Institute for Safety and Health Management

Message from the Chair
Winter 2008

What makes the CSHM certification unique is that it recognizes such a broad mix of talents that are needed to manage safety and health in today's complex business environment. The CSHM designation certifies the holder as someone who has the experience and skill set in safety, health and related areas to function effectively. There are a variety of ways to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills. Many are taught in school, but virtually no academic training program can encompass them all. Many of the skills and much of the knowledge must be picked up over time through experience and supplemental training.

When the CSHM was initiated there was a grandfather period when the credential was offered to all those qualified by training and experience. At that time people without a four year degree could substitute 2 years of qualifying experience for one year of college. When the grandfather period closed, all new candidates were required to pass the certification exam. Soon after that the education requirement was tightened, closing off the route to certification for those without a four year degree.

In January the board approved a change to the bylaws for ASHM criteria that once again provides an avenue to certification for people without a four year degree. The CSHM criteria remain basically unchanged and the requirements are no less rigorous. Candidates must still have a combination of training and qualifying experience that, together with passing the exam, demonstrates the requisite level of competence.

Candidates with a four year degree are eligible to take the CSHM exam after 5 years of experience. Those with and ASHM designation are eligible to sit for the exam after 2 years of experience following receipt of the ASHM designation. However, candidates may be eligible for the ASHM with more flexible combinations of experience and training. The ASHM itself conveys an important status, but not a permanent one. Once experience requirements are met the holder of an ASHM has a limited number of years to pass the CSHM exam before the ASHM designation expires.

As an applied science there are many ways that people get into the safety and health management field, often without a four year degree. The ISHM board is very pleased that the CSHM designation can now recognize a wider segment of individuals who have worked hard to acquire the broad skills and knowledge needed to manage safety and health effectively.

Tom Slavin, CSHM, CIH, CSP, CPEA

As always, I will be happy to field any of your questions or concerns by email.

About Tom

Thomas J. Slavin MS, MBA, CIH, CSP, CSHM, CPEA chairs the Board and executive committee. He is manager occupational safety and health for Navistar International Corporation where he develops and directs global safety and health policy and strategy, including a cross plant safety systems audit program, performance metrics, regulatory compliance, and safety and health training programs. He is part of a corporate focus on health management and total productivity improvement. He has 38 years experience in safety, health and ergonomics, beginning his career at Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and the Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Association before joining Navistar 28 years ago.

Mr. Slavin holds a BS in Zoology from the University of Illinois, an MS in Occupational and Environmental Health from Wayne State University, and an MBA from the University of Chicago. He is a certified industrial hygienist (CIH), a certified safety professional (CSP), a certified safety and health manager (CSHM), and a certified professional environmental auditor (CPEA).

As part of his commitment to the profession he chairs the safety and health committee of the American Foundry Society, the occupational safety and health committee of the National Association of Manufacturers, and the Foundry subcommittee of ASTM International’s E34 Committee. He is also a member of the governing board of the National Safety Management Society. A professional member of the American Society of Safety Engineers and a diplomate member of the American Industrial Hygiene Association, he also serves on the safety and health steering committee of the Automotive Industry Action Group, the ANSI Z10 Committee on Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems, and the NIOSH National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) manufacturing sector work group.

A frequent speaker at national safety and health conferences, Mr. Slavin has authored/co-authored several book chapters and peer-reviewed articles on ergonomics, productivity, diesel, silica, ultrafine particle exposure and other health and safety issues. He is a recipient of the American Foundry Association’s Childress-Loebler Environmental Health and Safety Lifetime Achievement Award. You can contact Tom at, Navistar International Corporation, 4201 Winfield Rd. PO Box 1488, Warrenville, IL 60555. Phone 312-836-3929 - Fax: 312-836-3937. Email: tom.slavin@navistar.com