The 21st International Conference “Man and Working Environment”
SAFETY ENGINEERING & MANAGEMENT SCIENCE, INDUSTRY, EDUCATION (SEMSIE 2025)   
PROCEEDINGS OF PAPERS 
25-26 September 2025, SOKOBANJA, SERBIA  

Bojan Bijelić , Toni Vojneski , Evica Jovanović 

REVIEW PAPER

CERTIFICATES FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS 

Abstract:

Professional certification in Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) serves as a critical mechanism for ensuring that practitioners possess the necessary competencies, knowledge, and skills to manage workplace safety and health risks effectively. While certification frameworks are typically regulated at the national level, global efforts have been made to harmonize standards and promote cross-border recognition of professional credentials. This paper reviews the contributions of key international organizations such as INSHPO and ENSHPO, in standardizing certification criteria and provides an analysis of OSH certification in the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Canada, Australia, and Serbia.

Keywords:

Occupational safety and health; professional certificates; continual professional development

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

This paper is supported by the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia under agreement № 451- 03-66/2024-03/ 200148 with the University of Niš, Faculty of Occupational Safety.

REFERENCES:
  • Board of Certified Safety Professionals BCSP. (2025). Recertification Guide, 19th edition. BCSP Publication. 
  • ENSHPO (2013a). Certification standard for European Occupational Safety & Health Managers (EurOSHM). 
  • ENSHPO (2013b). Certification standard for European Occupational Safety & Health Technicians (EurOSHT). 
  • Hale, A. (2019). From national to European frameworks for understanding the role of occupational health and safety (OHS) specialists. Safety Science, 115, 435-445. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2019.01.011  
  • Hale, A. R., Hudson, D., & Pryor, P. (2020). The evolution of a global, professional capability framework covering the role, contribution and status of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) professionals: Editorial, introduction and discussion. Safety Science, 122, 104509. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2019.104509  
  • Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) (n.d.) IOSH Level 3 Certificate. https://iosh.com/qualifications-and-courses/qualifications/iosh-certificate 
  • International Network of Safety and Health Practitioner Organisations INSHPO. (2017). The Occupational Health and Safety Professional Capability Framework: A Global Framework for Practice. International Network of Safety and Health Practitioners Or¬ganisations (INSHPO). Park Ridge, IL, USA.  
  • Occupational Safety Law (1998) Official Gazette of RS, no. 42/1991, 53/1993, 67/1993, 48/ 1994, and 42/1998. 
  • Provan, D. J., & Pryor, P. (2019). The emergence of the occupational health and safety profession in Australia. Safety Science, 117, 428-436. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2019.04.036  
  • Pryor, P., Hale, A., & Hudson, D. (2019). Development of a global framework for OHS professional practice. Safety Science, 117, 404-416. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2019.04.033  
  • Rulebook on the program, manner, and cost of preparation and taking of the professional exam for performing the duties of coordinators for safety and health matters at the project preparations stage and the professional exam for performing the duties of coordinators for safety and health matters at the execution stage (2015) Official Gazzete of the RS, no. 113/2023, 58/2014 and 111/2015.  
  • Safety and Health at Work Law (2023) Official Gazzete of the RS, no. 35/2023.

© 2023 Faculty of Occupational Safety - Multimedia