Description

Occupational health and safety specialists review, evaluate and monitor health and safety hazards and develop strategies to prevent, control and eliminate accidents and occupational injuries. They inspect the workplace environments, equipment and practices to ensure compliance with organization and government environment, health and safety standards and regulations. They are employed throughout the public and private sectors.

Job Titles

• Health and safety officer
• Occupational health and safety officer
• Occupational safety consultant
• Occupational safety coordinator
• Occupational safety officer

Main Duties

• Lead and participate in workplace audits and investigations of safety concerns, incidents and accidents
• Lead and participate in workplace inspections to ensure that equipment, materials and production processes do not present a safety or health hazard to employees
• Develop and implement health and safety programs, including standard operating procedures, policies and training to mitigate risk, optimize worker’s health and safety and foster a positive occupational health and safety culture
• Initiate enforcement procedures on workplaces contravening organization and government health and safety standards and regulations
• Provide training to employers, employees and the general public on issues of workplace safety
• Communicate, engage and influence decision-makers and workers to ensure compliance with health and safety legislation and regulations.

Workplaces

• Establishments throughout the private and public sector

Skills

• Instructing
• Monitoring
• Coordinating
• Critical Thinking
• Decision Making

Abilities

• Perceptual Speed
• Categorization Flexibility
• Colour Perception
• Deductive Reasoning
• Depth Perception

Personal Attributes

• Concern for Others
• Active Learning
• Analytical Thinking
• Attention to Detail
• Independence

Similar Occupations

• Public and environmental health and safety professionals (21120)
• Engineering inspectors and regulatory officers (22231)
• Construction inspectors (22233)
• Natural and applied science policy researchers, consultants and program officers (41400)
• By-law enforcement and other regulatory officers (43202)
• Occupational hygienist (in 41400.02 Occupational or industrial hygienists)
• Ergonomists (41400.01)

Source: OaSIS