Applicant Code of Conduct

Definitions

  • Applicant – an individual who has submitted an application to the BCRSP. An applicant may be anywhere in the certification process, up to and including the final stage when they are required to declare agreement with the BCRSP Rules of Professional Conduct.
  • BCRSP Representative – any individual who represents the BCRSP either as staff, volunteer, third party contractor, etc.
  • Code – Applicant Code of Conduct
  • Days – Working days

Preamble

Conduct by individuals seeking certification with the Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals that compromises the integrity and fairness of assessment for eligibility purposes threatens the proper functioning of the BCRSP. To that end, applicants for certification, although not yet certified as a Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP)®and/or Canadian Registered Safety Technician (CRST) are bound to legal and ethical standards of behavior during the certification process.

The Applicant Code of Conduct provides an explicit statement of applicant responsibilities and expected standards of performance and behavior. Applicants must sign a copy of the code of conduct, signifying that they have read and agree to accept the code’s provisions. The Applicant Code of Conduct is drawn from the ethical principles of the BCRSP’s Rules of Professional Conduct.  Procedures outlined in the Applicant Code of Conduct apply to applicants to the CRSP® and/or CRST certification process.

Misconduct, as defined in the Applicant Code of Conduct, and all forms of dishonesty, will not be tolerated during the application process. The BCRSP Governing Board will determine whether an applicant has violated the Applicant Code of Conduct and whether sanctions should be imposed.

Any applicant found to have violated the Code of Conduct risks losing the privilege of applying to become a Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP)® and/or Canadian Registered Safety Technician (CRST).

Principles

The following section describes the principles that are the foundation of the Applicant Code of Conduct. The discussion that accompanies each principle is not intended to provide an exhaustive list of all possible situations or examples that may be considered to be violations of the Code.

As an applicant for a BCRSP certification, I pledge to:

  • Act with honesty and integrity throughout the certification process when interacting with representatives of the BCRSP. Integrity is an obligation that requires each applicant to provide information honestly. Applicants must not falsify information (for example, falsify work experience, or submit altered transcripts). An applicant should accurately represent themselves to BCRSP representatives during the certification process. It is inappropriate to contact the BCRSP to inquire about an application claiming to be someone else. It is inappropriate to counsel, encourage, or knowingly aid or assist, directly or indirectly, another person or persons in the commission of an offence under this Code.
  • Respect the knowledge and skills of those involved in the certification process. It is unacceptable for an applicant to disparage the competence, knowledge, qualifications, or services of BCRSP representatives involved in the certification process. The applicant should use the highest professional courtesy when interacting with fellow applicants, BCRSP representatives, and anyone involved in the certification process. Professional relations among BCRSP representatives and applicants should be marked with civility. It is inappropriate to imply in word, gesture, or deed that an application has been poorly managed or an applicant mistreated without tangible evidence. Slanderous comments will not be tolerated. An applicant shall not create a condition which endangers or potentially endangers or threatens the health, safety or well-being of other persons including: physically abuse another person, threaten any other person with physical abuse or knowingly, and without just cause, cause any other person to fear physical abuse; or harass another person. Inappropriate behavior also includes the use of language, gestures, or remarks with sexual overtones. Offensive or threatening comments via e-mail or voice mail messages or any other form of verbal or nonverbal communication will not be tolerated. 
  • Be responsible and accountable for my actions and personally manage and respond to all matters related to my application. Applicants in the certification process must demonstrate responsibility by taking ownership of all aspects related to the application process. Applicants are expected to review application materials from BCRSP when they apply. It is the applicant’s responsibility to meet deadlines, provide information as requested, and follow the certification process during each stage. Applicants, not BCRSP representatives, are responsible for promptly correcting any errors or omissions identified in the applicant’s file. Applicants are expected to respond to constructive feedback from BCRSP representatives appropriately. If an applicant has a question about the application process after exhausting all available online and printed resources, the applicant should contact the BCRSP office directly for clarification. BCRSP will not discuss an application with an applicant’s parent, spouse, relative, friend, or employer regardless of who submits the fee payment. The fee payment does not relieve applicants of the obligation to properly submit all requested data and application materials by the posted deadlines. Applicants who have not been accepted at any stage of the process may consult with the BCRSP office to learn how they may correct deficiencies in their application, but must remain respectful of decisions made by those involved in the certification process.
  • Applicants are entitled to submit a complaint if they have been mistreated. Applicants may refer to BCRSP’s General Complaints Policy for information on BCRSP’s complaints policy.

