Marine Corps COOL Snapshot - Safety Trained Supervisor (STS)

The following Marine Corps Enlisted MOSs provide training and/or experience that contributes to attaining this credential:

Enlisted Occupation	Occupation Type	Related As	COOL$
1345 Engineer Equipment Operator	MOS	Some	COOL Bucks
1869 Senior Armor SNCO	MOS	Some	COOL Bucks
2336 Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technician	MOS	Some	COOL Bucks

The following civilian occupations are related to this credential:

	Civilian Job	Job Family	Bright Outlook	Registered Apprenticeship	Local Salary Info
	Occupational Health and Safety Specialists	Life, Physical, and Social Science			find local salary

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Attainability:

Eligibility Requirements (View Details)

Credential Prerequisite
Experience: 4 years
Education: Associates
Training: 30 hours of safety, health, and environmental training
Membership
Other
Fee

Note: This credential may have multiple options for a Service member to meet eligibility requirements. Requirements listed here are based on the minimum degree required. To view other options, see the Eligibility tab.

Exam Requirements (View Details)

Exam
Written Exam
Oral Exam
Practical Exam
Performance Assessment

Exam Administration (View Details)

In-person exam
Remote proctored on-line exam
Third-party test vendor

RECERTIFICATION SUMMARY

Renewal Period: 5 years

Continuing Education
Exam
Continuing Education OR Exam
Fee
Other

AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION

Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP)

8645 Guion Road
Indianapolis, IN 46268

Phone: 1-317-593-4800

Fax: 1-317-593-4400
Contact Page

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Education/Training and/or Experience REQUIREMENTS

Applicant must have:

Two years of supervisory experience;
Four years of work experience in any industry;
An Associate Degree or higher in occupational safety, risk management, or construction; or
Completion of a two-year trade or union training program/apprenticeship.

Training REQUIREMENTS

Applicant must have completed 30 hours of formal safety and health training through a single course or multiple training courses. Appropriate training includes any safety and health courses, conferences or internal company training, or other formal safety and health training.

