Photo courtesy of ExxonMobil
About This Career
Health and Safety Professionals review, evaluate and analyze work environments and design programs and procedures to control, eliminate and prevent disease or injury caused by chemical, physical and biological agents or ergonomic factors. They have expertise in applicable regulations, codes and industry best practices. They may conduct inspections and enforce adherence to laws and regulations governing the health and safety of individuals.
There is a broad variety of health and safety roles that support the oil and gas industry’s commitment to the well-being of people and the environment.
Specializations include:
- Emergency Response Planners design and implement emergency response plans, training and exercises. A key aspect of this role is to continually improve the company’s capability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from an emergency event.
- Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Advisors/Coordinators are responsible for the day-to-day implementation of the company’s HSE strategy. They conduct inspections, implement controls on industry projects, recommend procedures and provide training.
- Occupational Health Nurses design and implement programs to improve the health and well-being of workers. They conduct pre-placement, fitness-to-work and medical surveillance assessments and provide disability case management. Occupational Health Nurses assess, treat, follow up and refer employees for medical aid and care relating to non-occupational and occupational illness or injuries. They also provide routine health services and first aid to staff and respond to emergency situations such as workplace accidents.
- Medics provide on-site emergency medical services within the oil and gas industrial environment, tending to both urgent and non-urgent medical needs.
- Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Officers conduct workplace inspections and investigations to detect unsafe or unhealthy working conditions and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
- Process Safety Engineers develop safety strategies, programs, processes and plans to ensure safe working conditions within company facilities.
Education: Educational requirements for Health and Safety Professionals vary:
- Emergency Response Planners typically require a petroleum engineering degree (or equivalent technical diploma or certificate), previous experience in the oil and gas industry, and training in emergency response management.
- HSE Advisors and OH&S Officers typically require a post-secondary degree, as well as knowledge of operational processes and the related risks, legislation and standards.
- Occupational Health Nurses typically require a Bachelor of Nursing degree with additional training and certification for occupational nursing.
- Medics typically require a license as an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Emergency Medical Technologist-Paramedics (EMT-P), Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) or Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP).
- Process Safety Engineers typically require a post-secondary diploma or degree in an engineering discipline (e.g., chemical, mechanical, electrical), a minimum of 15 years combined applicable academic training, certification and related experience, or accreditation in a safety discipline (e.g., CRSP) and strong technical expertise in process safety (e.g., hazard identification or safety management systems).
Employment: These roles are found in both onshore and offshore environments and are typically employed in the exploration and production (E&P), oil sands, oil and gas services, and pipeline sectors of the oil and gas industry.
Example titles: Emergency Response Plan (ERP) Planner, Medic, Safety Training Specialist, Process Safety Engineer, Treatment Room Nurse, Emergency Medical Responder/Technician (EMR or EMT), Industrial Medic, Safety Advisor, Health & Safety Business Partner, Primary Care Paramedic, Paramedic
Work Activities
Analyzing Data or Information
Analyzing HSE procedures and programs.
Analyzing data (e.g., injuries or illness, incidents) to identify trends and evaluate the effectiveness of safety or wellness programs.
Applying Information
Leading the implementation of safety programs.
Maintaining corporate, business unit or department emergency response plans
Delivering and participating in emergency response plan training and exercises.
Implementing HSE procedures and programs.
Putting adequate controls in place to ensure HSE.
Ensuring crew members have all necessary certifications and equipment.
Ensuring that safety training courses are developed, reviewed and delivered to the workforce on a particular site, in a timely and efficient manner.
Participating in design reviews, hazard assessment reviews, incident investigations and audits.
Assisting and Caring for Others
Providing initial care for sick and injured patients and basic life support to trauma patients.
Providing first aid treatments and emergency care and arrange for further care as needed.
Communicating with Persons Outside the Organization
Communicating findings regarding ways to mitigate risk to key stakeholders.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers or Subordinates
Advocating participation in occupational health and safety programs.
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others
Coordinating corporate, business unit or department emergency response plans
Coordinating programs such as health education and promotion, short- and long-term disability, workers compensation and employee assistance.
