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Inspectors in Public and Environmental Health and Occupational Health and Safety
What they do?
Inspectors in this unit group perform some or all of the following duties:
A. Inspect the sanitary conditions of restaurants, hotels, schools, hospitals and other public facilities or institutions
B. Conduct surveys and monitoring programs of the natural environment to identify sources of pollution
C. Collect samples of water for analysis; measure physical, biological and chemical workplace hazards; and conduct safety and environmental audits
D. Investigate health and safety related complaints, spills of hazardous chemicals, outbreaks of diseases or poisonings and workplace accidents
E. Inspect workplaces to ensure that equipment, materials and production processes do not present a safety or health hazard to employees or to the general public
F. Develop, implement and evaluate health and safety programs and strategies
G. Initiate enforcement procedures to fine or to close an establishment contravening municipal, provincial or federal regulations
Where they find work?
1. Public administration - 40.0%
2. Health care and social assistance - 10.0%
3. Management scientific and technical consulting services - 4.0%
4. Architectural engineering and related services - 4.0%
5. Utilities - 4.0%
6. Other services (except public administration) - 3.0%
7. Administrative and support waste management and remediation services - 3.0%
What education do I need?
1. A bachelor's degree or college diploma in a discipline such as food science, environmental studies, chemistry or health and safety is usually required.
2. In some establishments, several years of related work experience and the completion of in-house training courses may substitute for formal education.
3. Public health inspectors employed outside Quebec require certification with the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors.
4. Occupational health and safety officers may require certification with the Association for Canadian Registered Safety Professionals.
5. Most recent entrants have an undergraduate university degree.
High School Subject that will help:
1. Math
2. Physics
3. Chemistry
4. Biology
What can you expect to make:
The average hourly wages for Inspectors in Public and Environmental Health and Occupational Health and Safety is $26.12/HR, which is close to the average for occupations in the natural and applied sciences and related occupations and above average for all technical, professional, and skilled occupations. These wages grew at an above-average rate from 2002 to 2004.
Average Wage
Expected Wage by Age
Unemployment:
3% of Inspectors in Public and Environmental Health and Occupational Health and Safety are unemployed. This rate is close to the average for technical, professional, and skilled occupations.
Unemployment
Trends in Unemployment
Current Job Outlook:
The job outlook for Inspectors in Public and Environmental Health and Occupational Health and Safety is considered Above Average because:
1. Employment grew at an average rate.
2. The retirement rate is above average, and the number of retiring workers contributes to job openings.
3. Hourly wages ($26.12) are above the average ($18.07), and the rate of wage growth is also above average.
4. The unemployment rate (3%) is close to the 2004 average (7%).
Future Job Prospects:
Your job outlook will continue to be Above Average because:
1. The employment growth rate will likely be average; however, the government decision to grant new budgets in public health should create few job openings.
2. The retirement rate will likely be above average and the number of retiring workers should contribute to job openings.
3. The number of job seekers will likely match the number of job openings.
Highest Concetration:
The highest concentrations (per 10,000 people) of Inspectors in Public and Environmental Health and Occupational Health and Safety are found in Alberta and New Brunswick while the lowest concentrations are in Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia.
Unionization Rate:
The unionization rate (54%) is close to the average (32%) for all occupations.
Useful Experience:
1. Communication skills
2. Work in industry ethics or safety
3. Customer relations
Part Time Workers
Part time workers:
4% of Inspectors in Public and Environmental Health and Occupational Health and Safety are employed only on a part-time basis. There were 16,800 workers employed in these occupations in 2004, an increase of 130% since 1997.
Age Demographics
Age Demographics:
The relatively low percentage of younger workers suggests few entry-level job openings, and could point to a greater need for workers with experience or a number of years of training. The older-than-average age (44) of worker will likely result in an above-average retirement rate to 2009.
