What is CUSP?
The Certified Utility Safety Professional (CUSP) credential is the only program that offers safety leadership credentials to utilities, related contractors, and communication providers. The project first got underway in 2009 and now has over 600 certified professionals. Incident Prevention announced recently that the Utility Safety & Ops Leadership Network (USOLN) will head the CUSP program in Canada. This program will focus on best practices, which are typically set above provincial regulations.
In this project, USOLN will have several responsibilities:
- provide the framework for the Canadian certification for standardized professional utility safety
- share the utility best practices
- open a network of utility professionals in the industry, in Canada, and internationally
Where Will the Information For Achieving Certification Come From?
Information will be mainly derived from the CAN/ULC-S801-14 Standard on Electrical Utility Workplace Electrical Safety for Generation, Transmission, and Distribution. Standards will also be referenced from CSA, ASTM, and NFPA. The goal of taking standards from different sources is to create a common resource of practices that can be used in the regulations within each Canadian province.
Process of Certification
The exam in Canada will have information and standards that are relevant and inclusive to the common practices already in place in all the provinces. No references will be made to specific regulations found in any particular province.
There are two levels of certification: blue and green. The blue certification is intended for supervisors, foremen, and operations managers, as well as other people on the ground of the industry. The green certification is intended for utility safety directors and managers.
The first exam in Canada will take place in June this year. See the USOL website for information on applying.
