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Safety Codes Officer

Safety codes officers inspect the construction, installation, and maintenance of structures and systems. They ensure compliance with relevant codes, standards, and regulations. They are concerned with the elements of public safety covered under the Safety Codes Act [pdf].

Also Known As

Audit Field Officers, Inspector (Boiler and Pressure Vessel / Building / Construction / Electrical Safety / Plumbing and Gas), Investigator, Official, Partnership Support Officer

NOC Codes

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.

2006 NOC

  • 2264: Construction Inspectors

2006 NOC-S

  • C164: Construction Inspectors

2011 NOC

  • 2264: Construction inspectors

2016 NOC

  • 2264: Construction inspectors

2021 NOC

  • 22233: Construction inspectors

2023 OaSIS

  • 22233.00: Construction inspectors
Duties
Updated Mar 24, 2023

The duties of a safety codes officer vary by discipline.

Building safety codes officers inspect projects that are under construction. They look for compliance with the Alberta Building Code and National Energy Code for Buildings. Their duties vary depending on their level of certification. In general, they:

  • Review and approve building and site plans
  • Review and register quality control programs
  • Issue permits for proposed construction, relocation, or demolition
  • Inspect sites prior to construction and buildings under construction to ensure they match building codes
  • Ensure all life, safety, and public-protection concerns have been addressed before approving a building for occupancy
  • Prepare reports on building activity
  • Investigate and review accident reports
  • Provide information to the public about relevant laws, regulations, and services

Fire safety codes officers perform fire inspections, report fires, and look into the cause, origin, and circumstances of fires within their jurisdiction. They also take measures to reduce fire danger to life and property.

Electrical safety codes officers inspect a wide range of installations where electrical work is performed. They make sure electrical wiring and appliances, outside wiring, and industrial electrical equipment are installed safely according to electrical regulations.

Plumbing and gas safety codes officers make sure private sewage systems, plumbing, and gas appliances, fixtures, installations, and equipment comply with plumbing and gas regulations.

Pressure equipment safety codes officers:

  • Review and audit authorized quality control programs
  • Ensure boilers and pressure vessels are installed and operated according to boiler and pressure vessels regulations
  • Inspect power plants, pressure plants, and steam plants
  • Review designs and conduct shop inspections and certification checks
  • Investigate accidents
  • Examine power engineers and pressure welders
  • Provide evidence to prosecute violators

Amusement rides, elevators, and passenger ropeways safety codes officers:

  • Conduct in-service inspections
  • Review plans and conduct initial inspections and regulatory audits
  • Investigate accidents
  • Issue permits
Working Conditions
Updated Mar 24, 2023
  • Strength Required Lift up to 5 kg

Safety codes officers work in offices, construction sites, utility stations, farmsteads, fire or accident scenes, ski areas, and amusement parks. They may need to travel to a variety of sites each day. They may need to work overtime during peak periods of construction or recreation activities.

Safety codes officers must follow safety precautions such as wearing hard hats and safety shoes to avoid injury while working on construction sites.

Interests & Abilities

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.

Construction Inspectors

2006 NOC: 2264

Interest Codes

Interest Codes for This NOC Group
METHODICAL

Interest in handling equipment and materials to inspect steel framework, concrete forms, reinforcing steel mesh and rods, concrete and pre-stressed concrete to ensure quality standards; and in inspecting construction sites to ensure safe working conditions are maintained

INNOVATIVE

Interest in analyzing data from inspection of sites to verify that they conform to specifications and building codes, and from inspections and tests of electrical and plumbing installations to ensure that they comply with municipal, provincial and federal regulations

directive

Interest in speaking with purchasers to inspect, assess and provide reports on new and resale homes; and in inspecting existing buildings to identify and report on structural defects, fire hazards and other threats to safety

Your Interest Codes

To identify or change your interest codes, complete the Interests Exercise in CAREERinsite.

Reading Interest Codes
A Quick Guide

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.

Learn About Interests

Abilities

Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Exercise in CAREERinsite.

Mental Abilities

General Learning Ability

Verbal Ability

Numerical Ability

Visual Abilities

Spatial Perception

Form Perception

Clerical Perception

Physical Abilities

Motor Coordination

Finger Dexterity

Manual Dexterity

Understanding Abilities

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.

Learn About Abilities

Traits & Skills
Updated Mar 24, 2023

Safety codes officers need:

  • The ability to reference, interpret, and apply codes and regulations
  • The ability to explain technical compliance issues clearly, both orally and in writing
  • The ability to solve problems
  • The ability to make decisions
  • Math skills
  • Customer service skills
  • Leadership skills
  • Personal motivation

They should enjoy:

  • Enforcing codes and regulations
  • Having clear rules and organized methods for their work
  • Studying information
  • Working with people

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.

