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Occupational health and safety specialists

OaSIS code 22232.00

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.

Overview

Also known as

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

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following 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.

Additional information

No data has been provided for this section.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

  • 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)

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

2 – Natural and applied sciences and related occupations

TEER

2 – Occupations usually require a college diploma or apprenticeship training of two or more years; or supervisory occupations

Major group

22 – Technical occupations related to natural and applied sciences

Sub-major group

222 – Technical occupations related to applied sciences (except engineering)

Minor group

2223 – Technical inspectors and regulatory officers

Unit group

22232 – Occupational health and safety specialists

Occupational profile

22232.00 – Occupational health and safety specialists

Work characteristics

Work characteristics gathers the various components describing the work environment of each occupation, such as employers, work activities, and the work context. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of complexity (for Work Activities) or other measurement dimensions (for Work Context), and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Work Activities

Proficiency or complexity level
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance
5 - Highest Level
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material
5 - Highest Level
Providing Consultation and Advice
5 - Highest Level
Training and Teaching
5 - Highest Level
Analyzing Data or Information
4 - High Level

Work Context

Structural Job Characteristics

Structured versus Unstructured Work
Degree of freedom to determine tasks and priorities
3 - Moderate amount of freedom
Work Week Duration
Worked hours in a typical week
2 - Between 35 to 40 hours

Physical Work Environment

Physical Proximity
Physical distance from others
3 - Somewhat close (e.g. share office)

Physical Demands

Sitting
Duration
3 - About half the time
Standing
Duration
3 - About half the time
Bending or Twisting the Body
Duration
1 - Very little time

Interpersonal Relations

Contact with Others
Frequency
4 - Every day, a few times per day
Duration
3 - About half the time
Work with Work Group or Team
Importance
2 - Somewhat important
Frequency
3 - Once a week or more but not every day

Workplaces/employers

  • Establishements throughout the private and public sector

Skills and abilities

This section displays the various competencies required for an occupation. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency (for Skills and Abilities) or importance (for Personal Attributes) and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Abilities

Proficiency or complexity level
Perceptual Speed
4 - High Level
Categorization Flexibility
3 - Moderate Level
Colour Perception
3 - Moderate Level
Deductive Reasoning
3 - Moderate Level
Depth Perception
3 - Moderate Level

Skills

Proficiency or complexity level
Instructing
4 - High Level
Monitoring
4 - High Level
Coordinating
3 - Moderate Level
Critical Thinking
3 - Moderate Level
Decision Making
3 - Moderate Level

Personal Attributes

Importance
Concern for Others
5 - Extremely important
Active Learning
4 - Highly important
Analytical Thinking
4 - Highly important
Attention to Detail
4 - Highly important
Independence
4 - Highly important

Interests

The OaSIS uses the Holland Codes to describe the work-related interests. According to the Holland model, people work best in work environments that match their preferences, which means that people and work environments can be matched for a best fit. Occupational environments in Holland’s theory are described according to a combination of main interests and the activities they represent. There are six interests in the Holland typology: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising and Conventional. All occupations in OaSIS have up to three interests assigned to them.

Interests

Preferences for work environments and outcomes.

Interests profile: CRI

Conventional (C)

Conventional occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail following sets of procedures and routines. These activities may include systematic manipulation of data, such as keeping records, filing materials, reproducing materials, organizing written and numerical data according to a prescribed plan, and operating business and data processing. They often require following a clear line of authority and usually involve working with data and details more than with ideas.

Realistic (R)

Realistic occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail the explicit, ordered or systematic manipulation of objects, tools, machines and animals. Many of these occupations do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Investigative (I)

Investigative occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail the observation and systematic or creative investigation of physical, biological, or cultural phenomena. These occupations require an extensive amount of thinking and frequently involve working with ideas, searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Employment requirements

Employment requirements includes the education, training, certifications and the knowledge required to work in each occupation. The Knowledge category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency, and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of Knowledge descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Education, certification and licensing

  • A bachelor's degree or college diploma in occupational health and safety is usually required.
  • Occupational health and safety officers may require certification with the Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals (BCRSP).

Knowledge

Knowledge level
Human Resources and Labour relations
3 - Advanced Level
Law
3 - Advanced Level
Performance Measurement
3 - Advanced Level
Public Safety and Security
3 - Advanced Level
Clerical
2 - Intermediate Level

Skills for success

 
Skills for Success Model
 
Skills for Success are skills that help you in a quickly changing world. Everyone benefits from having these skills. They can help you to get a job, progress at your current job or even change jobs. The skills also help you become an active member of your community and succeed in learning.
 
 
Linkages Between ESDC Skills Models and Frameworks
 
ESDC makes available a dictionary of over 300 terms (or descriptors) and definitions, known as the Skills and Competencies Taxonomy (SCT). Descriptor information from the Taxonomy is used in the Occupational and Skills Information System (OaSIS).
 
While there is general commonality of meaning between the descriptors in the SCT and the Skills for Success model, there are some differences in their definitions due to their distinct purposes. The Skills for Success Model [9 broadly defined skills] identifies the skills that are universally applicable. The SCT displays specific skills and competency requirements for 900 occupations. Users of the Skills for Success Model and Essential Skills content may find competency information from the Taxonomy and the OaSIS to be complementary.
 
Stay tuned to this section for more information and updates regarding linkages between the Skills for Success model and the OaSIS.

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.

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