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Innovating Support - Credential for EHS Practitioners

By Daniel Agopsowicz, CIH

As previously reported, an AIHA/AIH-led steering committee, including representatives of ABIH, launched an effort to see if we should be involved in the development of a broad-based EHS credential. Potential benefits, such as attracting more professionals to EHS practice, were weighed against the challenges involved in establishing a credible certification. The steering committee met twice, achieving real progress understanding the issues and how we should address them.

Subsequently, the academy steering committee held strategic meetings on this issue with representatives of ASSE/BCSP, and with AWMA/IPEP, respectively. Mutual support was strong to innovate better ways to support our growing populations of EHS practitioners, including the likely outcome of a mutually-developed EHS credential. Each organization obviously had its own set of pros/cons and timing issues, which thus far are not insurmountable to the strategic goal. AWMA, for example, recommended that NAEM (who also partner with IPEP) would be better suited for this mission; we will soon be meeting with NAEM to engage their participation. 

The next step in the process is a joint EHS “summit” involving the academy steering committee with our safety and environment counterparts. This summit is targeted for summer 2007, and will be the first opportunity for a real tri-partite discussion of how our respective organizations can better serve our populations of EHS practitioners. Stay tuned.      

Agopsowicz can be reached at daniel.agopsowicz@yahoo.com.