

Committee Reports

Activity #

CMP Extensions Approved 2

Category B2 certifications/licenses approved 5

Certification Maintenance submissions processed 819


The Communications Committee is mandated by the Board to oversee the communication programs. In 2017 some of the activities of the committee included:

• Promoted and communicated activities to new certificants such as the Reference Manual, Governor’s Table and the website

• Supported the Regional Communication Liaisons• Evaluated sponsorship opportunities• Monitored and promoted advertising in health

and safety, and human resource publications.• Discussed the restructing of the committee, and its role.

The BCRSP was promoted through the following activities in 2017:

Trade Shows & ConferencesBCRSP continued with the existing strategy to promote the organization and the benefits of the CRSP®/PSAC® designation at more than a dozen high profile national and regional occupational health and safety trade shows.

Presentations Presentations were delivered at a number of colleges/universities and conferences. Presentations promote the value of certification, and the CRSP®/PSAC® standard.

AdvertisingThe CRSP®/PSAC® designation and certificants were promoted through advertising in a variety of publications including HR Professional, COS Magazine, and OHS Canada, and The Toronto Star.

Social Media ActivityThe BCRSP is active on a number of social media channels, including Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. Followers and engagement activities continue to grow across all channels.

NAOSH WeekBCRSP participated in the NAOSH Week launch in Ottawa, Ontario and the Governing Board Chair Dave Turner, represented the BCRSP.

Webinars & NewslettersBCRSP continued for the seventh year to provide and receive positive feedback for the free webinars offered on how to complete the CRSP®/PSAC® application. The webinars and Candidate Connection newsletter are examples of successful outreach initiatives, and will carry forward to 2018. The Governor’s Table remains a key tool in providing information and updates to certificants.

Communications CommitteeAndy Felczak, CRSP | 2017 Committee Chair

Activity #

Tradeshows Participated In 14

Presentations Delivered 5

Advertisements Placed 14

Press Releases Issued 9

Newsletters Published 6

Webinars Delivered 4

CRSP Connect Events Held 5


CRSP®/PSAC® Connect EventsAs part of the strategy to reach out to existing and prospective certificants, networking receptions entitled CRSP®/PSAC® Connect events were held in various locations across Canada, and also at ASSE's Safety 2017 Conference.

Discipline CommitteePaul Foster, C.E.T., CHSC, CRSP, CSP, CRM, Grad IOSH | 2017 Committee Chair

Committee members included Paul Foster (Chair), Karen Floyd (Vice-Chair), Andrea Cotroneo (Liaison to the Board), Rodger Belair, Janice Campbell, Jim Duthie, Chris Goodall, Dale Hartery, Cris Kemp, Michael Kilchuk, Nicolle McKenna, Tom Munro, Christine Sidhom, and Jason Warren.

The Discipline Committee determines if a CRSP®/PSAC® is guilty of professional misconduct and, if so, determines and imposes the appropriate order. They report regularly to the Governing Board and annually to certificants in the Annual Report.

At the time of submission there have been no disciplinary cases brought before the Discipline Committee.

Examination CommitteeCarmen Mager, CRSP | 2017 Committee Chair

The mandate of the Examination Committee (CRSPEC) and its sub-committees the Item Writing Committee (IWC) and the Item Bank Maintenance Committee (IBMC) is as follows:

To oversee all aspects of the examination process including:

a) Development, analysis, and maintenance of the item bank of examination questions (Item life cycle).

b) Development and maintenance of Examination Blueprint and related competency profile.c) Development and maintenance of examination preparation materials (study guides, practice exam

etc).d) Development and approval of test forms, participation in the standard setting procedure used for

establishing the standard (pass mark) for the CRSP Examination (CRSPEX).e) Review of candidate feedback.f) Resolution of any issues related to the work of sub-committees and working groups participating in

the test development process.g) To report regularly to the Governing Board.

