Top EHS Certifications for Safety Professionals – 2023

At a glance:
– Introduction
– What is Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Management?
– What are EHS Certifications?
– Top EHS Certifications – 2023
– Certifications for Environmental Professionals
– EHS Risk & Sustainability Certifications
– Best EHS Certifications for Safety Professionals
– Conclusion
– How VisiumKMS Supports EHS Management

Companies across the globe are realizing the importance of prioritizing safety in the workplace. Especially after the pandemic, employers and employees alike understand the significance of having a safe and healthy work environment and are proactive in taking precautions to avoid unprecedented accidents and work-related injuries. As a result, it has also led to increased awareness about EHS management and various relevant EHS certifications for safety professionals in the industry.

In this blog, we cover the basics of EHS management followed by some of the best EHS certifications for safety professionals in 2023.

To begin with, let’s understand what is Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Management –
EHS management refers to the discipline covering many specialized fields across industries, focusing on the protection of workers from hazards, prioritizing their safety, and encouraging the implementation of environmentally sound practices.

Let us further understand each of these terms based on their industrial connotations –
Environment – Environment refers to the impact of industrial activities on its natural surroundings, namely air, water and land. Poor industrial practices can cause environmental degradation, leading to an imbalance in the ecosystem to a large extent. To avoid this, in this context, it focuses on accident prevention and consequence management.

Health – WHO defines health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Simply put, it encourages organizations to safeguard employee health in a holistic sense i.e. looking after their physical as well as mental well-being.

Safety – Safety pertains to protection from industrial hazards – workplace accidents and injuries. As such, it is a standard industry practice to conduct a hazard and effect analysis, meticulously examine their consequences and take the necessary measures to prevent the same.

All in all, EHS management refers to laws, rules, regulations, professions, programs, and workplace efforts to protect the health and safety of the employees, the public as well as the environment from potential hazards associated with the workplace.

Next, let’s understand what are EHS certifications –
Environmental health and safety certifications are of various kinds but all of them have a single-point focus i.e. protecting the health and safety of the environment, workforce and general public by setting and enforcing regulations. These certifications qualify a candidate as a professional or a specialist in their respective field, hone their skills and showcase their commitment to safety, environmental care and risk management, thereby helping beat the competition and advance their career.

