Professional Development Professional Development for Health and Safety for Health and Safety

PractitionersPractitioners

Robert Emery, DrPH, CHP, CIH, CSP, RBP, CHMM, CPP, ARMRobert Emery, DrPH, CHP, CIH, CSP, RBP, CHMM, CPP, ARMVice President for Safety, Health, Environment & Risk ManagementVice President for Safety, Health, Environment & Risk Management

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Associate Professor of Occupational HealthAssociate Professor of Occupational Health

The University of Texas School of Public HealthThe University of Texas School of Public Health

Professional DevelopmentProfessional Development

• After graduation, staying abreast of developments in the After graduation, staying abreast of developments in the field is a constant challenge for many professionsfield is a constant challenge for many professions

• Since the health & safety professions represent a Since the health & safety professions represent a compilation of a number of disciplines, change can be compilation of a number of disciplines, change can be fast and dramaticfast and dramatic

• Management must be made aware of the need for Management must be made aware of the need for professional development, and support the effort.professional development, and support the effort.

Suggested Professional Suggested Professional Development StrategyDevelopment Strategy

• A three legged stool:A three legged stool:– Progressive work experienceProgressive work experience– Academic accomplishmentsAcademic accomplishments– Professional certificationsProfessional certifications

Staying AbreastStaying Abreast

• Develop professional networksDevelop professional networks

• Join and actively participate in professional Join and actively participate in professional organizationsorganizations

• Further academic pursuitsFurther academic pursuits

• Credentials such registrations, Credentials such registrations, certifications, or licensurecertifications, or licensure

Professional NetworkingProfessional Networking

• Interacting with peers important since Interacting with peers important since proficiency in all areas impossibleproficiency in all areas impossible

• And nice to learn from others about And nice to learn from others about practical problems, issuespractical problems, issues

• Good informal sounding board Good informal sounding board

• The safety business freely shares The safety business freely shares informationinformation

• And they love to talk about what they do!And they love to talk about what they do!

What is a “Credential”What is a “Credential”

• Formal definition:Formal definition:““...attests as being true or as meeting a standard...”...attests as being true or as meeting a standard...”

• Practical definition:Practical definition:““qualified in the eyes of your peers to do something.qualified in the eyes of your peers to do something.

• Required in many settings: medicine, law, engineeringRequired in many settings: medicine, law, engineering• Usually consists of:Usually consists of:

– minimum qualifications: academic & experienceminimum qualifications: academic & experience– application, feesapplication, fees– referencesreferences– examexam– continuing educationcontinuing education

Forms of CredentialsForms of Credentials

• CertificationsCertifications: granted by non-governmental agencies : granted by non-governmental agencies for meeting certain education and training for meeting certain education and training requirementsrequirements

• RegistrationsRegistrations: acknowledgement by a governing body : acknowledgement by a governing body that a person possess a set of qualificationsthat a person possess a set of qualifications

• LicensureLicensure: government agency grants permission after : government agency grants permission after finding that applicant has attained minimum levelfinding that applicant has attained minimum level

Why Pursue Certification?Why Pursue Certification?

A) to increase professional knowledgeA) to increase professional knowledge

B) to improve professional standingB) to improve professional standing

C) to increase marketabilityC) to increase marketability

D) for licensure or insurance purposesD) for licensure or insurance purposes

E) any of the aboveE) any of the above

In Other Words...In Other Words...

A) to learn more about your professionA) to learn more about your profession

B) to get a new jobB) to get a new job

C) to get a raiseC) to get a raise

D) to keep current jobD) to keep current job

E) any of the aboveE) any of the above

Major Areas of Certifications in the Major Areas of Certifications in the Health and Safety ProfessionsHealth and Safety Professions

• Radiation SafetyRadiation Safety• Chemical SafetyChemical Safety• Physical SafetyPhysical Safety• Biological SafetyBiological Safety• Hazardous WasteHazardous Waste• SecuritySecurity• Risk ManagementRisk Management

