Who We Are
ASSP’s Consultants Practice Specialty member community is comprised of occupational safety and health (OSH), security and/or environmental professionals who work as external consultants, those interested in consulting as a career option, and those seeking to improve their skills for acting as internal consultants to their organizations.
What We Do
We focus on helping our members understand the business of safety consulting: how to operate or support a consulting business and tackle the unique challenges of consulting. We promote and help our members develop non-technical skills and knowledge, and we aim to showcase the value that internal and external consultants can bring to an organization.
In addition to networking opportunities, we:
Practice Specialty Recognition
- Publish the Consultants Business Development Guide
- Facilitate one-on-one structured mentoring for members
- Host open webinar calls focused on needs of consultants
- Provide professional development and educational opportunities
- Fund a professional development grant through the ASSP Foundation
- Generate discussions about current business challenges
- Sponsor members as presenters and topics of interest to consultants at ASSP’s annual professional development conference
- Help connect organizations with consulting needs to resources who may help, whether through formal consulting or informal information sharing
Why It Matters
Consultants are critical to the promotion of safety. Whether internal or external, OSH consultants need comprehensive technical knowledge, knowledge of how to influence others, and understanding of how consultants align with organizational safety and business goals. External consultants also need to know how to run a business, which requires knowledge and skills in areas such as marketing, finances, contracts, legal issues, human resources and risk management/insurance. The Consultants Practice Specialty helps members acquire these unique skills and add greater value to the companies they serve.
Seeking an OSH Consultant
Are you looking for a safety consultant for a specific OSH task? The Consultants Practice Specialty may be able to assist you in finding a consultant that fits your needs. Please complete the request form and someone will be in contact with you.
Find a Consultant
Professional Development Grant
Consultants often pay for professional development — conferences, certification, classes — out of their own pocket. As a member of the Consultants Practice Specialty, you are eligible for our professional development grant through the ASSP Foundation. We welcome donations to the fund as well. Grant Fact Sheet for more information.
Consultants Practice Specialty Mentor Program
Our mentoring program helps connect experienced safety consultants and those professionals who are newer to the safety consulting field, so each party can gain knowledge and skills relevant to both the occupational safety and health field and consulting practice specialty. In order to qualify, mentor and mentee applicants must be members in good standing of ASSP, as well as the Consultants Practice Specialty. We match mentors and mentees in March and September and review the match after six months. Each mentor/mentee match is assigned a guide to help with the process and a detailed individual development plan it created for each match. This is a tremendous opportunity to learn and share best practices and lessons learned for new consultants who are entering private practice.
Access our guidelines and application
How to Join
ASSP members: Log in to your ASSP account to upgrade your membership.
Non-members: Join ASSP and your desired practice specialties at the same time.
News
Get the latest news from the Consultants Practice Specialty, including meeting updates, future engagements and education, requests for volunteers, and calls for action or advocacy.