Health & Safety Officer

Holland Code:

Organize

Working safely may get old, but so do those who practice it.

Anonymous

In A Nutshell

I help keep everyone in agriculture safe by spotting dangers, creating clear safety rules, and making sure everyone follows them.

I lead meetings with staff to make sure everyone understands safety expectations and knows how to stay protected.

I inspect farms, processing plants, and other agriculture workplaces to find and fix unsafe conditions before accidents happen.

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Potential Salary Range

$42,000 - 95,000 Annually

Which provinces would this job be in?

Alberta

British Columbia

Manitoba

New Brunswick

Newfoundland & Labrador

Nova Scotia

Ontario

PEI

Prince Edward Island

Quebec

Saskwatchewan

My job is fast-paced and important. I spend time in the office creating safety plans and talking with management. Then I head out to farms, processing plants, and other agriculture sites to spot hazards and keep everyone safe. It’s a mix of teamwork, problem-solving, and staying alert to protect people every day.

Workplace

Indoor / Outdoor

Job Requirements & Duties

Inspect cleanliness and safety on farms, greenhouses, and processing plants to make sure work areas are safe
Measure and assess physical, biological, and chemical hazards that could harm workers
Investigate accidents and safety complaints to understand what happened and find ways to prevent it in the future
Develop, update, and monitor health and safety programs to protect everyone in the workplace
Be trained in WHMIS to safely identify and handle hazardous materials
Lead training sessions to teach employers and workers how to follow safety rules and stay protected
Review safety policies regularly and improve them when needed
Work closely with teams on site to spot potential risks and promote safe work habits

Education & Training

A bachelor’s degree or college diploma in food science, environmental studies, chemistry, health and safety, or a related field is required.
Obtaining the Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) certification and sometimes the National Construction Safety Officer (NCSO) certificate is required to show you have the skills and knowledge to work in health and safety in agriculture and related areas.

Job Outlook

The job outlook is fair to good, with about as many job openings as people to fill them.

Related School Subjects

Social Studies

Health Education

Career Education

What words come to mind when thinking about this career?

Safety WHMIS Health

Important Skills

Leadership

I lead my team by clearly communicating safety rules and encouraging everyone to work carefully and efficiently.

Critical Thinking

I use critical thinking to identify hazards and investigate accidents, analyzing situations to determine causes and implement preventive measures.

Verbal Communication

I need to clearly explain safety ideas to all kinds of people, whether I’m speaking at a farm safety event, leading a workshop for workers, or talking with students about staying safe in agriculture.

Decision Making

I make quick and informed decisions when I notice unsafe conditions or respond to an accident. Taking action right away helps protect people, whether they are working on a farm, in a greenhouse, or in a food processing facility.

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The Best Things About This Job Are…

Helps Others

Opportunity to Travel

Has Business Perks

Regular Hours

Routine Work

References

Occupational Health and Safety Officer in Canada. (2020).

Occupational Health and Safety Officer. (2020).

Disclaimer

All career information has been gathered from a variety of sources and compiled to provide a general idea as to what each career could entail. Agriculture in the Classroom Canada is committed to doing our best to ensure the information is current and reliable. However, we will not be liable for the accuracy of the information. Please contact us if you notice errors or would like to provide feedback.