FAQ: Safety & Health Specialist Certification

Where Are the Classes Offered?

Two 6-month cycles are offered in Seattle each year. Other training locations have been: Spokane, Portland and Tacoma. These locations are based on the number of students available for the training in those areas. In addition, ESC is willing to take the program onsite to any organization or to a region which has enough interested individuals to make a class.

Must I Complete the Certification within the 6-Month Period?

No. While completing the series within 6-months also earns an individual the OSHA 10 Construction Card, there is no requirement to do so. Since the courses are not sequential, an individual can miss a class and come right back for the next class and continue until all classes have been completed. Due to a variety of reasons, individuals have taken from 6 months to 2 years to complete the entire program.

Evergreen Safety Council will maintain your training records for 5 years.

Are There Any Other Certification Requirements?

Yes. All participants must provide proof of having a current First Aid/CPR card prior to receiving the certification.

What is the Cost?

A 5% discount is given for pre-payment of the total program cost.

The price does not include the cost of a First Aid/CPR class. This requirement can be met by showing a current First Aid/CPR card by the completion of the series.

Prices may change without notice other than through announcement in Evergreen Safety Council’s newsletter, through our website or our current class schedule.

What is Included in the Costs?

Individual course notebooks, materials and handouts; continental breakfast, lunch and refreshments during the day

Do I have to take all of the Classes in the Series?

No. Participants may want to:

• take only individual classes within the series without committing to the entire program,
• decide to meet the requirements of a “Topical Certification”,
• choose to take all of the classes for the certification, or
• challenge up to two (2) topics*.

Challenging Classes:

The Safety & Health Specialist Certification program allows individuals to challenge participation in up to two (2) topics* by submitting appropriate documentation and receiving approval from the Evergreen Safety Council.

To receive a copy of the policy to challenge course participation and the process, contact Evergreen Safety Council. A $25.00 nonrefundable evaluation fee per topic must accompany your request to challenge. The First Aid/CPR course cannot be a challenged topic. You must have a current First Aid/CPR card to satisfy the requirement.

* A topic may be four hours or eight hours in length.

How Do I Register?

Register online or by call Evergreen Safety Council to have a registration form faxed or mailed to you.

When Would I Start Classes?

Check our schedule. Since the classes are ongoing and offered non-sequentially, you can start with the first available class or any other class in which you are interested.

When are Classes Scheduled?

Class schedules are available in our newsletter, on our website or by contacting Evergreen Safety Council at (800) 521-0778.

How Do You Maintain Your Certification?

The following information is provided to assist you in your efforts to maintain your certification:

• Take additional ESC training courses.
• Participate in health, safety or environmental workshops or conferences conducted by other organizations (such as the Annual Governor’s Safety & Health Conference).
• The intent is for the Safety & Health Specialist to continue to develop expertise in safety and health topics by participating in related classes, events, and developing safety programs to expand their knowledge.

Recertification

There is a biennial recertification fee of $35 to maintain your certification. This fee covers the cost of maintaining Safety & Health Specialist records, mailing list and the recertification process. The certification record keeping includes a process to remind Safety & Health Specialists of their recertification date.

What is the Return On Investment (ROI)?

The ROI for an organization is the assurance that they have well trained, knowledgeable and confident individuals who are coordinating and managing their safety programs. Included in this is a new, larger network of individuals who are willing to share their experiences with each other.

A strong and effective safety program will reduce injuries resulting in healthier and more productive employees. This translates into less lost time, potentially lower health insurance costs, lower workers’ compensation rates and increased employee retention. Not to mention more satisfied customers who have goods and services delivered on time.

Finally, having a certified Safety & Health Specialist coordinating and managing your safety program also provides the peace of mind for business owners that they are doing everything they can to keep their most important assets (their employees and customers) safe.

An individual’s ROI is similar. Individual students may also find that this certification proves to be an effective tool in opening doors to them as they pursue their career in safety and health. In addition, Continuing Education Units (CEUs) can be obtained through either CentralWashington State University or Bellevue Community College.