In the world of environmental, health, and safety (EHS) management, true leadership is defined not only by compliance and performance but by a sustained commitment to building safer and healthier workplaces. Derek Falzoi, CHMM, CSHM, embodies that standard of excellence.

As the recipient of the 2024 Excellence in EHS Management Award, Derek has been recognized for his outstanding contributions to advancing safety culture, fostering professional development, and driving continuous improvement across his organization and the broader EHS community. His work reflects the core values of proactive leadership, collaboration, and integrity—principles that have long defined the Certified Safety and Health Manager® (CSHM®) credential and Certified Hazardous Materials Manager® (CHMM®) credentials he holds.

In this interview, Derek shares insights from his career journey, his approach to leading effective EHS programs, and why he chose to pursue the CSHM® after earning his CHMM®—reflecting on what it means to champion safety in an ever-evolving industry.

What originally motivated you to pursue the CSHM credential?

At AIHA Connect 2024, I stopped by the IHMM table, the Director of Marketing and Communications, Dominique Abney, was promoting the ‘newer’ IHMM CSHM, and challenged me to pursue it after the CIH which I was planning to sit for during the Fall 2024 window. Shortly after, I followed up with her and IHMM CSHM Certification Coordinator, Kaylene Cagle, who provided background on the certification and helpful resources including the blueprint. I noticed from the study guide that the content focus had similarities but was substantially different from other title ventures (CIH, CSP, CHMM), with a practical focus on applying business and financial principles which was intriguing. I also like the idea of standing out with a newer, and highly reputable credential requiring a demonstration of strategic management and leadership skills. I did not decide on pursuing the CSHM until right after the CIH where a variety of topics were still fresh on the mind.

How would you describe the difference between the CSHM and other credentials you hold (e.g., CIH, CSP)?

The CSHM focuses on management and oversight of safety programs, integrating safety and health into overall business operations. I found this very useful content for my day-to-day operations at work and relate a little bit better to my safety counterparts who mostly are Occupational Safety and Health Managers. Although some content is the same across all the mentioned credentials like management systems and ergonomics, the blueprint listing had different reference materials compared to the other credentials. The unique topics that initially stuck out the most to me were safety engineering, motor fleet safety and human resource management. However, I found myself really enjoying deep diving into new topics like the learner-center focus on training, labor relations, and emergency management.

In your experience, what unique strengths do the CSHM bring that the other credentials do not have?

The CSHM has a cognitive function requiring the application of knowledge to a scenario, in addition to the traditional declarative component for recalling and retaining knowledge. I thought this was a unique way to demonstrate knowledge into real-life scenarios. When studying, this forced me to think broadly about content I was not as comfortable with and pushed me to really learn and understand it so that I can both remember the material and be able to make better informed decisions in the field. After passing the CSHM, I found myself better able to recall and apply new content at meetings with different stakeholders.

Since earning the CSHM, what impact has it had on your career (e.g., new responsibilities, promotions, recognition, opportunities)?

Having only had the CSHM for a year, I would say it was a motivator to pursue different leadership opportunities including mentoring, peer reviews, and volunteering opportunities. I would like to think that encouraging EHS professionals to pursue credentials and advocating for the CSHM helped me to proudly win the IHMM 2024 Excellence in EHS Management Award, a highlight of my career!

How has the CSHM changed the way you approach safety and health management?

Since earning the CSHM, I found myself eager to advocate and apply safety management concepts. As a current chairperson for my agency’s monthly safety group, I try to actively apply safety management system elements like risk communication and different management styles and created a ‘thought exercise’ as an opening ice breaker. We are optimizing a community of practice platform as a way of integrating safety into business and leveraging it as an easier way to get commitment from senior leadership. We are establishing business-relevant goals through consensus and started a working group focusing on enhanced training with a product that can be built upon for future years with different leadership teams. The new approach might have come from the reference material, Safety Management: A Human Approach, Petersen, 3rd Edition, with elements like behavior-based safety, teaching safe behavior and building a safe work environment. Maybe because my undergraduate degree was in psychology, I appreciate the focus on industrial psychology and behavior principles which I did not get to fully pursue in academia.

Would you recommend the CSHM to others in the EHS profession? Why or why not?

Not only would I recommend the CSHM to others, but I also already do. I see CSHM as a compatible counterpart to the CSP and think different EHS professionals might want to pursue that or both, depending on their aspirations. Though I do not (and should not) recommend any one credential over another, I thought the CSHM filled in the gap with subjects and topics that I had yet pursued in a comprehensive manner. Unfortunately for me, it included a lot of content I was less comfortable with, including OSHA General Industry and business management. Since some content was environmental law, I started studying by revisiting my UMGC environmental waste management and CHMM notes and references. I was also relieved that the exam was only three hours compared to others, but that did not make the challenge less.

Derek Falzoi’s story is a powerful example of how dedication, leadership, and lifelong learning continue to elevate the standards of environmental, health, and safety management. His pursuit of both the CHMM® and CSHM® credentials underscores the value of continuous professional growth and the importance of multidisciplinary expertise in today’s evolving EHS landscape.

For professionals looking to take the next step in their careers—whether in safety management, hazardous materials, or environmental compliance, IHMM offers accredited credentials that validate your knowledge, strengthen your leadership, and open doors to advancement.

Learn more about the CSHM® and IHMM’s full suite of credentials: https://ihmm.org/credentials/