Exam Administration Total # of candidates writing

% Pass

February 2017 226 42.6%

June 2017 253 34.4%

October 2017 314 39.7%

Total for 2017 793 38.9%

Total since 2001 8167 59%


The Examination Committee validated multiple examination test forms for use in the 2017 and early 2018 exam administrations using the Angoff process. In addition, the committee completed a review of the results of the June, and October 2017 examinations which included validation of the examination question performance, a forensic analysis of candidate performance, setting the standard (pass mark) and review of candidate comments. As part of the process, the pool of newly written exam items and older items with poor psychometric properties were reviewed and revised or deleted as necessary by consensus of the Examination Committee.

Examination Statistics The overall pass rates are in line with the historical norm and analysis of the examinations development and results from both a statistical and administration perspective continue to reflect established professional guidelines for test validity and reliability.

Item Writing Committee (IWC) A Members were Paul Carolan (Chair), Rick Donato, Mike Fears, Joseph Kutryk, and Derrick Murray. The committee met on March 21-23, 2017 and focused on writing case - based questions and conducted a review of independent questions . The committee piloted two-person question writing with success in reducing time for question approval and in transitioning new members. A total of 43 potential new questions were written in 2017 for CRSPEC consideration .

In addition, the team established a process with the consultant to receive information about upcoming session requirements prior to the scheduled session.

At the meeting, IWC member Shawn Kirwan, who passed away in 2016, was recognized for his great contribution and support to the committee with a minute of silence. Chair Paul Carolan stated that “Shawn was a great team player and his humorous tongue was always welcome to break the silent pressure members experience during question design.”

Item Writing Committee (IWC) B Members were David Powers (Chair), Michael Kary, Jenny Kin Ling Ho, Beryl Ludwig, Mustang Randall, and Jason Rogowski. The committee met on May 30 to June 1, 2017 and focused on case-based items. A total of 74 potential new questions were written in 2017 for CRSPEC consideration.

Item Bank Maintenance Committee (IBMC) The IBMC met at the Yardstick/ASI office Ottawa from August 10-2, 2017. Present were Dennis Bolger, Catherine Drum, Kevin Huber, Melissa Nadeau, new members Graham Nelson and Brenda Marsh, and Chair Kevin Dawson.

Due to a number of factors, the committee output was lower than in the past with 130 items being reviewed over the three days. The committee focused on checking references for examination items, which can take considerable time. In addition, the committee focused on classifing items by cognitive ability i.e. knowledge, application, or critical thinking. Considering the above, the committee took some time to brainstorm potential solutions to streamline and speed up the bank maintenance process.

Final Thoughts The contribution of time and expertise shared throughout the examination development and validation


cycle by these CRSP volunteers is appreciated. As noted by previous CRSPEC Chair Brenda Marsh “it is through their efforts that attainment of the CRSP credential continues to be recognized as the Canadian standard for competency as an OHS professional.”

Internal Audit CommitteePaul Andre, CRSP | 2017 Committee Chair

The BCRSP Internal Audit Committee consists of Paul Andre (Chair), Robin Angel, Dolaine Beauchamp and Scott Needs. The Internal Audit Committee establishes the internal audit plan, conducts the internal audit at the BCRSP office, assesses the management system conformity with ISO 9001 and ISO 17024, determines if the management system is being implemented and maintained, and determines if external and internal audit findings are being actioned and completed according to the action plan submitted to the Governing Board.

The first meeting of the full committee in 2017 was held on June 28 by teleconference, to review the internal audit plan, checklist and audit assignments for the upcoming internal audit.

The Internal Audit Committee met physically at the BCRSP Offices on July 3, 2017 and completed a review of the BCRSP Management System based on a full management system review.

The Internal Audit Committee audited all applicable clauses within ISO 9001:2008 and ISO

Finance and Constitution Committee John Hollohan, CRSP. | 2017 Committee Chair

The Finance and Constitution Committee members: Monica Szabo, Paul Belair and Kevin Dawson.

The Finance and Constitution Committee:• Oversees the finances of the BCRSP• Submit reports at each Governing Board meeting and the Annual General Meeting• Reviews and maintains bylaws which govern the affairs of the BCRSP• Researches, develops and presents to certificants, bylaw revisions recommended by the Governing

Board.

