Like many people in the field of occupational health and safety, I came to it through opportunity. My employer asked me to attend a two day workshop on Safety Leadership to see if we could find opportunities to improve the way we operated and reduce employee injuries. It was my first formal introduction to field of OHS. The messages I heard there resonated strongly. People do not go to work to get hurt and good employers create a workplace free of injury and illness. My boss then asked me if I would be willing to develop and coordinate our new safety program. I agreed and promptly enrolled in the University of Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Certificate Program to develop my knowledge and technical skills. It was there that I first learned about the Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) designation and decided that once I had completed my formal studies and practiced safety for a few years, I would write the exam.
In 1999, After eight years of applying the skills and knowledge, I took the exam and passed. I realized then that the completion of the CRSP committed me to the pursuit of lifelong learning through continuous professional development.
I have maintained my CRSP as a commitment to my employers, my coworkers and other safety professionals.
The integrity of the CRSP requires me to maintain my skills, to learn new skills and to adapt to the changing reality of work in the 21st century.
My advice to those pursuing the Canadian Registered Safety Professional designation - The CRSP will provide you with the platform to a have a sustainable career. You will have access to information, knowledge and other safety professionals that will support your professional growth and development. The CRSP will open doors and provide you with the opportunity to explore the full breadth and width of the safety profession.