Written Exam

Safety Program Implementation (13.8%)
- Job safety/hazard analysis process
- Basic audit or inspection protocols and tools
- Inspection requirements (e.g., machine guarding, hose, grinding wheels, ladders, safety showers, and eye wash stations)
- Incident investigation techniques (e.g., root cause analysis, five whys, fishbone), documentation requirements, and corrective action implementation
- Basic waste management (e.g., proper disposal of batteries, paint, and light bulbs)
Hazard Identification and Control (47.1%)
- Hierarchy of controls (e.g., elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative, PPE)
- Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) (e.g., labels, SDS, pictograms, signal words)
- Energy isolation procedures (e.g., lockout/tagout)
- Hazards and controls associated with handling and storing hazardous materials or chemicals
- Safety systems/interlocks (e.g., electrical systems, critical support systems)
- Hazards and controls associated with working around pressurized systems (e.g., steam systems)
- Confined space requirements (e.g., identification, permits, entry, rescue)
- Hazards and controls associated with working at heights (e.g., fall prevention and protection methods)
- Hazards and controls associated with walking/working surfaces (e.g., slips, trips, and falls)
- Hazards and controls associated with elevated work platforms (e.g., aerial lift, scaffolding, lifts, stairways)
- Requirements for operating and inspecting power industrial equipment/trucks (PIT), including forklifts (e.g., checklists, certifications, competencies, pedestrian safety)
- Hazards and controls associated with hand and power tools (e.g., hammers, grinders)
- Hazards and controls associated with working around moving parts and pinch points (e.g., machine guarding, pulleys)
- Hazards associated with housekeeping (e.g., materials storage, clutter, staging, fire hazards)
- Hazards and controls associated with hot work (e.g., welding, burning, cutting, grinding)
- Safety operations associated with cranes and lifting devices (e.g., pre-operation inspection, checking manufacturer use standards, chain fall, load ratings)
- Safety procedures associated with rigging and hoisting (e.g., inspection of rigging equipment, load limitations of rigging, use of tag lines)
- Types and proper use of personal protection equipment (PPE)
- Electrical safe work practices (e.g., arc flash, temporary power cord safety, GFCI)
- Hazards and controls associated with excavations (e.g., depth, distance, barricades, spoil pile location, basic soil classifications, emergency exits)
- Basic concepts in ergonomics (e.g., proper lifting techniques, repetitive stress or injury, neutral posture)
- Office safety procedures (e.g., only open one file cabinet drawer at a time, kitchen appliance safety)
- Safety procedures associated with motor vehicle operation (e.g., seat belts, loading docks, chocking of wheels)
- Safety procedures associated with heavy equipment operation (e.g., front-end loaders, backhoes, excavators)
- Hazards associated with using technology while working (e.g., distraction caused by use of personal electronic devices)
- Hazards and controls associated with compressed gas storage and use (e.g., fuel gas, oxygen storage, ammonia tanks, liquefied petroleum gas cylinders)
Health Hazards and Basic Industrial Hygiene (9.2%)
- Chronic health hazards and controls (e.g., asbestos, lead, silica, mold, chromium-6)
- Acute health hazards and controls (e.g., welding fume fever, poisoning, sensitivity, irritation)
- Hazards and controls associated with hearing conservation
- Environmental conditions that could impact worker health or safety (e.g., heat and cold stress)
Emergency Preparedness and Management (11.5%)
- Fire protection methods and classifications (e.g., appropriate fire extinguishing method for materials)
- Fire safety requirements (e.g., monthly inspections, fire extinguisher locations, fire exits, emergency lighting)
- Emergency response plans and drills (e.g., natural disasters, weather, crisis, fire, alarms, evacuation, rescue procedures, workplace violence and security)
- Basic first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and automated external defibrillator (AED)
- Universal precautions (e.g., bloodborne pathogens)
Leadership, Communication, and Training (18.4%)
- BCSP Code of Ethics
- Conflict resolution techniques (e.g., how to de-escalate a situation)
- Behavioral-based safety observations and programs
- Training requirements (e.g., frequency, training needs) for a project or job task
- Effectively communicate safety information to employees, management, contractors, or other affected personnel
- Coach or mentor employees on safe behavior and practices
- Correct unsafe acts or conditions (e.g., stop work and correct)
- Influence behavior within a diverse and changing workforce (e.g., motivation techniques for different personalities or learning styles, ability to empathize with workers)
- Recognize when negative reinforcement (e.g., discipline) or escalation is needed to deal with safety behavior issue
- Recognize when to seek assistance in relation to a hazard or situation
- Manage worker limitations and apply accommodations as required by company or regulatory standards (e.g., fit for duty, job restrictions)
- Identify relevant compliance aspects of a project or job task (e.g., bloodborne pathogens, ladder safety)

Exam Preparation Resources

There are a number of resources available to help you prepare for the Safety Trained Supervisor (STS) examination:

Best Sources

General References

An additional resource is O'Reilly Learning Safari Books Online, a searchable digital library that provides online access to thousands of books, training videos and conference sessions. See the Educational Resources section on the Related Sites page here on COOL to learn how to get free access.

Testing Information

Exam Administration
Credential exams may be administered in-person at a testing site, proctored on-line remotely, or have options for both. If an exam is administered through a test vendor, the third-party test vendor box will be checked. The following test administration options apply to the Safety Trained Supervisor (STS) credential where checked:
- In-person exam
- Remote proctored on-line exam
- Third-party test vendor

For more information on the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) testing process, visit the agency website.

Third-Party Test Vendor Information
Testing for this credential is handled by the following vendor:

Pearson VUE

The test centers are located in the U.S. They also have some test centers on military bases.

To find out more, use the following links on the Pearson VUE website:

RECERTIFICATION

Safety Trained Supervisor (STS)

Renewal Period: 5 years

The Safety Trained Supervisor (STS) credential has the following recertification information:

BCSP certfications are renewed every five years. BCSP certification holders must pay annual renewal fees in order to maintain certification. A prorated renewal fee will be applied for the remainder of the year in which the candidate passes the exam.

The Safety Trained Supervisor (STS) certification is renewed every five years. STS certification holders must select one of the options listed below for recertification.

Attend and/or teach 30 hours/3 points of safety, heath and environmental (SH&E) courses, presentations or tool-box talks.
Obtain an additional certification through BCSP.

Additional information about recertification can be found in the Recertification Guide.

Note: Marine Corps COOL will only pay recertification fees for the current year, no arrears will be paid. Voucher requests for recertification fees must be submitted with proof of the current status of the certification (for example, a screen shot of your credentialing agency dashboard or a copy of a current fee receipt).