Posted By Brian Horrocks
From my knowledge and experience of working with US companies, they have very little to teach the UK about h&s.

Unless a requirment is liad down in an OSHA standard, they don't usually want to know.

Oh, and how much does it cost? Is the main guidance to think about.

Pretty sure they don't recognise IOSH qualifications/European quals etc.

Posted By David Rodger
It’s very difficult to get into the USA I spent about 2 years trying, before you can get a visa you need a job and the employer must apply for a labour certificate before they can offer you a job. They have to prove that they cannot find a US citizen capable of filling the post to get the certificate. I spent 2 years trying to get a job in California before giving up and moving to Dubai. The only way to be taken seriously is to go out there and set up interviews, I had several during vacation trips and was eventually offered a fantastic job. It was 99% mine until on the last day before the job closed an internal candidate stepped forward after 18 months and applied. The guy who would have been my boss called me and told me I was still his preferred candidate but his hands were tied, US citizen first. When you do get an interview its a lot different than it is in the UK, you have to sell yourself i had a lot of help from some friends who work in HR in the states. As far as legislation is concerned you have to remember as well as national law you have state law and for California it’s a lot to take in. There are agreements that will recognise your qualifications to become a registered safety practioner in the USA but you have to pass an exam on their legislation. A useful site is the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) you can apply for international membership and they also have job boards on their local chapter web sites. Hope this in your helps and all the best in your search.

Posted By Stuff4blokes
AJM, I had similar thoughts some years ago at the time I was working for a US domiciled global company. It would have been possible to arrange a swap whereby a US citizen would work in UK in exchange for me working in USA which was a relatively easy sidestep in getting a work permit. However, on looking more seriously at what the job entailed I was disheartened professionally.

The basis of safety as I had practised it did not easily relocate as California OSHA Codes reigned supreme: if the code says do it, then it gets done; otherwise, we won't spend the dollars. How much is the fine? We can bear that. My belief in risk assessment and reasonableness was too strong and my dislike of quoting law ultimately killed the thought of working in USA.

My personal choice and maybe the sunshine and income would have been great but I still enjoy my work.

Posted By Hazel Harvey
AJM,
The Certified Safety Professional (CSP) is one of the recognised titles for Safety Practitioners in the USA. This is awarded by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP)and IOSH have a reciprocal agreement with them regarding membership. A CMIOSH is waived the Safety Fundamentals examination but needs to sit the Safety Practice exam. (A CSP wanting to join IOSH has to undertake the IOSH Open Assessment).
You can find details of the arrangement on www.bcsp.org.
The major difference is in the approach to safety is that whilst IOSH professionals pick up health aspects the American focus is very much on safety engineering.

Hazel Harvey
Professional Affairs Director