Toll Free 1-877-644-9992
There was an error. Please try again.
This page is already listed in your guide. Please choose a different page to add.
Inspector, Occupational Hazards Specialist, Occupational Health and Safety Specialist, Safety Officer
In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.
The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2006 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Interest in handling materials to collect water samples and other materials for analyses; and to develop, implement and evaluate health and safety programs and strategies
Interest in analyzing data from investigations of health and safety related complaints, spills of hazardous chemicals, outbreaks of diseases and poisonings and from workplace accidents and illnesses
Interest in speaking with employers, employees and the general public to deliver training and advise on public health, environmental protection and workplace safety issues; and in initiating enforcement procedures to fine or to close establishments that contravene municipal, provincial and federal regulations
To identify or change your interest codes, complete the Interests Exercise in CAREERinsite.
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation.
It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective, and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes for this NOC group is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Exercise in CAREERinsite.
A Quick Guide
You are born with abilities that help you process certain types of information and turn it into action. These abilities influence which skills you can learn more easily.
The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB). The GATB measures 9 aptitudes. It groups them into 3 categories: mental, visual, and physical.
The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.
Occupational health and safety officers employed by federal, provincial, and municipal governments inspect a wide variety of workplaces, such as construction sites, offices, and mines. They may specialize in inspecting a particular type of workplace. They advise on corrective action and facilitate change to improve the health and safety culture.
In general, occupational health and safety officers:
For information about health and safety officers employed by companies, see the Occupational Health and Safety Advisor occupational profile.
Health and safety officers usually are responsible for a territory or specific industrial process. Considerable travel may be required. Working hours depend on the types of workplaces they inspect. Overtime may be required, particularly after an incident or a hazardous situation has been identified.
Health and safety officers spend most of their time in the field where they may be exposed to potentially dangerous situations. Officers routinely are required to enter confined spaces, climb ladders, and work in dusty conditions. The rest of their time is spent in offices located at central or regional headquarters.
Health and safety officers need:
They should enjoy:
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 20 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Nov 12, 2021 and Nov 24, 2022.
Review these skills to learn:
| Type of Inspection and Investigation: Workplace | 14 |
|---|---|
| Health benefits: Health care plan | 13 |
| Health benefits: Dental plan | 13 |
| Computer and Technology Knowledge: MS Excel | 13 |
| Attention to detail | 11 |
| Tasks: Inspect workplaces for safety or health hazards | 11 |
| Computer and Technology Knowledge: MS Word | 11 |
| Type of Inspection and Investigation: Work related accidents | 10 |
| Computer and Technology Knowledge: MS PowerPoint | 10 |
| Health benefits: Disability benefits | 9 |
Health and safety officers must have several years of related work experience. They also must have a bachelor’s degree in science, engineering, or a related discipline, or a related post-secondary diploma.
Health and safety officers must have a thorough understanding of legislation relating to safety standards. They must also keep informed about changes in technology.
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
To expand or narrow your search for programs related to this occupation, visit Post-Secondary Programs.
Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.
Although certification is not required in Alberta, it may be an asset when seeking employment. The Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals offers the designation Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) to applicants who have been employed as safety professionals for at least 3 years and have successfully completed an evaluation, interview, and examination process. For related industry-specific certifications, talk to practising occupational health and safety officers or potential employers in the industry.
Source: 2019-2023 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Occupational health and safety officers are employed by federal, provincial, and municipal governments.
Advancement to management positions usually is through competition and depends on the individual’s initiative, management skills, educational background, and work experience.
Occupational health and safety officers are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 2263: Inspectors in public and environmental health and occupational health and safety. In Alberta, 85% of people employed in this classification work in the following industries:
The employment outlook (pdf) in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
In Alberta, the 2263: Inspectors in public and environmental health and occupational health and safety occupational group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 1.8% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 154 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.
Note
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For example, only some of the new positions to be created will be for this occupation. It also applies to other data for the NOC group such as number of people employed.
Source: 2019-2023 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Earnings for occupational health and safety officers vary considerably depending on their education, experience, and location.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.
All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.
To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.
Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources [pdf] to supplement this data.
High Reliability, represents a CV of less than or equal to 6.00% and 30 survey observations and/or represents 50% or more of all estimated employment for the occupation.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $16.27 | $59.14 | $35.13 | $34.62 |
| Overall | $20.55 | $73.98 | $42.25 | $40.38 |
| Top | $24.41 | $95.97 | $47.57 | $46.15 |
Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.
* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
Pay brackets for hourly wages
| Oil & Gas Extraction | $103,047 |
|---|---|
| Public Administration | $98,657 |
| Utilities | $92,336 |
| Health Care & Social Assistance | $87,547 |
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $82,969 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $80,112 |
| Manufacturing | $76,736 |
| Educational Services | $76,214 |
| Professional, Scientific & Technical Services | $76,043 |
| Retail Trade | $67,606 |
| Information, Culture, Recreation | $67,332 |
| Other Services (Repair, Personal Services and Related) | $65,762 |
| Construction | $65,408 |
| Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, Leasing | $57,968 |
| Wholesale Trade | $55,522 |
| Business, Building and Other Support Services | $48,189 |
Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals (BCRSP) website: www.bcrsp.ca
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) website: www.ccohs.ca
ECO Canada website: www.eco.ca
Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.
Updated Mar 31, 2017. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.