Institute for Safety and Health Management

Thomas J. Slavin CSHM, CIH, CSP, CPEA

Questionnaire -

1. Why you would like to be an ISHM Board Member

Response: I would like to continue to serve the ISHM as a board member. My current term is expiring, as is my two year term as Chair. During the last couple years we established the CSHM as a premier safety and health credential. The major milestone has been national accreditation, the key indicator for a reputable certification program. A lot of work went into meeting the stringent requirements for achieving this recognition, including making sure the examination is valid and representative, and developing a continuance of certification process. But there is more work to be done to enhance the value and credibility of ISHM and I would like the chance to help us move forward in the post accreditation era. We need to continue work on the exam's quality and validity and develop a way for electronic administration. We need to increase membership, make the certification more internationally relevant, and establish relationships with other safety and health organizations. In addition we need to establish the ASHM program as an important credential for those with safety and health management training and experience but who do not yet meet the CSHM criteria.

I believe that my history and experience with the CSHM can help me help the ISHM. In addition I think it is important to bring to the board the perspective of other accredited certifications and membership in several national safety and health organizations and committees.

2. What skills and experience that you will bring to the board to enhance the organization and the CSHM / ASHM certifications.

Response: Thomas J. Slavin is global safety and health director for Navistar, Inc., a major manufacturer of trucks, buses and diesel engines headquartered in Warrenville, IL. He is part of a corporate focus on health management and total productivity improvement. He has 39 years experience in safety, health and ergonomics, beginning his career at Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and the Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Association before joining Navistar 29 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).

Mr. Slavin chairs the board of the Institute for Safety and health Management, the safety and health committee of the American Foundry Society, the occupational safety and health committee of the National Association of Manufacturers, and is vice chair of ASTM International's E34 safety and health standards Committee. He is also a member of several other safety and health organizations (ASSE, AIHA, HFES, NFPA, and NSMS). 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.

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