With the pending introduction of the CRST designation, the committee was tasked with reviewing the existing by-laws and make recommendations to reflect the pending technician designation. Revisions were based on input from our legal counsel as well as the Governing Board. The by-laws will be presented at the 2018 annual general meeting for approval.

At each Board meeting the committee would review financial statements with the Governing Board, led by the Secretary-Treasurer, in support of the Board’s fiduciary responsibilities.

2017 Financial StatementThe 2017 Auditor’s Report and Financial Statement are enclosed in this report starting on page 22.


17024:2012 standard as highlighted within the internal audit checklist (Doc. 055) and areas identified within the internal audit plan. Areas audited by the Internal Audit Committee included:

• Organizational Structure, Scope of Accreditation and Management Commitment• Management of Impartiality• Support and Resources• Procurement and Management of Other Resources• Marketing, Information Requirements and Use of Marks• Development and Maintenance of Certification Schemes• Certification Scheme Processes• Management System Requirements• Performance Monitoring, Data Analysis and Continual Improvement

The internal audit found no non-conformities and 4 opportunities for improvement. The internal audit has found that a suitable, adequate and effective management system is in place.

Nominations and Leadership Development Committee Dan Lyons, MPH, CRSP, CSP, CMIOSH, | 2017 Committee Chair

The Nominations and Leadership Development Committee (NLDC), whose term runs July 1 to June 30 each year, consisted of Andrea Cotroneo, Jodi Engel, John Hollohan, Dave Turner, and Dan Lyons (Chair). The NLDC is responsible for annually recommending a slate of Governors to certificants for election to the Board, recommending a slate of Executive Officers to the Board, recommending the appointment and/or election of the Public Member as required and recommending improvements to the policies and procedures as required.

In 2017, the BCRSP received forty-nine (49) Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the position of Governor. The committee presented a slate of five candidate names (3 governors for a 3-year term, 1 governor for a 2-year term, and 1 public member), consisting of new or returning Governors for their approval and had the approved names placed on a ballot for certificants to vote at the 2017 Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in St John's, Newfoundland.


Professional Conduct CommitteeHarry Stewart, CRSP | 2017 Committee Chair

In 2017 the Professional Conduct Committee (PCC) members consisted of Harry Stewart (Chair), Jackie Ellis, Greg McInnes, Dennis O’Grady, Andrew Kamel, and Allen Moore.

Case number 16-001 and Case number 16-002 were carried over from 2016 and remained open. 16-001 was related to a complaint of a certificant bullying and misstating credentials. In January of 2017, a letter was sent requesting more information to be provided by the complainant to the PCC. Case 16-002 was related to a complaint of a certificant misrepresenting professional qualifications. In January 2017 two separate letters were sent, one to the complainant and the other to the respondent. Both letters requested additional information be provided to the PCC.

The initial committee meeting of the year was held on March 6, 2017 to review progress of the investigation for Case 16-001 and Case 16-002.

Case 16-001 did not progress as the additional information from the complainant was not provided as evidence, despite repeated attempts to obtain. The circumstances of this case led the PCC to request BCRSP to provide more information related to the scope of professional conduct and to what degree the code of conduct applies to the personal lives of BCRSP certificants.

Case 16-002 resulted in a letter being sent to the Certificant to ensure that his credentials are current and accurate. An article was posted to the Governors Table reinforcing for our certificants each individual’s obligation to keep credentials current and to remove any expired professional credentials from resumes, or on-line networking sites. Case 16-002 was closed.

Andrew Kamel and Allen Moore were recruited as new PCC members. Their committee orientation and first meeting was held on August 29, 2017. Case 16-001 was closed at this meeting due to insufficient information being provided by the complainant.

A summary of research on codes of ethics was provided to the committee.

In October an article BCRSP had commissioned at the request of PCC was received. The article considered the extent to which the BCRSP Code of Conduct should extend into a certificants personal life. The article was posted to the Governors Table for review and consideration by our certificants.

