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Attention Graduates

COSS® Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Certified Occupational Safety Specialist (COSS)?

After successfully completing the COSS course, you will be designated as a Certified Occupational Safety Specialist (COSS). A COSS is a person in the safety and health field who coordinates the successful implementation of corporate safety and health plans; coordinates, and maybe even conducts, safety and health training; and provides support to safety and training managers.

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What can I expect to experience when taking the COSS course?

  • COSS is a highly intensive, highly interactive course that focuses on providing individuals who are responsible for safety with the tools and techniques they need to make safety work for them.
  • The COSS program consists of 40 hours of hands-on, face-to-face learning, which is delivered by an OSHA 500 and 501 authorized outreach training provider. Case studies and workshops are used extensively to bring learning objectives into focus.
  • Guest speakers from areas such as OSHA and other government agencies are sometimes used to enhance the learning experience.
  • Students are scored on their daily quizzes, practical reviews, their 10-minute safety presentation that they develop and present to the class, and a comprehensive final exam. All of these things allow the students to demonstrate their competency in the class.
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What can I expect to learn in the COSS class, and are there any prerequisites?

To learn more about the COSS curriculum, and what is covered on a daily basis, please request a Course Outline.

Prerequisites: A high school diploma or equivalent is required to take COSS. COSS is an academically rigorous course that requires nightly reading from a college textbook, daily quizzes, student presentations and a comprehensive written exam. This course, and its materials, is presented in the English language.

In each class, we tend to have a mix of non-experienced safety persons and safety professionals who have been in the safety field for 20+ years. But we have learned that regardless of the number of years of experience our students have in safety, everyone leaves the COSS class with a wealth of knowledge! The Monday Morning Checklist is a tool our students use to reinforce and carry the learning back to work with them. It gives good insight as to what you should be able to do as a result of this training. Request a copy of the Monday Morning Checklist.

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Why should I become a COSS?

In today's fast-paced and diverse workplace, the need for qualified people who are trained in the basic essentials of safety and health, leadership, communication, and regulatory requirements is great. The COSS program is a solution to the increasing need for qualified safety professionals.

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Who should attend the COSS course?

  • Newly appointed safety professionals
  • Safety professionals who wish to learn how CFR 1910 and 1926 relate
  • First-line supervisors who oversee multi-employer worksites
  • Safety professionals who want a current refresher
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What is the length of the course?

The course consists of five 8-hour days, for a total of 40 hours. The class runs Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Students receive multiple breaks throughout the day, as well as a one-hour lunch break each day.

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What is the maximum number of students for the course?

To allow for optimum student to teacher interaction, the COSS course maximum is 20 students per class/per instructor.

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What meals, if any, are provided?

We encourage our training providers to make arrangements to provide daily breakfasts, light snacks, drinks, and other refreshments to students during the course of each day. We also encourage the training providers to provide at least one on-site lunch to the students to allow for student networking.

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What is the format of the course?

  • The COSS course consists of 40 hours packed with learning.
  • Case studies are used extensively to bring learning objectives into focus.
  • Speakers are sometimes brought in from OSHA and other government agencies to enhance the learning experience.
  • There are at least two hours worth of graded projects and testing at the end of the program.
  • For more course information, you may request the Course Syllabus.

Graduating students also receive OSHA 10-Hour Outreach Cards of Completion
in Construction and General Industry.

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When and how do I receive my OSHA 10-Hour Outreach Cards of Completion?

Because the cards have to be requested from the authorizing agency, please allow 5-6 weeks to receive them. It may take up to 4 weeks for the authorizing agency to mail the OSHA cards to the instructor. Once the instructor receives the cards, he or she will process them and mail them to your home address.

Card(s) not received Occasionally, mail may be lost or misrouted. Therefore, if you do not receive your OSHA card(s) within 8 weeks, you must contact your instructor immediately to inquire on the whereabouts of the card(s). Your instructor will be able to issue a complimentary replacement if the request is made within 2 months of your class graduation date. Requests for a replacement card(s) not received within 2 months will fall into the lost or misplaced category (see below).

Lost or misplaced OSHA Card(s) After your instructor has mailed the OSHA card(s) to the home address on file, you will be responsible for keeping up with your card(s). If you have lost or misplaced your card(s), and would like a duplicate, you must submit an OSHA Card Duplicate Request Form to your COSS instructor for a replacement. Any requests made after 2 months of your COSS graduation date will incur an administrative fee of $5 per replacement card requested. You must supply a current address, and payment information (where applicable) on the Duplicate Card Request Form. The replacement fee must be paid in full prior to the instructor requesting new card(s) from his/her authorizing agency. Please allow 4-6 weeks for the delivery of the replacement cards.

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How do I maintain my COSS certificate?

The COSS certificate lasts for three years. In order for the certificate to be maintained, certain requirements must be met. Read the requirements.

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What are the fundamentals that COSS addresses?

