Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP)
Safety Trained Supervisor (STS)
Credential: Safety Trained Supervisor (STS)
Credentialing Agency: Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP)
Renewal Period: 5 years
The Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP), Safety Trained Supervisor (STS) certification is an intermediate, managerial credential developed for professionals who demonstrate competency and work part-time or full-time in supervisory positions with tasks devoted to the prevention of harm to individuals in the workplace environment. The STS is often sought by safety professionals who are first-line supervisors and managers. STS applicants must have expertise in monitoring worksites for job hazards, helping to ensure regulatory compliance occurs, training employees in safety practices, performing safety-related record keeping, coordinating corrections for safety problems within or among work groups, and communicating with safety specialists or management. Applicants must pass a written examination.
More information can be found on the certifying agency's website.
Safety Trained Supervisor (STS)
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
Renewal Period: 5 years
- Continuing Education
- Exam
- Continuing Education OR Exam
- Fee
- Other
Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP)
8645 Guion Road
Indianapolis, IN 46268
Phone: 1-317-593-4800
Fax: 1-317-593-4400
Contact Page
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.
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.
-
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)
There are a number of resources available to help you prepare for the Safety Trained Supervisor (STS) examination:
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.
-
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
-
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:
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).
MOS is Military Occupational Specialty
ASI is Additional Skill Identifier
WOMOS is Warrant Officer Military Occupational Specialty
AOC is Area Of Concentration Officer
Functional Area
Branch
Bright Outlook – new job opportunities are very likely in the future for this job
This is an official U.S. Marine Corps website
Updated: February 26, 2021
Marine Occupations Table Legend
Related As
The military occupations shown in this table are related to this credential in one of three ways: Most, Some, or Other.
MOST
This credential is directly related to most of the major duties associated with the military occupation (at least 80%). Note that the credential may require additional education, training or experience before you are eligible for it.
SOME
This credential is related to some tasks associated with the duties of the military occupation (related 80% to at least one or more critical tasks but less than 80% of all of the entire military occupation). Note that the credential may require additional education, training or experience before you are eligible for it.
OTHER
This credential is related to this military occupation, but is more advanced or specialized and therefore will most likely require additional education, training, or experience.
COOL$
Contact usmccool@navy.mil or call 850-452-6337/6583 for a Marine Corps COOL Program Analyst.
Federal Occupations Table Legend
Related As
The federal occupations shown in this table are related to this credential in one of three ways: Most, Some, or Other.
MOST
This credential is directly related to most of the major duties associated with the federal occupation (at least 80%). Note that the credential may require additional education, training or experience before you are eligible for it.
SOME
This credential is related to some tasks associated with the duties of the federal occupation (related 80% to at least one or more critical tasks but less than 80% of all of the entire military occupation). Note that the credential may require additional education, training or experience before you are eligible for it.
OTHER
This credential is related to this federal occupation, but is more advanced or specialized and therefore will most likely require additional education, training, or experience.
Civilian Occupations Table Legend
Bright Outlook
The Bright Outlook icon indicates that new job opportunities are very likely in the future for this job. Click the links in this column to go to the external link My Next Move For Veterans State Map.
Registered Apprenticeship
The Registered Apprenticeship icon indicates that this job has an apprenticeship program registered with the U.S. Department of Labor. Click the links in this column to go to the Apprenticeship Finder and enter career path or location to find apprenticeship opportunities
Local Salary Information
Click the links in this column to go to the external link My Next Move for Veterans web site to view salary and employment information for the job.
Top