June 10, 2002—The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Council on Certification of Health, Environmental and Safety Technologists (CCHEST) signed a voluntary agreement on May 21, 2002 to acknowledge the Safety Trained Supervisor in Construction (STS-Construction) certification issued by CCHEST.
The Safety Trained Supervisor in Construction certification contributes to OSHA’s goal of safety and health training of employees by providing independent assessment of safety and health knowledge covered by the STS-Construction certification process. Intended for first-line supervisors, the program ascertains safety education, training, and construction experience, and verifies through a written examination that those construction supervisors who meet the criteria for certification.
Possession of the STS-Construction certification is not mandatory, and citations will not be issued for failure of construction supervisors to possess the certification. However, having an STS-Construction certified supervisor on a worksite will be an indicator that the construction site is being operated by individuals with demonstrated knowledge and ability, and an indicator of the contractor’s commitment to an effective safety and health program.
