Dear Certificants,
I hope you are all in good health and high spirits as we get closer to the warm weather coming our way. I have gathered together highlights of the BCRSP initiatives over the past several months. As you read through you will see the diversity of knowledge, commitment and dedication that I see when I meet with peers. What a wonderful assembly of individuals we have amongst us. I am grateful to serve as chair of the BCRSP and to witness the continuous success that we achieve individually and collectively.
Thank you certificants for your continued support of BCRSP and acting as safety ambassadors in your communities and workplaces.
CRST Competency Review
On April 12 and 13, a group of amazing CRSTs and CRSPs, and the BCRSP Executive Director, were guided by Meazure Learning’s Marie Lyne Laliberte, Senior Psychometrician, through the CRST Examination Blueprint review. This 2-day event involved reviewing the current blueprint, updating competencies and comparisons to the CRSP blueprint structure. The members of this team are highly informed with respect to examination question development and how competencies are measured. A validation survey of the proposed new competencies will be distributed to CRSTs for review and comments in the coming weeks. A second meeting will take place in June to finalize the CRST Examination Blueprint.
Safety Events Return to In-person
Highlights from the Manitoba Safety Services Conference and the Atlantic Workplace Health & Safety Conference. Both events had great content and ample time for networking. Health and safety conferences are the life line of our occupations where we continue to foster and sustain our competencies in a profession where change is continuous.
Thank you certificants for your continued support and promotion of BCRSP certifications!
Strategic Partnerships
The Canadian Registration Board of Occupational Hygienists and the BCRSP signed a partnership agreement in 2021. Since that time, the two boards have held regular monthly meetings to exchange ideas, knowledge, and opportunities for joint initiatives.
Nikki Wright, BCRSP Executive Director and I were invited to attend the CRBOH member meet and greet on November 17, 2022, in Toronto. We met the class of the University of Toronto Occupational Hygiene master’s program. The students were very enthusiastic to learn more about the BCRSP, specifically eligibility requirements, examination process and the benefits of holding the CRSP certification. The following day, Nikki and I attended the CRBOH board meeting to share an update on BCRSP activities and participate in an information exchange.
BCRSP, CRBOH and other credentialing organisations have established Codes of Ethics that govern the professional conduct of their certificants, yet ethical practice is important for all OHS practitioners regardless of certification status. Through our partnership the two boards worked on a comparison of the Codes of Ethics for both organizations. From this exercise, the Ethics and Professional Conduct of OHS Professionals session was created. Kelly MacRitchie, CRBOH & Robin Angel, BCRSP presented the session at the Atlantic Workplace Health & Safety Conference 2023. The interactive session was well attended by a variety of safety practitioners where topics such as scope of practice, bias, competing duties, and ethical blind spots were explored including illustrative examples.
BCRSP and CSSE are hosting a joint Canadian Reception during the American Society of Safety Professional Annual Safety Conference and Expo. If you are attending the conference, please register on the BCRSP website to attend the reception.
Forging new relationships
On February 15, I had the honour and the pleasure of participating on a French panel discussion organized by Collèges et instituts Canada (CICan) << La santé et la sécurité avant tout>> Health and Safety First. I was joined by peers from Quebec working in post-secondary institutions and in the provincial ministry of labour and standards. The panel discussed topics concerning the safety and security of both students and faculty, how has health and safety of student life changed post-pandemic, including impacts on mental health, and how partnerships and collaboration with other services can be incorporated into emergency response plans. Being invited as the Chair of BCRSP to participate on this panel provided a unique opportunity for me to share the importance of the certification and the role the BCRSP plays in the safety ecosystem.
National Education Symposium (NES)
Navigating the Future May 8-9, 2023. This biennial in-person event is by invitation only and includes representatives of post-secondary institutions across Canada. Topics include Emerging Risks in AI, Minerva Canada, Qualifications Review Committee (QRC), CRST Blueprint and the Program Accreditation.
Committee members meet the BCRSP board members
Over the past couple of months, BCRSP Co-Chair Paul Belair and I have had the good fortune to join committee meetings for the first five minutes. Everyone introduced themselves and we chatted about committee initiatives. The feedback was encouraging so we are expanding to have other BCRSP board members visit committees.
Wrapping up
The BCRSP Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be on June 19 in Ottawa at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier with a virtual attendance option. To register for the AGM to attend virtually, by proxy, or in person (limited seating, first come/first serve), please rsvp.