The last meeting of 2017 was on November 16 to review Case 17-001. This case alleged unprofessional and unsafe actions, and after an investigation, was closed due to insufficient evidence.

At the close of 2017, there were no open cases being addressed by the Professional Conduct Committee.The PCC would like to thank Dennis O’Grady for his contribution to the Professional Conduct Committee.

Activity #

Total # of PCC Cases 3


Professional Credentials Recognition Committee (PCRC) John M. Hollohan, BSc, BASc, CRSP | 2017 Committee Chair

The members of the PCRC are Mark Hussey, Penney Joseph, Dana Mueller, Amanda Sonier, andPaul Carolan.

The committee continued to focus on furthering the recognition of the CRSP designation nationally and internationally. Working with stakeholders such as the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE) and the International Network of Safety and Health Practitioner Organizations (INSHPO) has helped achieved our goal.

BCRSP continues to be active with INSHPO and was a signatory of the Singapore Accord during the XXI World Congress on Safety and Health at Work in September 2017. The Accord is a call to action for leading occupational health and safety (OHS) professional and practitioner organizations from around the world, supported by INSHPO, to commit to the Global Vision of Prevention through the adoption of a global framework for practice. Numerous representatives of business and workers, education institutions, policy-makers in governments and public authorities, OHS professional organizations, and experts in OHS joined the INSHPO and its members to sign the Singapore Accord. INSHPO will continue to engage governments and public authorities, employers, employee organizations, human resource and talent acquisition bodies, educators and trainers to join the OHS community to commit to enabling the standards set in the OHS framework.

BCRSP participated in a survey to validate the knowledge matrix from the INSHPO OHS Professional Capability Framework. This framework defines the roles, knowledge, and skills for both vocationally and university-educated OHS personnel worldwide. Results will be reviewed at the annual business meeting in May 2018. Work continues in the development of the strategic plan as well as revisions to the organization’s by-laws.

The PCRC continues to participate in a working group with the Association québécoise pourl'hygiène, la santé et la sécurité du travail (AQHSST) and the CSSE to discuss various strategies

Paul Andre, CRSP, Governing Board Chair, Nikki Wright, CAE, BCRSP Executive Director, John Hollohan, CRSP, Governor and BCRSP representative on the INSHPO Board, Eldeen Pozniak, CRSP, INSHPO President


Qualifications Review CommitteeKevin Dawson, MBA, PEng, CRSP | 2017 Committee Chair

The members of the Qualifications Review Committee (QRC) in 2017 were Michael Amyotte, Jay Brown, Kevin Dawson (Chair), John Field, A. Kim Gordon, Jennie Houle, Jean Justa, Stephen A. Laffrade, Edward J. Miller, Erin Y. Oliver, Prabhleen (Leena) Paul, Glenn Pringle, Terrance J. Ryan, John Sammut, Jayne Smith, Amanda Sonier, and Alicia Valliere.

The comprehensive review and restructuring of the Qualifications Review (QR) process begun in 2015 and continued through 2017. Improvements to front end administrative aspects such as initial screening of applications by Board staff and revision of application documentation such as the Professional Practice Questionnaire were finalized and implemented. In the fall of 2017, a contract for the

Activity #

Total # of new applications reviewed 674

Supplemental applications reviewed (2nd, 3rd, 4th reviews)

110

% of files approved for interview 84%

Statistical Report 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013

CRSPs 4999 4836 4623 4209 4166

Approved since last AGM 308 387 367 383 357

Applications with QRC/RSC 296 249 223 108 126

Applications awaiting additional information 44 99 267 190 328

Applicants eligible to write the CRSP examination 868 522 537 426 351

to support both certification and professional development opportunities amongst Quebec OHSpractitioners. One successful outcome has been the establishment of a CSSE Chapter in Quebec. All three organizations will continue to promote and support each other’s activities at various conferences and on our respective websites.

