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What is the most misunderstood aspect of your job? When I first started in occupational health and safety, a long time ago, someone in the workplace actually told a member on the health and safety committee that they could do my job because they had taken WHMIS training. Along came certification training a few years later and again a misunderstanding of what the safety professional does. Beyond that, initially the biggest challenge was letting people know what is and what is not health and safety. The other challenge was that there was a belief that the safety person is fully responsible for health and safety, not understanding what due diligence is about. Some 30 years later those issues aren't around. The companies I have contracts with are typically asking now what I can and cannot do for them. They have a clear understanding of due diligence. |
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What does a typical day look like for you? Time was, before retirement from my full time position, and now, working part-time contracts, including facilitating online safety courses for a community college, I would start the day early and check emails from the night before and early morning and respond to them. The next would be to start on whatever project needs to be dealt with. Nowadays, it involves getting ready for meetings or doing site visits and conducting inspections or possibly preparing reports or presentations. Every once in a while, a call will come in regarding a serious accident and everything else will have to be dropped to go and investigate. So, typically now it involves working with the clients to be pro-active about health and safety. |
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Why did you chose this field? I chose it because it is multi-faceted and extremely interesting. My previous employer, and the companies I deal with get it. You can seemingly plan your day in advance but all it takes is one phone call and everything that day changes. I enjoyed that about the field. It was tough at times getting those 2 in the morning calls about a fire and having to get dressed and go out to the site. |
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What is the most gratifying part of being a safety professional? I chose it because it is multi-faceted and extremely interesting. My previous employer, and the companies I deal with get it. You can seemingly plan your day in advance but all it takes is one phone call and everything that day changes. I enjoyed that about the field. It was tough at times getting those 2 in the morning calls about a fire and having to get dressed and go out to the site. |
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Is there anything you’d like people to know about the field? It's a great career path, and certification with the BCRSP validates your knowledge and sets the bar for employers so that even if they don't know what a safety professional is, the fact you have a certification helps in getting the message and your ideas implemented in the workplace. Before becoming a CRSP I would be challenged regularly on my decisions or advice. With the CRSP that didn't happen anymore. |
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Best part of your day? Seeing the smiles on the staff's faces when you walk into the workplace instead of them hiding or thinking you're part of a regulatory organization as they understand you're there for them and are helping them and the company look after their wellbeing. |