Major Areas of Certifications in the Major Areas of Certifications in the Health and Safety ProfessionsHealth and Safety Professions

• Radiation Safety – Health Physics SocietyRadiation Safety – Health Physics Society• Chemical Safety – American Industrial Hygiene AssociationChemical Safety – American Industrial Hygiene Association• Physical Safety – American Society of Safety EngineersPhysical Safety – American Society of Safety Engineers• Biological Safety – American Biological Safety AssociationBiological Safety – American Biological Safety Association• Hazardous Waste – Alliance of Hazardous Materials ProfessionalsHazardous Waste – Alliance of Hazardous Materials Professionals• Security – American Society for Industrial SecuritySecurity – American Society for Industrial Security• Risk Management – Risk and Insurance Management SocietyRisk Management – Risk and Insurance Management Society

Radiation Radiation SafetySafety

BiologicalBiologicalSafetySafety

PhysicalPhysicalSafetySafety

ChemicalChemicalSafetySafety

AIHA

COHST

ASSE

COHST

HPS

NRRPT

ABSA

RS

CBSP

CHPCSP

CIH

Current Estimates

Numbers

Radiation(HPS/AAHP)

Chemical(AIHA/ABIH)

Physical(ASSE/BCSP)

Biological(ABSA/NCRM)

Active members 6,500 12,500 33,000 1,650

Technologist-level certified

3,500 1,500 1,500 ?

Board certified 1,250 (19%) 5,800 (46%) 9,000 (27%) 165 (10%)

Radiation Radiation SafetySafety

BiologicalBiologicalSafetySafety

PhysicalPhysicalSafetySafety

ChemicalChemicalSafetySafety

AIHA

COHST

ASSE

COHST

HPS

NRRPT

ABSA

RS

CBSP 5%

CHP 8%CSP 13%

CIH 23%

Age of Selected Safety-Related Organizations

(CBSP)

CommentaryCommentary• Chose professional development path carefullyChose professional development path carefully• Understand the commitment involvedUnderstand the commitment involved• If new, take small steps to build confidenceIf new, take small steps to build confidence• Prep for the prep courses!Prep for the prep courses!• Successful test takers think like test makersSuccessful test takers think like test makers• When multiple choice: cross out distractersWhen multiple choice: cross out distracters• Don’t be afraid to fail!Don’t be afraid to fail!• Don’t be left behind! Don’t be left behind! • With initials comes responsibility!With initials comes responsibility!• Commitment to learning (and paying)Commitment to learning (and paying)

Some Test Taking Strategies

• You can’t over-prepare – so start studying early

• Start by examining the exam content – project the numbers of questions by category –budget accordingly

• Use the study question wrong answers (detractors) as a study guide

• Learn key features in “bundles”

• Test makers love exceptions to the rule

• Keep an eye on your time – answer everything!

Stated CBSP Exam Content• 150 total questions:

– 10 on disinfection, decontamination, sterilization– 26 on work practices and procedures– 33 on risk assessment and hazard identification– 28 on regulatory aspects, standards, and guidelines– 23 on program management and development– 18 on equipment operation and certification– 12 on facility design

Exam Results• 150 total questions:

– 10 on disinfection, decontamination, sterilization 50% (5 right)– 26 on work practices and procedures 72% (19 right)– 33 on risk assessment and hazard identification 75% (24 right)– 28 on regulatory aspects, standards, and guidelines 78% (22 right)– 23 on program management and development 86% (20 right)– 18 on equipment operation and certification 66% (12 right)– 12 on facility design 91% (11 right)

– Passing score: 111, Emery score 112

Bundle and Exception Example – Biosafety Cabinets

Class Face Velocity Airflow PatternClass I 75 lfpm No recirculationClass II A1 75 lfpm 70% recirculation/30%

exhaustClass II A2 100 lfpm 70% recirculation/30%

exhaustClass II B1 100 lfpm 30% recirculation/70%

exhaustClass II B2 100 lfpm No recirculation

Working years

$

Translating to Effort Into Dollars!

Working years

$

Translating to Effort Into Dollars!

