5 Reasons to Choose an Occupational Health and Safety Career

Occupational Health and Safety is a rewarding career in which you will be responsible for protecting workers by ensuring safe and healthy workplaces. There are many reasons why you should consider pursuing a career in Occupational Health and Safety. Read on to learn about all the benefits this profession has to offer.

1- An Important Role

As an Occupational Health and Safety professional, your main role is to ensure a safe and healthy workplace. Your responsibilities will include evaluating and monitoring health and safety hazards, inspecting establishments and workplaces, and developing strategies to reduce risks. This is a career path with many responsibilities and great opportunities for growth.

Working in Occupational Health and Safety allows you to make a difference, as you will work towards a better work culture and decreasing the number of injuries. If you like helping others, this is a career path that will be very fulfilling for you. According to the Safety+Health magazine, 74.3% of the respondents found their Occupational Health and Safety job rewarding.

For more information about the Occupational Health and Safety career, check out our Highlighting Occupational Health and Safety blog post.

2- Great Career Prospects

According to Job Bank, Occupational Health and Safety career prospects in Ontario are expected to be fair in 2021. The ongoing concerns and regulations related to food, environmental, and workplace safety are creating a higher demand for qualified workers. Workers in this profession can also expect to find full-time employment as 93% of workers in this field are currently working full-time.

Many industries require qualified Occupational Health and Safety professionals, which means that there many job opportunities available. Here are the industries where you could find employment:

• Private and government organizations
• Hospitals and healthcare organizations
• Schools
• Retail
• Manufacturing plants
• Construction
• Factories
• Public Facilities
• Restaurants and Hotels
• Insurance companies

Take the “Medical Professional Career Discovery Quiz”

3- High-demand for qualified workers

In recent years, the demand for Occupational Health and Safety professionals has significantly increased as regulations are tightening locally and globally.  Ontario recently announced its intention to hire nearly 100 new health and safety inspectors to tackle COVID-19 risks in the workplace.

The Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals (BCRSP) emphasizes the importance of having competent and qualified safety professionals since every employer must meet the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations. Due to the enormous costs associated with occupational incidents, more organizations are seeking certified health and safety professionals.

The BCRSP offers two certifications: the Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) and the Canadian Registered Safety Technician (CRST) certifications. These certifications are a great advantage, as they indicate your professional growth and credibility. It can also increase your chances of being employed and could lead to a higher salary.

Additionally, the CRSP is also the only Canadian certification recognized by the Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) in the United States, the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) in the United Kingdom, the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) in the United Kingdom, and the Australian Institute of Health & Safety (formerly SIA) in Australia.

4- A competitive salary

According to Job Bank, Occupational Health and Safety professionals in Ontario are expected to earn a median of $35.10 per hour, or an annual salary of $73,008.

Starting wages are expected to be $19.67 per hour or an annual salary of $40,914. As you gain more work experience, you may have opportunities to grow and increase your earnings.

5- A perfect fit for those with good communication skills

Good communication and interpersonal skills are essential if you are considering an Occupational Health and Safety career. Some of your duties will require effective listening and conflict resolution skills as well as the ability to accurately document and convey information.

For more information about this program, please visit the Occupational Health and Safety program page or book an appointment.