Procedure to Report an Alleged Violation of the Applicant Code of Conduct

Procedures for any representative of the BCRSP who believes that an applicant has committed a Violation of the Applicant Code of Conduct:

  1. Any person who believes that an applicant is guilty of one or more of the offences listed may initiate proceedings against the applicant.
  2. Where a person believes that an applicant has committed one of the offences listed, that person must communicate the particulars of the alleged offence in writing to the BCRSP Executive Director. If there is any evidence to support the allegation (e.g. copy of email, correspondence, witness statement, etc.) it should be submitted along with the complaint.

Procedures for the Executive Director

The Executive Director shall follow these procedures when an alleged offence has been identified against an applicant:

  1. In all cases, the Executive Director shall stop the application process at the stage it is at and notify the Executive Committee. The Executive Director shall advise the applicant, in writing, by courier or any method of delivery offered by Canada Post, about the alleged offence, and that no further processing of the application will be done until the case is resolved.
  2. The Executive Director shall provide the applicant 30 days to respond to the alleged offence. The applicant will be asked to respond to the alleged offence, in writing.
  3. In the event that the applicant refuses or fails to respond to the Executive Director within the period of time specified, a decision, which may include a sanction, may be made, taking into account the available evidence. If the facts are determined not to be in dispute, the Executive Director shall refer the matter to the Executive Committee.
  4. If the facts are in dispute, the Executive Director shall review the matter by communicating with all parties involved, and complete any necessary investigation. Upon conclusion of the investigation, the Executive Director shall refer the findings to the Executive Committee.
  5. The Executive Committee may make a recommendation to the Governing Board on any sanctions to impose or any action to be taken by the BCRSP related to the complaint to the Governing Board.
  6. The Governing Board may either dismiss the charges or impose one or more of the sanctions listed.

Sanctions and their Impact

Where the Governing Board has determined that an applicant has committed an offence against the Applicant Code of Conduct, the Governing Board may impose one or more of the following sanctions:

Written Reprimand

A reprimand is a notation of concern about the conduct of the applicant. The reprimand is placed in the applicant's file held at the BCRSP office. The Governing Board may request remedial measures before an application is permitted to proceed.

Refusal to Consider an Application

  1. Refusal to consider an applicant for a BCRSP certification for up to five (5) years.
  2. Permanent refusal to consider an applicant for a BCRSP certification

Where a sanction of refusal to consider an applicant has been imposed, such refusal shall be noted on the applicant's record until the sanction expires.

Where the Governing Board imposes one or more sanction(s), the Executive Director shall add this information to the applicant’s record, setting out:

  1. the particulars of the offence, and
  2. brief statement giving details of the sanction(s) imposed, including the date the sanction(s) shall take effect.

Any sanctions imposed will be suspended until the entire appeal process has been exhausted or the deadline for appeal has passed.

Where the conduct involves, or may involve, criminal activity, the BCRSP reserves the right to notify the police. Nothing in this policy/procedure shall be deemed to limit the right of a BCRSP representative to proceed with civil charges.

Notification of the Decision

The Executive Director shall advise the applicant, in writing, by courier or any method of delivery offered by Canada Post, about the decision and provide the applicant with the procedures by which that decision may be appealed.

When sent by Canada Post, the material, decision or notice shall be sent to the last address provided by the applicant to the BCRSP. Delivery is deemed to have been effected on receipt of hand or courier delivery or five (5) days after being sent by Canada Post to Canadian addresses, and seven (7) days after being sent by Canada Post to international addresses.

Appeals against Decisions of the Governing Board

When an applicant has been found to have committed an offence under the Applicant Code of Conduct, whether or not that applicant has been given a sanction, the applicant may appeal that decision.

The written appeal must be presented to the Appeals Panel within 30 days of the deemed receipt of the decision by the applicant.

The finding that an offence has been committed, the sanction imposed or both may form the basis of the appeal. The written appeal must also state the full grounds of appeal and be signed by the appellant.

The appeal shall be heard by the Appeals Panel

The Appeals Panel will follow the BCRSP Appeals Policy/procedure. The decision of the Appeals Panel is final.