COSS® Certificate Program

Certified Occupational Safety Specialist (COSS®) is a training program designed by safety professionals for the entry level person, or for the experienced safety person who needs a refresher on safety. Its main objective is to equip employees who have safety and health responsibilities; with the core competencies they must master to be successful in occupational safety and health. The COSS® Program provides students with focused and relevant content that is enforced with concentrated learning activities. Unlike other safety designations, where there is no training involved, the curriculum-based format of the COSS® Program involves hands-on, in-class, instructor-led training. Students testify to the value of the training they receive; instead of simply “testing into the designation”, they feel like they worked hard to earn it.

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Recertification

Graduates are required to renew their Certified Occupational Safety Specialist (COSS) and Certificate for Occupational Managers (COSM) credentials every three years. Students should apply for recertification by December 31 of the third full year of their recertification.

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COSS focuses on:

Cost of Accidents
SIC Codes/NAICS Codes
OSHA overview
Using the CFR’s
Record Keeping
Hazard Controls & Hazard Types
Multi- Employer Doctrine
Focused Inspections
Managing Safety
Psychology and Safety
System Safety
Worksite Analysis
Job Safety Analysis (JSA)
Risk/Accident Causation
Accident Investigation
Audits
Industrial Hygiene
Behavior Based Safety
Safety and Health Program Assessment

COSS/COSM FAQ's Training FAQ's

Upon completing COSS, graduates receive:

National COSS designation
40 Contact hours approved by CWEA

In summary, COSS is a curriculum-based program that consists of 40 hours of hands-on, face-to-face learning, delivered by an OSHA 500/501 Authorized Outreach Training Provider. Case studies and workshops are used extensively to bring learning objectives into focus. Guest speakers from areas such as OSHA and other governmental agencies are sometimes used to enhance the learning experience. Student presentations, daily quizzes, practical reviews, and a comprehensive final exam allow students to demonstrate their competency in the class. By learning how to promote safety on a job site, COSS graduates have the knowledge to help lower fatalities, near misses, and OSHA citations.