The World Safety Organization offers a broad selection of professional certifications for Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health professionals worldwide. The prerequisite for obtaining any of the WSO Professional Certifications is a current Affiliate membership with the WSO.
WSO Certified Safety Executive, WSO-CSE: A safety practitioner in an executive position in a corporation, company, government office or other entity, who has in-depth knowledge of safety programs, procedures, and activities, and is responsible for the establishment of safety policies, programs and methods for the organization or entity by who the individual is employed. This individual will utilize knowledge learned from various educational sources plus competencies acquired from training and professional experiences to prevent, minimize or control hazards and risks that threaten people, resources, and the environment.
WSO Certified Safety Manager, WSO-CSM: A safety practitioner who accomplishes the supervision and management work of safety activities at the middle manager’s level. He/she enforces policies and safety programs, supervises training, and occasionally performs functions of a technical nature in the safety field. He/she is responsible for the coordination of safety programs with all elements of an organization in order to secure the most effective results through and with other people. He/she is responsible for suggesting program or policy changes as they pertain to safety. Under crisis conditions, he/she will develop and implement special programs as the situation requires. He/she must have adequate knowledge and expertise in both management and safety to accomplish his/her mission.
WSO Certified Safety Manager (Construction), WSO-CSM (Construction): Is very similar to the regular WSO-CSM, however the WSO has reached out to the construction industry with this certification to provide credentialing for those with accumulated years of safety experience in this highly specialized field. The WSO-CSM for Construction exam is specifically designed for construction work rather than predominantly General Industry and Maintenance, covered by/under the WSO-CSM.
WSO Certified Safety Specialist, WSO-CSS: A safety practitioner who specializes in a specific area in the safety profession. The concentration must be in a definite area such as fire safety, transportation safety, nuclear safety, hazardous materials, product safety, health care safety, electrical safety, oil well drilling and well servicing, mining & tunneling safety, ladder safety etc. He/she must be able to perform both the technical and management work of safety in his/her respective field in order to secure the most effective results through and with other people. He/she performs all of the technical and management work required of the safety position.
WSO Certified Safety & Security Director, WSO-CSSD: An individual responsible for the safety and security of people, property, resources or environment or any single segment or combined segments thereof. Security must be one of the segments. This individual will utilize knowledge, skills, training and expertise learned from various educational sources plus competencies acquired from actual work and field experiences to prevent or control hazards, potential losses and risk. The applicant must be proficient in the professional skills required in the security profession and have the basic knowledge to cope with and handle any risks in the areas of safety.
WSO Certified Safety Technician, WSO-CST: Is an entry level designation for specialists in safety related disciplines i.e.: fire science, industrial hygiene, occupational safety and health, nuclear safety, loss control, etc. (This designation is not a prerequisite for other WSO professional certifications).
WSO Certified Hazardous Materials Technician Level I, WSO-CHMT I: Objective: To provide evaluation of a hazardous material worker or first responder with the necessary skills and knowledge to detect, identify and classify hazardous materials; evaluate the level of risk associated with hazardous materials/waste and handle minor incidents. Requirements: Completion of a training program of approximately 30 to 40 hours in the following general areas: * Introduction to hazardous materials; * Recognition, identification and classification of hazardous materials; * Safety consideration in working with hazardous materials; * Procedures of incident response to hazardous materials; * Control methods, agents and materials usage in hazardous materials handling or incidents; * Successfully completed 6 months field work covering all of the above.
WSO Certified Hazardous Materials Technician Level II, WSO-CHMT II: Objective: To evaluate the skills and professional expertise of a hazardous materials worker, insuring competency in handling hazardous materials at an identifiable level. Requirements: Successfully completed the Level I program or its equivalent and served a 6 months internship working in a hazardous materials program. Completion of an advanced level training program of approximately 140 to 150 hours in the following general areas: * Basic Chemistry; * Basic Toxicology; * Elements of operation and incident management; * Theory of chemical elements, mixture, compounds, solutions and other variations; * Physical and chemical characteristics of the following hazardous material types, combustible, explosive, toxic and flammable; * Methods of control, containment, and handling of hazardous materials; * Detection of hazardous materials; * Storage, patching and repair of containers; * Herbicides, pesticides and farm chemicals; * Protective clothing and equipment decontamination materials; * Procedures for handling the following hazardous materials incidents: fixed facility, marine, rail, vehicular, pipeline, tank, clandestine labs, nuclear.
