About CCHEST
Council on Certification of Health, Environmental and Safety Technologists
CCHEST (formerly known as the ABIH/BCSP Joint Committee) became fully
operational with its first written examination in the Fall of 1986.
This exam was used to certify individuals as "Certified Occupational
Health and Safety Technologists" (COHST). At that time, the committee
was composed of three members selected from the American Board of
Industrial Hygiene (ABIH), three members selected from the Board of Certified Safety Professiona
ls (BCSP)
and three members elected by the Committee from the ranks of the
OHST's. The examination was developed by CCHEST and offered at sites
where the ABIH or BCSP examinations were given. To close out the ABIH
program for Certified Industrial Hygiene Technologists, all whose
certification was in good standing were issued new OHST certificates.
An additional number of eligible candidates were offered the
opportunity to become OHSTs by waiver of examination.
During the early 1990s, CCHEST began a process to turn more control over to the OHSTs by changing the composition of the Council. This was to enable the OHSTs to have a greater voice in their own destiny. In addition, during this same time period, the Council expanded to include a technologist certification in the Construction area called the Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST). Later, a third certification program was established, also in construction, called the Safety Trained Supervisor (STS). Both of these programs were in response to a perceived need by the Construction divisions of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) and National Safety Council (NSC).
In 2004, the OHST and STS programs received accreditation by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). The CHST program gained NCCA accreditation in 2006.
In order to maintain accreditation, it is necessary that the major composition of the CCHEST Board be filled by OHSTs, CHSTs, and STSs. As a result, beginning in 1997, the composition of CCHEST became three OHST, CHST or STS certified individuals elected by the Council, one current ABIH member, one current BCSP member and four OHST, CHST or STS members of which two are elected by ABIH and two are elected by BCSP. Therefore the Council is composed primarily of the certificate holders, but still receives support from both founding boards. Also, there is one public member elected by CCHEST who has no connection with the safety and health profession.
In 2005, CCHEST celebrated its 20th anniversary. In 2008, CCHEST began offering an experience-based certification for loss control practitioners, the Certified Loss Control Specialist (CLCS). Effective December 31, 2008, BCSP purchased the ABIH interest in CCHEST. CCHEST's programs and certifications now continue with CCHEST being an operating division of BCSP.