  • Two of the fundamentals that COSS addresses are identification and mitigation of hazards and how to use the CFRs to address them. Students are shown various scenarios during the course of the week and are trained to identify the hazards and potential injuries that could result from them. Then they find what the CFR says about those hazards. From there, they determine what must be done to mitigate the hazards and how to communicate that information to affected personnel.
  • The COSS course addresses both the general and construction industries. Furthermore, it addresses the interface that general industry and construction have.
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What standard is COSS benchmarked against?

In developing COSS, we sought to benchmark against the highest of standards. According to the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), the scope and function of the professional safety person fall into four broad areas.

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Who recognizes COSS on a national level?

COSS was audited by two independent agencies and has received national recognition for its rigorous safety standards by both.

  • COSS is currently 1 of only 37 programs in the world that is recognized and accredited by the American Petroleum Institute (API). COSS goes through a rigorous audit every three years in order to maintain API's stamp of approval.
  • The American Council for Construction Education (ACCE) also recognizes COSS. ACCE is the certifying body for construction education for colleges, universities and technical/trade schools. COSS is the only non-degree program to receive this national endorsement.
  • Lastly, COSS has been established as a mandatory course for students in the Construction Management program at Louisiana State University. We are in the process of bringing other universities on board to offer COSS as an academic course.
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Where can I take the COSS course?

There are currently 13 different locations where you may take the COSS class. Or if you have 8 or more people you would like to have trained, we can come to you at your location. Ask how!

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How do I register for the COSS course?

Each COSS Authorized Training Provider (ATP) processes their own class registrations and sets their own pricing for COSS classes. Links to registration options can be found on each location's page. Questions regarding class schedules, pricing, lodging or driving directions should be directed to the ATP. General COSS questions can be answered by calling our toll-free number, 877-610-COSS, or emailing bgordon@coss.net.

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What is required for a student to receive the COSS Certificate (i.e. pass the class)?

The COSS course is designed to build core competencies in the field of safety for adult learners. In order to pass the course, an overall minimum score of 70% must be obtained in the course. Also, a minimum score of 70% must be obtained on the final exam. The following criteria will be used to assess your overall score:

  • Homework is an integral and important part of the course. Readings and exercises are assigned after each class session.
  • Daily quizzes that apply to assignments from the night before will be given each morning.
  • Class discussions and exercises.
  • A 10-minute safety presentation must be developed and presented for a grade.
  • An analysis of a hazardous condition (Compliance Moment) will be performed for a grade.
  • A final exam (with a minimum 70% passing score).
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What materials am I required to bring with me to class?

You do not need to bring any materials with you to class. Everything you will need will be provided to you on the first day of class in the student kit (see the question below). However, the use of a personal laptop for note taking and/or preparation for your 10-minute safety presentation is optional.

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What comes in a COSS student kit, and when will I obtain my student kit?


The student kit, which contains the following items*, will be handed out on the first day of class:
  • COSS Links CD
  • COSS Padfolio with pen and calculator
  • COSS Copyrighted Student Workbook
  • 29 CFR 1910 (General Industry)
  • 29 CRF 1926 (Construction)
  • COSS Student Textbook, Fundamentals of Occupational Safety and Health
  • COSS embroidered saddlebag
  • Each graduating student receives a COSS certificate mounted on a wooden plaque
*Items may vary by region
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Who are the COSS Instructors?

The current COSS instructors are:

  • Rightor Cobb, Certified Occupational Safety Specialist,
    Safety Council of the Louisiana Capital Area, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
  • Barry Bourgeois, Certified Occupational Safety Specialist,
    Safety Council of the Louisiana Capital Area, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
  • Cathi Marx, Certified Occupational Safety Specialist,
    Pacific Safety Council, San Diego, California
  • Jan Bellemore, Certified Occupational Safety Specialist,
    Florida Safety Council, Orlando, Florida
  • Robert (Bob) Momany, Certified Occupational Safety Specialist,
    Safety Council of Northwest Ohio, Northwood, Ohio
  • Charles Pecquet, Certified Occupational Safety Specialist,
    LSU Construction Management and Industrial Engineering, Baton Rouge, LA
  • Steve Ferguson, Certified Occupational Safety Specialist,
    Total Safety, Broussard, LA
  • Bhushan Sukhram, Certified Occupational Safety Specialist,
    United Safety Council, Orlando, FL
  • Matt Murphy, Certified Occupational Safety Specialist,
    Alliance Safety Council, Baton Rouge, LA
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What are my payment options?

Most locations accept cash, check or credit card. Payment assistance options include an installment plan and reimbursement for veterans. Contact the training location for more information or request information on these payment options.

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"I took the Certified Occupational Safety Specialist course in July 2002. The course was very informative and helpful. I took with me knowledge that will enhance my safety career. I am an OSHA Safety Consultant Trainee at the Louisiana Department of Labor - Workplace Safety Section. I recommend anyone who is working in the safety field take this course ... [it's] worth its weight in gold."

-Belinda Poche, Louisiana Department of Labor

Read more COSS Testimonials