Working years

$

Translating to Effort Into Dollars!

Insurance & Risk Management

Security

Hazardous Waste

Physical Safety

Chemical Safety

Radiation Safety

Biological Safety

The Major Areas of Certification for EH&S Professionals

ARM

CPP

CHMM

CSP CIH

CHP CBSP

The Major Certifications for University EH&S Professionals

Skills and Traits of Good Skills and Traits of Good Managers and LeadersManagers and Leaders

• BasicsBasics– Truly likes what they Truly likes what they

dodo

– Money, while nice, is Money, while nice, is not the primary not the primary motivatormotivator

• Work SkillsWork Skills– Ability to solve Ability to solve

problemsproblems– Formulates creative Formulates creative

solutionssolutions– Technically competent Technically competent

– pedigree: academics, – pedigree: academics, certifications, certifications, experienceexperience

– Reliably on time – in Reliably on time – in fact, ahead of timefact, ahead of time

Skills and Traits of Good Skills and Traits of Good Managers and LeadersManagers and Leaders

• Work Skills (con’t)Work Skills (con’t)– Reliability never a Reliability never a

source of questionsource of question

– Thinks before speakingThinks before speaking

– Ties activities to Ties activities to mission of unitmission of unit

– Able to see big pictureAble to see big picture

– Leads by exampleLeads by example

– Performs lowest taskPerforms lowest task

• Work Skills (con’t)Work Skills (con’t)– Able to delegate and Able to delegate and

praisepraise– Readily adapts to Readily adapts to

changechange– Keeps it simpleKeeps it simple– Able to effectively Able to effectively

multitaskmultitask– Recognizes political Recognizes political

realitiesrealities

Skills and Traits of Good Skills and Traits of Good Managers and LeadersManagers and Leaders

• Work Skills (con’t)Work Skills (con’t)– Understands how Understands how

budgets workbudgets work– Knows who the Knows who the

customers are and what customers are and what their needs aretheir needs are

– Able to access Able to access information quicklyinformation quickly

– Able to plan the work Able to plan the work and work the plan – and work the plan – even in the long termeven in the long term

• Work Skills (con’t)Work Skills (con’t)– Able to justify Able to justify

existence at any given existence at any given momentmoment

– Able to anticipate Able to anticipate trendstrends

Skills and Traits of Good Skills and Traits of Good Managers and LeadersManagers and Leaders

• Personal SkillsPersonal Skills– Superb communication Superb communication

skills – both verbal and skills – both verbal and writtenwritten

– Able to communicate Able to communicate succinctlysuccinctly

– Able to speak in front of Able to speak in front of people with convictionpeople with conviction

– Follows through – once Follows through – once assigned considered done assigned considered done unless otherwise notifiedunless otherwise notified

• Personal skills (con’t)Personal skills (con’t)– Able to market self and Able to market self and

programprogram– Able to network, active in Able to network, active in

profession, even outside of profession, even outside of workwork

– Does not let little things get Does not let little things get in the wayin the way

– Extreme patienceExtreme patience– Well known in the businessWell known in the business– Considered a valuable Considered a valuable

referencereference

Skills and Traits of Good Skills and Traits of Good Managers and LeadersManagers and Leaders

• Personal Skills (con’t)Personal Skills (con’t)– Accepts criticism as an Accepts criticism as an

opportunity to improveopportunity to improve– Can offer constructive Can offer constructive

criticism without criticism without sounding like whiningsounding like whining

– Doesn’t hold grudgesDoesn’t hold grudges– Doesn’t let home life Doesn’t let home life

interfere with workinterfere with work– Exudes energyExudes energy

• ImageImage– Appearance, actions, decorumAppearance, actions, decorum

– Willingness to move to move Willingness to move to move upup

– Resilience – handles adversity Resilience – handles adversity appropriatelyappropriately

– Loyal to program – if unhappy- Loyal to program – if unhappy- go quietlygo quietly

– Trustworthy and humbleTrustworthy and humble

– Someone folks wish to followSomeone folks wish to follow