Top 10 Skills Employers Are Looking For

Construction inspectors

2016 NOC: 2264

This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 16 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Nov 30, 2021 and Mar 27, 2024.

Review these skills to learn:

  • Whether or not this occupation matches your skill set
  • What training you may need to get these skills
  • What skills to highlight in your resumé, cover letter, and interview.
Type of Inspection: New and existing buildings
Tasks: Examine plans, drawings and site layouts
Tasks: Ensure compliance to drawings, specifications and building codes
Health benefits: Dental plan
Tasks: Inspect construction of building and engineering construction
Construction Specialization: Organized
Construction Specialization: Excellent oral communication
Construction Specialization: Effective interpersonal skills
Health benefits: Health care plan
Health benefits: Vision care benefits
Educational Requirements
Updated Mar 24, 2023
  • Minimum Education Varies

Safety codes officers need a combination of related training and work experience. They may require journeyperson certification or related post-secondary education plus years of experience related to the type of inspection involved. A driver’s license often is required.

All safety codes officers must be certified by the Safety Codes Council. Different levels of certification require successful completion of approved courses. For information about correspondence, classroom, and online training courses, see the Safety Codes Council website.

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.

Certification Requirements
Updated Mar 24, 2023
  • Certification Provincially Regulated

Certain professional titles or duties within this occupation are protected by provincial legislation. Requirements vary if you use these titles or perform these duties.

The related legislation is shown below. If there are multiple related legislations, select a certification heading to learn about each one.

Safety Codes Officer

Safety codes officers inspect the construction, installation, and maintenance of structures, equipment, and systems. They ensure compliance with relevant codes, standards, and regulations.

Legislation

Under Alberta’s Safety Codes Act [pdf] and regulations, you must be certified by the Safety Codes Council to carry out inspections of:

  • Plumbing, gas, electrical, or fire prevention systems
  • Buildings
  • Passenger ropeways (for example, chair lifts)
  • Boilers and pressure vessels
  • Amusement rides

You also must be employed by a municipality, regional services commission, corporation, or agency that has been delegated the responsibility to provide services under the Safety Codes Act.

For information on what you need and other details, visit the certification profile Safety Codes Officer.

Employment & Advancement
Updated Mar 24, 2023

Safety codes officers work for:

  • Municipal governments
  • Accredited agencies
  • Corporations that provide compliance monitoring services

Experienced safety codes officers may advance to senior positions and, depending on their qualifications, to management.

Industry Concentration

This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

In the 2264: Construction inspectors occupational group, 83.3% of people work in:

Employment Outlook

Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

  • Time of year (for seasonal jobs)
  • Location in Alberta
  • Employment turnover (when people leave existing positions)
  • Occupational growth (when new positions are created)
  • Size of the occupation
  • Trends and events that affect overall employment, especially in the industry or industries from the previous list

In Alberta, the 2264: Construction inspectors occupational group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 1.4% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 78 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

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Related Alberta Job Postings
Wage & Salary
Updated Mar 24, 2023

Salary ranges for safety codes officers vary depending on the employer and type of inspection involved.

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.

Construction inspectors

2016 NOC: 2264
Average Wage
$39.95
Per Hour
Average Salary
$79,387.00
Per Year
Average Hours
39
Per Week
Average Months on Payroll
11.6
Survey Methodology Survey Analysis

Source
2021 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey

NOC 2264 Wage Profile

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.

A: High Reliability
Data Reliability Code Definition

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.


Hourly Wage

For full-time and part-time employees
  • Low
  • High
  • Average
  • Median
Starting
Overall
Top

Hourly Wage

For full-time and part-time employees
Wages* Low (5th percentile) High (95th percentile) Average Median
Starting $18.50 $48.90 $32.50 $32.00
Overall $26.44 $56.23 $39.95 $39.08
Top $28.85 $60.30 $44.45 $42.84

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

  • Starting pay: average pay offered for entry-level positions
  • Overall pay: average pay across all employees in this occupation
  • Top pay: average pay offered to top-paid employees

Industry Information

ALL INDUSTRIES
Construction
Manufacturing
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services
Public Administration

Skills Shortage

Employers that Recruited in the Last 2 Years
26%
26%)
Recruiting Employers that Experienced Hiring Difficulties
15%
15%
Employers with Unfilled Vacancies of over 4 Months
3%
3%
Vacancy Rate
3%
Related Post-Secondary Field of Study
  • Engineering and Science Technologies
  • Engineering, Architecture and Related Studies
  • Trades, Industrial and Related Training
Other Sources of Information
Updated Mar 24, 2023

Safety Codes Council website: www.safetycodes.ab.ca

Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.

Updated Mar 24, 2023. 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.

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