Occupational Health and Safety

Opportunities in the occupational health and safety (OH&S) field are growing. For those who see themselves doing any of the following, you may be well-suited to a career in OH&S; practical hands-on problem solving, like working with and educating people; managing, collecting, and interpreting data to identify trends and issues in the workplace; and promoting legislation, standards, and best practices in OH&S.

Throughout the program, students focus on what people do, analyze why they do it, and then apply a research-supported intervention strategy to improve working environment conditions. As a graduate, students are well prepared to contribute to, and lead, the development and maintenance of a healthy and safe workplace.

Field experience is a mandatory credit course, providing students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills outside of the classroom. Opportunities are typically unpaid and last approximately 5 weeks.

This program is eligible for an optional cooperative education (co-op) credit course between years one and two. Co-op provides an opportunity for paid full-time employment in a field related to the program. Co-op takes place in the third term and must be at least 12 weeks and 420 hours. Our co-op program follows Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Canada (CEWIL) guidelines.

Graduates find employment in a variety of safety system monitoring positions. Occupational titles include safety supervisors and safety advisors. Depending upon previous experience, these positions can vary from entry-level to mid-management.

The OHS diploma program at NSCC satisfies the formal educational requirement for the Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) and the Canadian Registered Safety Technician (CRST) designations.