Top EHS Certifications – 2023

Listed below are some of the best environmental certifications –

• Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP), Institute of Professional Environmental Practice (IPEP): The Institute of Professional Environmental Practice is an internationally recognized credential body that has certified over 1500 professionals in 20 countries. Rather than focusing on policies and regulations specific to a certain country, the QEP certification tests environmental professionals’ ability to solve “real world problems”, thereby expanding their practical knowledge and exposure in their industry. For those who are new to the field, the Environmental Professional In-Training (EPI) certificate offers a first step toward obtaining QEP status.
• Registered Environmental Manager (REM), National Registry of Environmental Professionals (NREP): REM is a popular certification among environmental professionals. According to NREP, the certification is recognized by various agencies. Some of these include the U.S. Postal Service, National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service; U.S. Air Force, U.S. Department of Energy, Amtrak, State of Alabama, etc. To be eligible for this certification, candidates must have at least 5 years of work experience in the field. Recent graduates can consider the Associate Environmental Professional (AEP) certification until they qualify for the REM certification.
• Certified Professional Environmental Auditor (CPEA), Board for Global EHS Credentialing (BGC): Certified Professional Environmental Auditors conduct compliance audits for utilities, manufacturing facilities, hospitals, universities, municipalities, and more. They offer 4 areas of specialties: Environmental Compliance, Health and Safety, Management Systems, and Responsible Care. This credential is under the Board of Environmental, Health & Safety Auditor Certifications (BEAC), which was assumed by The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) in 2016 and moved to BGC on June 1, 2020.
• Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM), Institute of Hazardous Materials Management (IHMM): Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) certification has become popular in the last few years, with over 12000 people obtaining this certification. State and federal agencies including the US Army Center for Health Promotion & Preventive Medicine and the US National Park Service, seek out professionals with this certification and may even require supervision by a CHMM in their contracts. Apart from them, many private businesses recognize the value of the CHMM designation too.
  To learn about the importance of chemical inventory management, read this.
• EMS auditor, CQI/IRCA: In current times, many organizations are implementing ISO 14001 environmental management systems as a way to minimize their impact and grow sustainably. EMS auditor certification prepares auditors and environmental system managers to audit environmental management systems against ISO 14001 requirements, either as a third- or second-party auditor. This course takes five days to complete and is available from various training partners.Thereafter, let’s have a look at some of the best EHS Risk & Sustainability Certifications –
• Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR) Certificate, Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP): GARP is the leading globally recognized membership association for risk managers. Its sustainability and climate risk certificate trains risk professionals to prepare for change and empower them to lead their organization’s incorporation of sustainability standards.
• Associate in Risk Management (ARM), The Institutes: Risk management is one of the major factors that directly affect EHS success. Hence, the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) certification is strongly recommended for candidates in this field. This certification takes about 9-15 months to complete and is designed for anyone who wants to get trained on how to make smart decisions during a crisis at their organization. Lastly, listed below are some of the best EHS certifications for safety professionals –
• Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP): According to the 2020 SH&E Industry Salary Survey, candidates who hold this certification are more likely to get hired, earn higher salaries, and receive more promotions and leadership opportunities than their peers. In fact, for most job listings, CSP certification is on the list of desired qualifications for the candidates. Naturally, it is the most commonly held license among safety professionals.
• Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), American Board of Industrial Hygiene (AIBH): This is another popular certification among safety professionals in the industry. The CIH certification is a globally recognized credential that demonstrates one’s commitment to protecting the health and safety of workers and the community. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, professionals with the CIH or CSP certification earned $30,000 more per year than the average Occupational Health and Safety Specialist.
• IOSH Level 3 Certificate, Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH): Next, IOSH is the world’s largest membership organization for safety and health professionals, and their certifications are among the most widely recognized in the industry. IOSH’s Level 3 Certificate is a globally recognized qualification that provides an understanding of safety and health in a business context.
• Certified Safety and Health Manager (CSHM), Institute of Hazardous Materials Management (IHMM): This certification is popular among professionals as it focuses on both – technical knowledge as well as business management skills. According to IHMM, this certification is ideal for people who are seeking executive positions in their companies such as manufacturing, construction, healthcare, education, etc. The CSHM certification was previously offered by the Institute for Safety and Health Management which was later acquired by the Institute of Hazardous Materials Management.
• Certified Professional Ergonomist (CPE), Board of Certification in Professional Ergonomics (BCPE): For ergonomics professionals, the Board of Certification in Professional Ergonomics is among the best. BCPE offers one professional certification with a choice of designation like Certified Professional Ergonomist (CPE), Certified Human Factors Professional (CHFP) and Certified User Experience Professional. Candidates can choose their designation based on their preferred line of focus and specialization.
• OSHA 30-Hour: Lastly, supervisors and safety managers who complete the OSHA Outreach 30-hour course through an authorized trainer receive an official card from the Department of Labor (DOL). While this one does not fall under a true OSHA certification, many employers look for an OSHA 30-Hour qualification. This is especially true for job openings in the construction field.

In Conclusion

EHS certifications can prove to be an excellent investment for professionals looking to build a future in this industry and make a considerable difference in their organization.

How VisiumKMS Supports EHS Management

For global enterprises that contend with regulated processes and complex engineering assets, VisiumKMS is a highly configurable, web-based QHSE platform connecting information dynamically, precisely, reliably and instantly – between the back office and the plant, factory, or any other site. It drives efficient, visible, and easily communicable corrective and preventive actions.

VisiumKMS removes weak links in any communication chain, providing a pillar for optimal, safer, risk-reduced, and compliant operations – enabling continuous improvement through preventive and corrective actions – for the oil and gas, chemical process, and food, drug and beverage industries.

VisiumKMS is in constant evolution because the industries we serve face ever-evolving challenges. We commit to staying ahead of the curve; to help our customers keep ahead of the business and operational pressures, regulations, and global or local challenges they face. Get in touch with us here.