During the second quarter, the BCRSP was requested to submit a proposal to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and Statistics Canada for changes to the National Occupational Classification (NOC). NOC is the authoritative resource on occupational information in Canada providing a standard taxonomy and framework for dialog on Labour Market Information. The Committee submitted recommendations in July 2017.

The Committee also reviewed and updated the Terms of Reference, and put forward a committee name change for approval by the Board in 2018.

The Committee continues to identify opportunities for future MOUs with like-minded including SISO, NZ, and SIA. The BCRSP and SIA are currently working on a draft MOU which is anticipated for approval mid 2018.


development and installation of electronic application software was awarded to Brightlink. In addition to handling on-line submission of CRSP applications, the software will also handle on-line submission of applications for the new CRST designation and the Continuing Professional Development (formally Certification Maintenance) process as well as certificant renewals.

2017 also brought significant progress with respect to OHS educational program evaluation. In Q1, Research and Evaluation Consulting Inc. of Mississauga was engaged to complete a review of Canadian OHS education program standards and of best practices for Program Accreditation. Also of note, in Q4 a comprehensive review of Canadian OHS education programs was completed. Included in the review, which was completed in consultation with the educational program providers, was mapping of existing programs to the new BCRSP standard for one year and two year certificate programs, dialogue with educational program providers to determine appropriate modification, expansion, or creation of programs to meet the new standards, and mapping of program learning outcomes to the competency profiles for both OHS Practitioners and Professionals outlined in the International Network of Safety and Health Practitioner Organizations (INSHPO) guidelines in the so called Singapore Accord. The guideline, and the framework on which it is based, was formally adopted by BCRSP in September.

In May, the fifth BCRSP National Education Symposium (NES) was held in Halifax NS. The NES is a bi-annual event designed to bring providers of formal college level OHS education together to discuss issues of interest to both the institutions and the BCRSP. The NES program focused on the impending certification changes, implementation timeframes, BCRSP expectations regarding OHS program content and competency outcomes, accreditation of OHS programs, and program availability and delivery models. Discussion at the NES has led a number of educational providers to either enhance their current programs or introduce new ones to meet the new BCRSP standards. Two new degree level programs as well as bridging programs are also in the process of being introduced.

To maintain the CRSP’s accreditation under the ISO 17024 standard, certificants must meet the same standard with respect to the all certification requirements. This means that certificants who do not meet the new educational or experience criteria are required to demonstrate equivalency. To facilitate this process, in November, a contract to develop a series of equivalency modules was issued to Ryerson University. The intent is to provide certificants who need to demonstrate educational equivalency with a legitimate and benign method to do so as part of their normal Continuing Professional Development requirements.

With respect to the QRC process itself, in addition to the administrative and IT process changes, the Board has also approved a number of work flow changes. Effective July, 2018, applicant interviews will no longer be mandatory, however, interviews will still be carried out for quality control, program review, and verification purposes. In addition, applicant interviews and interviewers will utilize a more structured approach.

Finally, the competency blueprint for the new CRST designation was finalized and issued. The CRST Blueprint mirrors the nine domains of the CRSP Blueprint, however, there will be fewer competencies and, as per the INSHPO guidelines, the expected cognitive level will be more basic knowledge/comprehension rather than application/critical thinking. The Board also approved and issued the CRST educational and experience requirements and development of the CRST examination is in progress. The first intake of applicants for the CRST is on schedule for Fall, 2018.


Executive Director’s Report Nicola J. Wright, CAE

I am pleased to report on the activities of the Board’s management team since the last Annual General Meeting held in St John's, Newfoundland Over the past year, the Governing Board has worked hard to monitor and assess organizational performance, policy and strategic objectives. 2017was a very busy year as the Board continued to promote the certification of occupational health and safety professionals.

Increase in CRSP®/PSAC® Eligibility RequirementsThe management team continued to support the approved changes in eligibity requirements by developing communications material for prospects, applicants, existing certificants, educators and other key stakeholders. Work is ongoing as it relates to the review of policies and procedures, and responding to customer service inquiries.

