The Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) and the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) designed to strengthen collaboration and provide safety professionals with greater recognition for their skills and experience. 

As part of the agreement, Certified Safety Professionals (CSPs) can now apply for the CertIOSH membership grade. This credential highlights advanced safety leadership abilities and positions members one step closer to achieving Chartered Member of IOSH (CMIOSH), one of the most respected titles in the industry. More details on the application process are available on the CertIOSH webpage.

The partnership is reciprocal. BCSP has reaffirmed its recognition of CMIOSH and, for the first time, added Chartered Fellow of IOSH (CFIOSH) as credentials that meet its qualified credential requirement for CSP applicants. This means that IOSH members who hold either designation, and who also meet BCSP’s education and experience criteria, can apply directly for the CSP and complete the examination required to obtain it. Information for IOSH members interested in pursuing the CSP can be found on the BCSP website.

The agreement goes beyond credential recognition. Both organisations have committed to enhancing access to professional development opportunities and resources for their members worldwide. This includes joint initiatives to provide training, educational programmes and knowledge sharing that will support safety professionals in their career advancement.

Global safety standards

The collaboration is expected to benefit thousands of professionals globally who hold, or aspire to hold, either BCSP or IOSH designations. It reflects the growing need for international cooperation in occupational safety and health, especially as industries become more interconnected and as organisations seek consistent benchmarks for safety leadership.

Through this partnership, BCSP and IOSH reaffirm their commitment to advancing the profession and supporting safety practitioners in making workplaces safer worldwide.

“This collaborative approach to safety credentialing provides highly skilled safety professionals additional opportunities for recognition globally,” said BCSP Past President Ashok Garlapati, CSP, QEP, CFIOSH, FASSP. “This MoU is in line with BCSP's strategic objective of working toward global impact by expanding recognition and value of BCSP certification across international markets, ensuring cultural and regulatory relevance. I am glad to have worked alongside IOSH to enhance the careers of proven professionals from our organisations, building their influence so that they can better create a safer world.” 

“As a body committed to championing the global occupational safety and health profession, we are delighted to sign this MoU. It sets out how we plan to continue engaging with BCSP, who we have been successfully collaborating with to drive global standards in occupational safety and health,” said Nicole Rinaldi, IOSH director of Professional Services. “IOSH members and CSPs share a dedication to ensuring people can go to work and return home without being harmed. We believe this MoU, by providing them with the opportunity to expand their credentials, will support them through greater professional recognition globally as well as enhance career development opportunities.”

The UAE has achieved a score of 98.86% in the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme, placing it among the world’s top performers in aviation safety, according to a new report from the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

The GCAA credited this result to strong regulatory oversight, significant investment in human capital, the adoption of advanced technologies, and alignment with global best practices. The findings were shared in a Wam news agency report, underscoring the UAE’s determination to position its aviation sector at the forefront of international safety standards.

As part of its broader efforts to document and share progress, the authority has launched a new series of analytical reports titled A Closer Look: Civil Aviation in the UAE. The most recent edition, Building One of the World’s Safest Skies, highlights milestones in aviation safety and outlines the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

At the core of these achievements is the UAE’s National Aviation Safety Plan (2023–2026). Implemented under the State Safety Programme and aligned with ICAO’s Global Safety Plan, it focuses on reducing operational risks, strengthening oversight, and embedding a safety-first culture across the sector. In 2024 alone, the GCAA carried out more than 900 safety oversight activities, including inspections, licensing, infrastructure checks, and airspace reviews.

Technology has been a major enabler of progress. The authority has rolled out an AI-powered, risk-based oversight system that provides real-time risk dashboards, automated audit prioritisation, and operator self-assessment portals. This system enhances efficiency and regulatory reach without increasing staff numbers, reflecting the UAE’s We the UAE 2031 vision of combining innovation with effective governance.

Other notable initiatives include the Voluntary Reporting System (VORSY), which encourages pilots and operators to report potential hazards, and the Communicable Disease Management Protocol (CAR-CDMP), developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Prevention. This protocol—recognised by both ICAO and the World Health Organization—sets new standards for preventing and managing disease transmission within aviation operations.

The UAE has also assumed a leadership role on the global stage by hosting and organising several high-profile aviation gatherings. These have included the ICAO Conference on Aviation & Alternative Fuels (CAAF/3) in 2023, the ICAO RASG-MID meetings in 2024, the ICAO Global Implementation Support Symposium in 2025, and the Global Sustainable Aviation Market (GSAM) 2025, alongside its annual UAE Aviation Safety Conference.

The GCAA emphasised that safety in the UAE is not treated as a procedural requirement, but as the foundation of aviation operations. It underpins passenger trust, ensures the continuity of air travel, and safeguards lives. The authority stressed that these principles drive every initiative undertaken in the sector, reinforcing the UAE’s position as one of the safest and most trusted aviation hubs in the world.

Blackline Safety’s EXO 8 portable area monitor has won seven awards this year,  making it one of the most recognised health and safety innovations in the industry

The EXO 8 with gamma detection is a next-generation connected area monitor that advances gas detection and early hazard identification for companies and emergency responders. It launched in September 2024 and combines gas and gamma detection in a single connected unit — a capability that’s critical in high-hazard sectors such as oil and gas, mining, decommissioning, emergency response, and even public safety.

Most recently, the product was recognised in the 2025 Occupational Health & Safety New Product of the Year Awards in the categories of Emergency Response & Preparedness and Industrial Hygiene: Gas Monitors/Instrumentation. These Awards, now in their 15th year, celebrate the most impactful innovations in workplace safety. The program highlights manufacturers whose products demonstrate exceptional advancements in design and functionality, with a proven ability to enhance worker protection and overall safety outcomes.

Other awards this year include the internationally renowned Red Dot Design Award, the Preventica Paris Innovation Award and three OH&S Industrial Hygiene Awards. 

“EXO 8 continues to set the bar for innovation in area monitoring,” said Cody Slater, CEO and chair, Blackline Safety, a global leading in connected safety technology. “Being recognised across multiple award programs underscores the monitor’s real-world impact and validates our mission to ensure that every worker gets home safely, no matter what hazards they face.”

"EXO 8 with gamma detection has an even wider application beyond industrial use,” said Chris Johnson, deputy chief for the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services in New York State. “It allows hazmat teams to use the device for public safety as part of event protection. It will also keep our people more protected because we can detect more gases."

EXO 8 has already been deployed at a high-profile awards show and during a large public gathering for a renowned religious leader, and security teams for global sporting events are also considering it.