What is a Health and Safety Professional?
Table of contents
The Health and Safety Professional
- A professional who is responsible in assisting the employer and their management delegates in developing and/or implementing their occupational safety and health program.
- A consultant, with varying experience and expertise.
- A safety officer in the government, with a focus in regulatory enforcement
Competencies
- Knowledge in the workplace safety and health Act and Regulations and its application in various industries.
- Knowledge in various standards, codes, and guidelines relevant to the Act and Regulations and its application to various industries.
- Skillful in problem solving, critical thinking and conflict resolution.
- Excellent organizational and communication skills.
- Tactful and diplomatic when engaging with various levels of employees/union/and external authorities/community, while maintaining the code of ethics and standards set for the safety and health professionals.
- Holds strong work and professional ethics.
- Working knowledge in using various computer software.
- Experienced trainer, facilitator, and presenter.
Job Responsibilities
May include, but not limited to:
- Helping the employer in sustaining their safety and health program
- Assist the employer in completing job hazard analyses (JHA)
- Assisting the employer in developing their safe work procedures dependent on JHA’s and Risk Assessments
- Perform and complete risk assessments
- Develop, implement, deliver and/or coordinate training relevant to safety and health.
- Collaborate with other professionals to ensure the program components meets the mission/vision/goals of the company
- Complete safety and health related audits
- Develop and implement emergency procedures in consultation with other professionals where required
- Participate in safety supplies procurement to ensure compliance with appropriate standards
- Deliver hearing testing, respiratory protection / fit testing programs
- Deliver specific training if licensed or qualified (include but not limited to: First Aid, Fire Prevention, Fire extinguisher, fall protection, forklift / aerial lift training)
- Develop hazardous waste disposal programs
- Develop databases for training and inventories as required (MSDS, training database)
- Conduct personal air sampling or air quality sampling and reporting on the results
- Develop workplace inspection programs
- Perform workplace inspections
- Make recommendations to senior management
- Facilitate ad/or participate in incident investigations and right to refuse work cases