WSO Certified Hazardous Materials Supervisor, WSO-CHMS: Objective: Provide evaluation of the professional knowledge, skills and expertise of an individual who will supervise the storage and handling of hazardous materials/waste and/or be responsible for the operations of two or more emergency response teams capable of responding to single or multiple hazardous materials incidents, or provides supervision of storage/handling of hazardous materials. Requirements: Successfully completed levels I and II or their equivalent plus serving at least one year in a hazardous materials response or operations program. Completion of an advanced level training program of approximately 40 to 60 hours in the following general areas: * Hazardous materials regulation to include EPA, DOT, OSHA, FEMA and other pertinent agencies; * Incident reports and communications; * Evaluation of programs and procedures; * Incident/emergency pre-planning; * Incident site command; *Resources for incident aid and assistance; * Recording and documentation procedures; * Purchasing sources and practices; * Storage and handling of hazardous materials; * Principles of safety management; * Safety personnel management; * Organization and structuring of safety departments; *Supervision of hazardous materials operations.
WSO Certified Hazardous Materials Executive, WSO-CHME: Objective: Provide evaluation of professional knowledge, skills and expertise of an individual who will be responsible for the development and implementation of programs for hazardous materials handling, transportation, waste and storage operations including emergency response programs for companies, corporations, communities, regions, governmental organization, and similar entities. Requirements: Successfully completed Levels I, II and Supervisor or their equivalent plus, served at least 12 months, developing, planning, and implementing programs involving use, storage and disposal of hazardous materials/hazardous waste and developing associated emergency response programs. Completed advanced level training programs of approximately 100 to 150 hours in the following areas: * Compliance with local, state, regional, national and international regulations; * Requirements for hazardous materials/waste storage, handling disposal and incidents; * Development of standard operating procedures for facilities using, storing, handling and disposing of hazardous materials; * Planning, development and implementation of hazardous materials/waste emergency response programs; * Planning development and implementation of worker and community safety programs by facilities using, storing or disposing of hazardous materials/waste; * Development and coordination of a plan utilizing local, state, regional and national emergency support services; * Developing appropriate equipment lists and procuring items necessary for the protection of people, property, resources and the environment; * Planning and development of a remedial program for cleanup of hazardous materials/waste at any facility.
WSO Safety Certified Construction Supervisor, WSO-SCCS: This certification is to certify both current and aspirant supervisors in the construction field who meet the following criteria: Have two years field construction experience in any capacity with 30 hours formal documented Health Safety and Environmental training (excluding simple orientations); Newly selected supervisors with 30 hours of formal documented Health Safety and Environmental training (excluding simple orientations); or Two years of supervisory experience plus 15 hours of formal documented Health Safety and Environmental training (excluding simple orientations)
WSO Certified Safety Instructor Basic Level, WSO-CSI: This basic certification deals with the elementary aspects of instruction. This includes: basic public speaking, use and control of audio-visual aids, handling distractions and difficult students.
WSO Certified Safety Instructor Senior Level, WSO-CSI(SL): This program identifies and requires demonstrated proficiency in four types of presentations: formal briefing, informal briefing; verbal report, and classroom instruction. Additionally, development and preparation of audio-visual aids and “class action synergy” will be stressed.
WSO Certified Safety Instructor Master Level, WSO-CSI(ML): This highest level of certification requires demonstrated proficiency in program development, presentation, media choice, points for documentation and paper publishing, and continuity. Additionally, an evaluated presentation at a WSO Symposium is required.
Application Requirements: All applications for WSO certification shall be on forms prescribed and furnished by the WSO Certification Board. Processing shall conform with procedures prescribed by the WSO Certification Board. All applicants must be either an Affiliate or Professional Member of the WSO. All approved applicants for certification will have to take an exam. Refer to the WSO Membership and Certification Program Booklet for detailed information.
WSO Professional Certification (written examination required):
WSO – Certified Safety Executive (WSO-CSE)
WSO – Certified Safety Manager (WSO-CSM)
WSO – Certified Safety Specialist (WSO-CSS)
WSO – Certified Safety/Security Director (WSO-CSSD)
WSO Entry Level Certifications (written examination required):
WSO – Certified Safety Technician – (WSO-CST)
WSO – Safety Certified Construction Supervisor (WSO-SCCS)
WSO Hazardous Materials Certifications: (written examination required):
WSO – Certified Hazardous Materials Technician I/II- (WSO-CHMTI and WSO-CHMT II)
WSO – Certified Hazardous Materials Supervisor (WSO-CHMS)
WSO – Certified Hazardous Materials Executive – (WSO-CHME)
WSO Board of Certified Safety Instructors:
WSO – Certified Safety Instructor (WSO-CSI)
WSO – Certified Safety Instructor – Senior Level (WSO-CSI-SL)
WSO – Certified Safety Instructor – Master Level (WSO-CSI-ML)