Why
Become a
Certified Mine Safety Professional?
A Discussion of the Program
Introduction
The Certified Mine Safety Professional Certification Board
(CMSPCB) governs the Certified Mine Safety Professional (CMSP)
Program and administers the Certified Mines Safety Professional
examination. The purpose of this discussion is to familiarize
the prospective candidate with the basic requirements for
qualification to sit for the CMSP examination and to provide
direction to preparing for that examination. A candidate
may choose to prepare through a plan of self-study, or the
candidate may choose to attend a specialized course of study.
History
The International Society of Mine Safety Professionals (ISMSP)
was formed in 1991 by a group of individuals engaged in mine
health and safety but who felt that their unique discipline
of mine safety and health was overlooked in the other professional
organizations of which they were members. They set about
organizing their own association dedicated to the special
field of mine safety.
This goal was the genesis of The International Society of
Mine Safety Professionals. Most of the problems facing
the mine safety and health professional are fairly similar
in nature. ISMSP endeavored to provide a bond for mine
safety and health practitioners for the purpose of education;
learning together, both from each other and in pressing the
envelope to achieve new and effective health and safety methods. And
in doing so, constantly raising the bar of professionalism.
In the evolution of organizing and gaining membership, it
also became apparent that while other professional designations
in the safety profession were available, they were general
in nature and did not cover important areas specific to the
various types and conditions of mining. Out of this
concern the Certified Mine Safety Professional examination
was born. Today the CMSP designation is recognized as
the pre-eminent professional designation in the mine safety
and health field.
Direction
The professional practice of Mine Health and Safety has
evolved into a new and exciting era. Mining operators
of all types are recognizing that the long-term success of
their operations is closely tied to the effectiveness of
their health and safety programs. This has created the
opportunity for the safety professional to become an integral
part of the operational plan and strategy. Focus on
individual productivity to gain competitive advantage must
be accompanied by an increased emphasis on health and safety. That
concept presents a very real challenge for the practicing
safety professional. For a mining operation to become
more efficient and productive it must assess the inherent
risks and plan for elimination or minimization. Such
a task must be performed by a thoroughly trained and qualified
safety professional. His or her role must be viewed
by management as a developer of policy and procedures in
addition to being the implementer.
The role of the safety professional encompasses a continually
widening scope of expectations. In addition to the daily
demands of inspecting for and assessing risk, taking corrective
action, assisting upper management in identifying health
and safety applications ongoing operations, the safety professional
is confronted with an ever-increasing burden of administrative
and regulatory compliance. The sheer magnitude of the
demands placed upon today's safety professional is staggering. The
ability of a single practitioner to learn, retain and apply
all the information necessary to not only be effective but
to stay in compliance requires that her or she solicit the
assistance of other professionals in the field. That
is the role of The International Society of Mine Safety Professionals.
The Department of Labor has designated five characteristics
that distinguish a profession from an occupation:
National Organization: An occupation must have a national
organization or similar organized platform from which the
group can speak with a common voice. ISMSP is the leading
advocate of safety professionals in the mining industry. It
provides seminars and other educational conferences, educational
information dissemination, government and media representation
and online services.
Code of Ethics: Standards identifying behavioral expectations
relating to fairness, honesty, justice, truthfulness and
social responsibility are all embodied in ISMSP and CMSPCB's
Code of Professional Conduct. This Code of Professional
Conduct has been adopted by ISMSP to clearly define the highest
standards not only for its membership, but for Certified
Mine Safety Professionals as well. In accepting the
professional designation, the CMSP subscribes to this code.
Research: Application of knowledge gained through research,
partnering with like-minded groups in the furtherance of
safety principles and knowledge and the raising of funding
to explore new avenues in the promotion and practice of health
and safety are all areas of ISMSP endeavor.
Body of Knowledge: The areas of expertise and knowledge
encompassed in the broad practice of mine safety in the various
types of mining and areas of operation are delineated, defined
and articulated in the material over which a candidate for
the professional designation of Certified Mine Safety Professional
must demonstrate mastery in achieving the professional designation.
Credentialing: The CMSPCB sets forth the standards for achieving
the professional designation of Certified Mine Safety Professional. Eligibility
for certification is predicated upon meeting extensive experience
requirements (or an acceptable equivalent) in the broad practice
of mine safety, agreement to adhere to the Professional code
of Conduct and successful completion of a comprehensive written
examination.
Certification as a Mine Safety Professional
Why become a CMSP? Among prospective employers the
professional designation CMSP is rapidly becoming the designation
of choice. The CMSP designation indicates to the prospective
employer or client that you have command of a body of knowledge
and experience demonstrated through rigorous testing.
CSMP summarizes in its title the wealth of experience and
professional knowledge readily identifiable to anyone involved
in safety. But it also symbolizes a depth of commitment
to the profession by a person who strives to be the very
best that he or she can be. The designation is respected
not only among practitioners of mine safety, but also in
the broader mining profession.
Certainly there are material rewards to accompany the achievement. It
is generally acknowledged that a CMSP might reasonably expect
to earn significantly more over a career in health and safety.
Requirements to sit for the examination are not complex. To
be eligible an applicant shall be primarily engaged in the
practice of mine safety or one of its related specialties,
and
- Shall have been certified as competent within the broad
practice of safety or one of its relevant specialties by
an organization recognized as qualified by the Society and
shall have a minimum of five (5) years in the mine safety
profession, or
- Shall have been registered or licensed by an approved agency
as a Professional Engineer and shall have a minimum of five
(5) years in the mine safety profession, or
- Shall hold a baccalaureate or higher degree from a recognized
college or university, and shall have a minimum of seven
(7) years in the mine safety profession, or
- Shall have a minimum of ten (10) years in the mining
profession, two of which can be in mine safety.
Applicable fees for administering the examination will also
apply.
Continuing Education and Recertification
Once earned, the CMSP designation must be maintained. Five
hours of Professional Development Points (PDP's) must be
earned each year. Recertification must be performed
every five years by either having accumulated a minimum 25
PDP's or re-taking the CMSP examination. PDP's can be
earned by attending seminars, conferences and coursework,
membership in professional organizations, or by instructing
and training.
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