In the occupational health and safety (OHS) field, getting certified by a respected organization proves your skills and opens up more job opportunities.

But navigating all the different credentials available in Canada can be really challenging.

If you’re considering alternatives to a four-year health and safety degree, you may be looking into college-level health and safety programs. In this case, understanding your path to certification is crucial. 

The goal of health and safety officer training is to produce graduates who know how to keep people safe in the workplace.

Occupational health and safety officers are responsible for inspecting work sites and making sure regulations are followed.

They help develop health and safety procedures, deliver training, and follow up on claims and complaints.

A good training program will prepare you to handle all of those challenges.

But what can you expect in class? What will you actually learn?

In this post, we detail the top 5 core skills covered in a quality health and safety officer training program.

Occupational health and safety (OHS) professionals are in hot demand these days. In the age of COVID, keeping people safe at work has never been so important.

So you're smart to be thinking about getting into the OHS field.

But before you sign up for a program, you need to understand some basic details about this training and career path.

That means things like what skills you need, what kinds of jobs you could get, and how much money you could make.

You should also understand your training options and how to choose a quality OHS program.

In this post, we cover all of that and more.

Here are 7 things you need to know before enrolling in health and safety training.

Photo: Health and safety officers conduct a workplace inspection to ensure OHS regulations are being followed

Occupational health and safety (OHS) training focuses on keeping people safe on the job. Students learn how to conduct assessments and develop policies to make sure work environments are safe and healthy.

OHS expert and Herzing instructor Andrew Pugachev says the job involves identifying and avoiding problems.

"Occupational health and safety officers inspect workplaces for health hazards and develop strategies to control risk. They make sure management is following health and safety laws, investigate accidents, injuries, and complaints—and create programs to ensure continuous improvement."

An increased focus on workplace safety means more employment opportunities are opening up in this field. A government report indicates employment growth in this sector in many parts of Canada.

So the job opportunities are out there. But if you're looking to take advantage of them, it's important to understand the different health and safety training options so you can choose the path that's best for you.

This post explains the similarities and differences between OHS degrees and diplomas. It also describes some key factors you should consider when making your choice.

Updated November 2020

Occupational health and safety (OHS) is a broad industry, which focuses on the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of people at work. 

This field includes all aspects of worker health. From workplace harassment to fire prevention; ergonomics to emergency evacuation procedures. 

This is a good time to begin a career in occupational health and safety (OHS). We’re seeing growing demand for OHS professionals across Canada. What’s driving growth in this field? 

Every year, thousands of Canadians suffer injuries or lose their lives at work. Unsafe work environments are a major problem, not just in construction but across many sectors of our economy. 

All across Canada, we're seeing steady employment growth in occupational health and safety. Rising concern over workplace accidents, injuries, and disability claims are creating jobs in this field.

There is also a strong focus on food safety and environmental protection—which have increased demand for inspectors, training providers, and risk management specialists.

This is the domain of the occupational health and safety officer. Curious about training and careers in this field?

Have you ever suffered an injury at work? Was the cause a faulty piece of equipment, or unsafe work space?

Every year, thousands of Canadians report job-related illness and injury—and in 2016, 905 people lost their lives because of unsafe working conditions (26 were young workers between the ages of 15 and 24).

But these numbers reflect just a portion of all cases, many of which go unreported. And then there are the families, co-workers, and friends who suffer trauma when a loved-one is injured or killed on-the-job.

The repercussions of unsafe workplaces ripple through our communities, changing lives forever.