02/01/2025
Several safety councils have announced transitions from the Basic Orientation Plus® (BOP) program to the Safety Essentials® suite, which is impacting training requirements across multiple facilities. Notable councils include:
Health and Safety Council (HASC)
Industrial Safety Training Council (ISTC)
Rio Plex Safety Council (RPSC): Effective January 1, 2025, RPSC will transition exclusively to Safety Essentials® for PSM training.
These changes are creating confusion across the industry.
The Association of Reciprocal Safety Councils (ARSC) continues to offer the Basic Orientation Plus® (BOP) and its refresher courses.
Contractors and owner-clients are now facing a split system, where some companies accept Safety Essentials®, while others require Basic Orientation Plus® (BOP). Due to reciprocity issues between ARSC and non-ARSC councils, workers who previously had universal acceptance of their safety training may now need two separate certifications, depending on site-specific requirements.
As we all work through these changes, Green Flag Safety is here to assist in any way possible. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns regarding how this may impact your operations.