Collaborating with engineers or physicians to institute control or remedial measures for hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions or equipment.
Determining Compliance
Ensuring emergency response plans meet the regulators criteria and is applied during emergencies.
Providing guidance to others to ensure that all regulatory standards, company policies and procedures are adhered to.
Determining and enforcing (when necessary) health and safety laws, regulations and standards.
Evaluating Information
Evaluating work procedures, equipment and environments for HSE.
Getting Information
Collecting data (e.g., injuries or illness, incidents) to identify trends and evaluate the effectiveness of safety or wellness programs.
Investigating complaints related to health and safety, fatalities or serious injuries.
Guiding, Directing and Motivating Subordinates
Ordering the suspension of activities that pose threats to workers' health or safety.
Identifying Objects, Actions and Events
Identifying emerging regulatory changes, industry trends and issues.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures or Material
Conducting health, safety and environment (HSE) inspections.
Inspecting worksites to ensure equipment, materials and processes are safe and pose no health hazards.
Judging the Qualities of Things, Services or People
Assessing contractor safety programs.
Assessing the work environment to identify health and safety hazards.
Auditing training provided by vendors and reviewing and revising safety training standards, procedures and policies.
Monitoring and Controlling Resources
Maintaining inventories of hazardous materials or hazardous wastes using waste tracking systems to ensure that materials are handled properly.
Performing Administrative Activities
Keeping files and documentation organized.
Preparing incident reports and maintaining confidential records.
Providing administration services for safety training courses (e.g. issuing employee training certification cards and tracking data).
Supporting safety training program administration (e.g., scheduling the safety training calendar, completing safety training reports and hazard assessment documentation).
Providing Consultation and Advice to Others
Providing consultation in the development of emergency response processes.
Recommending HSE procedures and programs.
Leading incident investigations and providing emergency response expertise, when required.
Thinking Creatively
Designing emergency response plan training and exercises.
Contributing to the development of public awareness programs.
Instructing on safety concepts, practices and standards (both on-the-job and classroom based).
Developing reports on near misses, hazards and follow-ups.
Developing health, safety and environmental (HSE) expertise and programs to offshore management and the general workforce.
Training and Teaching Others
Delivering safety training materials and safe work procedures for crew members.
Competencies
Behavioural
Leading/ Living The Vision And Values
Knowledge
Law and Government
Public Safety and Security
Technical
Systems Analysis
Systems Evaluation
Foundational
Active Listening
Career Path
- HSE Director
- HSE Manager
Available Jobs
- Here are the two most recent postings:
Environmental health inspector
Posted on Nov 29 2018
By mold busters
Montréal Dependant upon experience
Working Conditions
-
Field Visits -
High Stress Situations -
Office Based -
Driving Required -
Inclement Weather -
Remote Locations -
Active Machinery -
Shift Work -
Heavy Lifting -
Physically Demanding -
Some Overtime Required
Similar Jobs In Other Industries
Careers also exist in the following industries:
- Chemical manufacturing
- Forestry and logging
- Heavy and civil engineering construction
- Mining and quarrying
- Paper manufacturing
- Petroleum and coal product manufacturing
- Primary metal manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Public administration, including regulatory
- Utilities, including renewable energy
- Wood product manufacturing
Job Category
Business and Operations Support
Sectors
Pipelines
Oil and gas services
Oil sands
Exploration and production
NOC
2263, 3012, 3234
Education:
- Post-secondary degree
Certifications:
- Certification requirements will vary depending on the role, but can include the following certifications: Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP), Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Health and Safety Consultant (CHSC), Certified Emergency Manager (CEM), Associate Emergency Manager (AEM), Auditing Association of Canada (AAC), National Construction Safety Officer (NCSO), International Trauma Life Support (ITLS)
- Standard and emergency first aid
- H2S Alive
- Safety program development
- Hazard management
- Other health and safety training certifications will be determined by specific job requirements
Licensing:
- Licensing for the nursing profession is granted by provincial/territorial regulatory bodies
- Medics must hold a valid licence issued by a provincial licensing body to practice in that occupation.