Development of the Technician CertificationSupport was provided to the Technician Certification Steering Committee and the Board's examination consultants, Assessment Strategies Inc., in the development process.

CommunicationsAdministration and/or distribution of communications such as Governor’s Table, the BCRSP website, the BCRSP LinkedIn Group and Page, Twitter, Facebook, Candidate Connection, information webinars, telephone and e-mail correspondence kept CRSPs, applicants, and candidates informed on the BCRSP activities, changes and updates. 2017 saw the continuation of the “CRSP Connect” events creating a way for the Board to connect with key stakeholders in various geographic locations. The second anual Canadian Reception was held in conjunction with ASSE's Safety 2017 Conference in Denver, Colorado. Additional support was also provided to the Communications Committee in the development and discussion of other activities identified in the Communications Plan. I also represented the BCRSP at the CSSE PDC, ASSE Safety 2017, IOSH Conference, INSHPO meetings, as well as a number of regional conferences and events.

ExaminationSupported the administration of three examinations in February, June and October 2017 utilizing computer based testing including the transition to the new CBT vendor Pearson VUE. Support was provided for the Examination Committee for their two meetings a year. In addition, two Item Writing Workshops were held as well as the Item Writing Committee meeting and the Item Bank Maintenance Committee meeting.

Qualifications Review Committee (QRC) and Regional Screening Centres (RSC)Provided administrative support for the QRC and RSC in processing applications, and provided the ongoing processing of information and application requests. The fifth National Education Symposium (NES) was held in Halifax, Nova Scotia in May of 2017. The NES saw a record attendance with over 50 attendees and a total of 22 different institutions represented. Supported the QRC in their ongoing


review of the application process. Developed communication regarding the upcoming changes to the certification scheme (eligibility) and worked with the Technician Certification Steering Committee.

AccreditationActed as the liaison to the Standards Council of Canada for the Board’s ISO 17024 accreditation; liaison to BSI Management Systems for the Board’s ISO 9001 certification, and provided ongoing maintenance of the BCRSP Management System. In 2017, BCRSP received zero (0) non-conformities or opportunities for improvement (OFI) on the ISO 9001 audit; zero (0) non-conformities and three (3) observations on the 17024 audit; and zero (0) non-conformities and four (4) observations on the internal audit. The low number of non-conformities and observations from the audits speaks to the effectiveness of the management system and strength of the BCRSP policies and procedures. FinancesProvided maintenance of the Board’s financial records, preparation of statements for Governing Board meetings and liaised with the BCRSP’s financial auditor. Certification MaintenanceAdministration of the Certification Maintenance Program under the direction of the Certification Maintenance Committee. Additional support was provided for the Certification Maintenance Committee in their review of the certification maintenance process. Professional ConductProvided support for the Professional Conduct Committee in all cases of alleged professional misconduct and/or unauthorized use of the Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP)®/Professionnel en sécurité agréé du Canada (PSAC)®. General AdministrationProvided the processing of product orders; monitored career postings to the BCRSP website; attended conferences across Canada with the BCRSP exhibit; distributed information on the Board’s Professional Liability Insurance and General Insurance Programs; updated the CRSPEX Candidate Handbook for examination candidates; updated the Certificant Reference Manual for distribution to new certificants; ensured compliance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Document Act (PIPEDA); prepared employer letters for new certificants.

BoardProvided support to the Governing Board and all committees in achieving their objectives.


Increase in Number of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals 1976-2017

74

564

1102

2899

3182

3516

3871

4216

4509

4847

5204

5582

59476184

6637

22842490

27853015

33413576

3728

41664374

46234871 4874

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

1976 1986 1996 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Canadian Registered Safety Professionals1976-2017

TOTAL ACTIVE/ACTIF


2017 Auditor’s Report and Financial Statement








6700 Century Ave., Suite 100, Mississauga, Ontario L5N 6A4

Documents

BCRSP Annual Report 2017 · In 2005, the BCRSP was granted accreditation to ISO/IEC 17024 (Certification Body for Persons) by the Standards Council of Canada. In 2008, the BCRSP was