Inspectors in Public and Environmental Health and Occupational Health and Safety

(NOC 2263)

in All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

Inspectors in this group evaluate and monitor health and safety hazards and develop strategies to control risks in the workplace. They inspect restaurants, industrial sites, municipal water systems, public facilities, institutions, and other workplaces to ensure compliance with government regulations regarding sanitation, pollution control, the handling and storage of hazardous substances and workplace safety. They work throughout the private and public sectors.

Job Outlook

Average

Read more

  • Estimate Moderate growth employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 135 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate Moderate rate of unemployment in 2022

Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

  • Estimate 3410 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 5690 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Those with several years of related experience working in industry, and possessing the formal credentials, are sought after by employers and safety organizations. On the other hand, positions requiring limited experience tend to see more competition, particularly from new entrants (who may need to be mobile to find work). While workplace safety responsibilities often reside with human resource staff, demand for this occupation in particular should continue to grow, as government, employers and organizations place greater emphasis on workplace safety policies.

Hourly Pay

$24.00

Minimum

$38.46

Median

$44.21

Maximum

Annual Pay

$19,337

Minimum

$62,585

Median

$113,122

Maximum

Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

Hourly Pay

$18.00

Minimum

$34.90

Median

$54.10

Maximum

Annual Pay

$13,568

Minimum

$60,422

Median

$107,009

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Inspectors in this group evaluate and monitor health and safety hazards and develop strategies to control risks in the workplace. They inspect restaurants, industrial sites, municipal water systems, public facilities, institutions, and other workplaces to ensure compliance with government regulations regarding sanitation, pollution control, the handling and storage of hazardous substances and workplace safety. They work throughout the private and public sectors.

Job duties

Inspectors:

  • Inspect the sanitary conditions of restaurants, hotels, schools, hospitals and other public facilities or institutions.
  • Identify sources of pollution by surveying and monitoring the natural environment.
  • Collect samples of water for analysis.
  • Measure physical, biological and chemical workplace hazards.
  • Complete safety and environmental audits.
  • Investigate health and safety related complaints, spills of hazardous chemicals, outbreaks of diseases or poisonings and workplace accidents.
  • Inspect workplaces to make sure that equipment, materials, and production processes do not present a safety or health hazard to employees or to the public.
  • Develop, implement, and evaluate health and safety programs and strategies.
  • Start enforcement procedures to fine or to close a space violating municipal, provincial, or federal regulations.
  • Provide consultation and deliver training programs to employers, employees, and the public on issues of public health, environmental protection or workplace safety.

Sample job titles

  • environmental health officer
  • hazardous waste inspector - environmental health
  • hotel and restaurant inspector - public health
  • industrial safety officer - occupational health and safety
  • labour standards officer - occupational health and safety
  • occupational health and safety advisor
  • occupational health inspector
  • prevention officer - occupational health and safety
  • public health inspector
  • safety and sanitary inspector - public and environmental health
  • waste water treatment plant inspector

Skills

  • The ability to work effectively with the public under various circumstances is crucial. Good observational and analytical skills are necessary. You must be accurate and able to pay close attention to detail. Honesty and integrity are important. Excellent communication skills are also important.

Job requirements

  • A bachelor's degree or college diploma in a discipline like food science, environmental studies, chemistry or health and safety is usually required.
  • In some organizations, several years of related work experience and the completion of in-house training courses may substitute for formal education.
  • Occupational health and safety officers may require certification with the Association for Canadian Registered Safety Professionals.

Other considerations

None

By the numbers

Quick look

915

employed in 2016

91.2%

employed full-time

0.0%

self employed

31.3%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
68.7%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
46.7

median age

Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

25,875

employed in 2016

91.5%

employed full-time

7.6%

self employed

20.0%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
80%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
42.8

median age

Where will I likely work?

49.2%

Halifax

$62,594 median annual income
18.6%

Cape Breton

$69,796 median annual income
13.1%

North Shore

$54,461 median annual income
12.0%

Annapolis Valley

$47,866 median annual income
7.1%

Southern

$51,866 median annual income

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

35.1%

Public administration

10.1%

Professional, scientific and technical services

8.1%

Construction

6.8%

Health care and social assistance

6.8%

Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction

What is the age of Employment?

29.0%

45-54

25.0%

35-44

20.0%

55-64

17.0%

25-34

4.0%

65+

4.0%

15-24

Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

24.2%

25-34

23.5%

45-54

23.4%

35-44

16.4%

55-64

7.7%

15-24

Top levels of education

29.5%

College Diploma

$56,500 median annual income
25.1%

Bachelor

$67,204 median annual income
18.6%

High school

$46,813 median annual income
7.7%

Trade Certification

$56,880 median annual income
7.1%

Diploma Below Bachelor

$67,455 median annual income

Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

33.1%

College Diploma

$59,986 median annual income
29.8%

Bachelor

$63,965 median annual income
11.9%

High school

$45,835 median annual income
9.9%

Master

$65,105 median annual income
6.9%

Trade Certification

$57,773 median annual income

Education & training

Biochemistry

College or University Program

These programs focus on the scientific study of the chemistry of living systems, their fundamental chemical substances and reactions, and their chemical pathways and information transfer systems, with particular reference to carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. They include courses in bio-organic chemistry, protein chemistry, bioanalytical chemistry, bioseparations, regulatory biochemistry, enzymology, hormonal chemistry, calorimetry, and research methods and equipment operation.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

Chemistry

College or University Program

These programs focus on the scientific study of the composition and behaviour of matter, including its micro- and macro-structure, the processes of chemical change, and the theoretical description and laboratory simulation of these phenomena.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Environmental Studies

College or University Program

These programs focus on environment-related issues using scientific, social scientific, and/or humanistic approaches. They include courses in the basic principles of ecology and environmental science and related subjects such as policy, politics, law, economics, social aspects, planning, pollution control, natural resources, and the interactions of human beings and nature.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Food Science

College or University Program

These programs apply biological, chemical, and physical principles to the study of converting raw agricultural products into processed forms suitable for direct human consumption, and the storage of such products. They include courses in applicable aspects of the agricultural sciences, human physiology and nutrition, food chemistry, agricultural products processing, food additives, food preparation and packaging, food storage and shipment, and related aspects of human health and safety including toxicology and pathology.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture

Truro, NS

Marine Sciences

College or University Program

These programs focus on the study of biology, chemistry, geology and physics applied to marine, estuarine and coastal environments. They include courses in marine biogeochemistry, atmosphere and ocean dynamics, coastal ecology, coastal ocean processes, microbial ecology, marine ecosystem modeling, and polar microbiology.

Institutions providing this program

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Occupational Safety and Health Technology/Technician

College or Trades Program

These programs prepare students to apply basic engineering principles and technical skills in support of engineers and other professionals engaged in maintaining job-related health and safety standards. They include courses in safety engineering principles, inspection and monitoring procedures, testing and sampling procedures, laboratory techniques, applications to specific work environments, and report preparation.

Institutions providing this program

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Security and Loss Prevention Services

College or Trades Program

These programs prepare students to perform routine inspection, patrol and crime prevention services for security companies. They include courses in the provision of personal protection as well as property security.

Institutions providing this program

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors
Vancouver, BC
Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals
Mississauga, ON

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.