Archive - Inspectors in Public and Environmental Health and Occupational Health and Safety (NOC 2263)

Published: 2 October 2014
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If you are interested in working as a Health Inspector in Canada, you will be pleased to know that the job outlook for your occupation in Canada is extremely positive.

You can use this overview of the Canadian employment prospects in your field to start planning your immigration and settlement in Canada.

health-inspectors

Important statistics for this occupation:

  • The need for health inspectors has increased steadily as public awareness of health and safety issues in Canada grows.
  • 6% of workers in this field are immigrants, a number that is expected to grow thanks to recent government efforts.
  • Health inspectors work in a number of fields. 31% work in public administration, 15% in manufacturing, and 11% with insurance carriers, to name a few.
  • Many provincial governments are increasing their numbers of health inspectors following public pressure. For instance, in 2002 the Province of Quebec announced that it would triple its number of health inspectors.
  • Approximately equal numbers of women and men work as health inspectors.
  • In Ontario, workers in this field make on average $72,000 a year.

Duties for Health Inspectors

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

Description of Main Duties

Individuals in this group perform some or all of the following duties:

  • Inspect the sanitary conditions of restaurants, hotels, schools, hospitals and other public facilities or institutions
  • Conduct surveys and monitoring programs of the natural environment to identify sources of pollution
  • Collect samples of water for analysis; measure physical, biological and chemical workplace hazards; and conduct 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 ensure that equipment, materials and production processes do not present a safety or health hazard to employees or to the general public
  • Develop, implement and evaluate health and safety programs and strategies
  • Initiate enforcement procedures to fine or to close an establishment contravening municipal, provincial or federal regulations
  • Provide consultation and deliver training programs to employers, employees and the general public on issues of public health, environmental protection or workplace safety.

Example job titles for Health Inspectors:

  • Environmental health officer
  • Hazardous waste inspector
  • Health and safety officer
  • Health standards inspector
  • Occupational health and safety officer
  • Pollution control inspector
  • Public health inspector
  • Restaurant inspector
  • Rodent control officer
  • Supervisor, public health inspectors
  • Water inspector

Find out about salary ranges for Senior Managers in different Canadian cities with our Canada Salary Calculator.

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