2263-NOC

Inspectors in public and environmental health and occupational health and safety

(NOC 2263)
Annual Earnings
$80,963
Typical Education Background
Degree
Job Openings
(2022-2032)
1,700

Career Overview

Inspectors in public and environmental health and occupational health and safety:

  • Evaluate and monitor health and safety hazards and develop strategies to control risks in the workplace
  • 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
  • Work throughout the private and public sectors

 

Duties

Inspectors perform some or all of the following duties:

  • Inspect the sanitary conditions of restaurants, hotels, schools, hospitals and other public facilities or institutions
  • Carry out 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 carry out safety and environmental inspections
  • 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, put into use and evaluate health and safety programs and strategies
  • Initiate enforcement procedures to fine or to close an establishment breaking 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

 

Earnings

Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.

Annual Earnings

$80,963

Provincial Hourly Rate

High$52.31/hr
Median$38.82/hr
Low$17.50/hr
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2022 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

3,800

% Employed Full Time

57%
Source: 2016 Census

Work in this occupation is typically performed in a structured environment, such as an office, hospital or school, or an outdoor work environment where the worker is exposed to various weather conditions.

Also, workers may be exposed to chemicals that may endanger health through inhalation, absorption, ingestion, contact with skin or eyes, or potential for fire or explosion; infectious bacteria and viruses as a result of indirect contact with, or direct handling of, infectious materials or micro-organisms that may cause illness; or ionizing radiation such as X-rays and radioactive substances or non-ionizing radiation such as radio frequencies and infrared, ultraviolet or visible light that may affect health adversely.

Career Pathways

Career path information is currently not available.

Occupational Interests

It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.

For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.

Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:

Realistic
Realistic
Conventional
Conventional

Job Titles

Environmental health officer
Examiner, mine
Health and safety advisor
Inspector, beauty salon
Inspector, cross connection control
Inspector, dangerous goods - railway
Inspector, flood damage
Inspector, food / restaurant / hotel
Inspector, mine safety
Inspector, nursing home
Inspector, occupational health / safety
Inspector, rodent control
Inspector, welfare
Monitor, radiation
Occupational health and safety consultant (OHS)
Officer, quarantine - public health
Officer, rodent control
Prevention officer - occupational health and safety
Radiation surveyor
Safety supervisor - occupational health and safety
Supervisor, public health unit
Technologist, environmental health and safety
Technologist, hazardous waste management
Technologist, health and safety
Tester
Tester, cross connection control

Education, Training and Skills

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

 

Education programs in B.C.

The following program areas are related to this occupation:

  • Environmental/Occupational Health
  • Environmental Studies Related (Arts)
  • Environmental Studies Related (Science)
  • Environmental Studies/Science
EducationPlannerBC Logo
Find out more information about programs offered specifically for this career.

Skills

Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.

Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.

See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

69%
Speaking

Talking to others to share information effectively.

68%
Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

67%
Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

67%
Monitoring

Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

62%
Judgment and Decision-Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

58%
Writing

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

57%
Coordination

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

57%
Complex Problem Solving

Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.

56%
Time Management

Managing one’s own time and the time of others.

55%

Labour Market Statistics

Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.

Employment

Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.

Employment

3,800
Source: 2016 Census

Employment by Region

Map of BC Map of Cariboo region Map of Kootenay region Map of Mainland/Southwest region Map of North Coast and Nechako region Map of Northeast region Map of Thompson-Okanagan region Map of Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
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Region Employment (2022) % Employment of this Occupation
Cariboo 310 6.6%
Kootenay 210 3.8%
Mainland/Southwest 2,420 52.9%
North Coast and Nechako 180 2.9%
Northeast 240 5.2%
Thompson-Okanagan 600 13.6%
Vancouver Island/Coast 600 15.0%
Source: 2016 Census and B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Labour Market Outlook

The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.

Forecasted Job Openings (2022-2032)

1,700
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted Job Openings

Forecasted Employment Growth Rate

Composition of Job Openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job Openings by Region (2022-2032)

Map of BC Map of Cariboo region Map of Kootenay region Map of Mainland/Southwest region Map of North Coast and Nechako region Map of Northeast region Map of Thompson-Okanagan region Map of Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
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Region Job Openings Avg. Annual Employment Growth
Cariboo 80 0.0%
Kootenay 50 0.0%
Mainland/Southwest 920 1.1%
North Coast and Nechako 60 1.1%
Northeast 80 1.2%
Thompson-Okanagan 250 1.6%
Vancouver Island/Coast 300 1.6%
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Industry Highlights

Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.

Forecasted Job Openings by Industry

IndustryJob Openings (2022-2032)
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services148,000
Public Administration49,200
Construction72,700
Health Care and Social Assistance149,700
Manufacturing49,200
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: 2016 Census and B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Resources