2263-NOC

Public and environmental health and safety professionals

(NOC 21120)
Annual Earnings
$80,296
Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities
University Degree
Job Openings
(2023-2033)
1,000

Career Overview

Public and environmental health and safety professionals:

  • Review, evaluate and monitor public health and environmental safety hazards
  • Develop strategies to prevent, control and eliminate disease and environmental impact caused by biological and chemical factors
  • Inspect restaurants, public facilities, industrial establishments, municipal water systems and other workplaces to ensure compliance with government regulations on sanitation, pollution control and the handling and storage of hazardous substances 
  • Work throughout the private and public sectors

Duties

Public and environmental health and safety professionals 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 
  • Inspect workplaces to ensure that equipment, materials and production processes do not present environmental hazards to the environment or a health and safety hazard to employees or to the general public
  • Develop, put into use and evaluate public safety and environment 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

$80,296

Provincial Hourly Rate

High$57.69/hr
Median$38.50/hr
Low$25.24/hr
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2023 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

2,645

% Employed Full Time

68%
Source: 2021 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:

Conventional
Conventional
Investigative
Investigative

Job Titles

Environmental health officer
Environmental officer
Environmental safety advisor
Hazardous waste inspector
Pollution control inspector
Public health inspector
Public health inspectors supervisor
Public safety consultant
Public safety coordinator
Public safety officer
Restaurant inspector
Rodent control inspector
Water inspector

Education, Training and Skills

  • A bachelor's degree in a discipline such as food science, environmental studies, chemistry or health and safety is usually required
  • Public health inspectors employed outside Quebec require certification with the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors
  • Environmental health and safety professionals may require certification with the Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals (BCRSP)

 

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!

Speaking

Talking to others to share information effectively.

73%
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.

73%
Critical Thinking

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

72%
Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

72%
Complex Problem Solving

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

64%
Writing

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

64%
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.

60%
Social Perceptiveness

Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

59%
Systems Evaluation

Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, while meeting the goals of the system.

57%

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

2,645
Source: 2021 Census

Employment by Region

Map of BC Map of BC highlighting Cariboo region Map of BC highlighting Kootenay region Map of BC highlighting Mainland/Southwest region Map of BC highlighting North Coast and Nechako region Map of BC highlighting Northeast region Map of BC highlighting Thompson-Okanagan region Map of BC highlighting Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Employment % Employment of this Occupation
Cariboo 120 4.5%
Kootenay 105 4.0%
Mainland/Southwest 1,565 59.1%
North Coast and Nechako 60 2.3%
Northeast 105 4.0%
Thompson-Okanagan 290 10.9%
Vancouver Island/Coast 410 15.5%
Source: 2021 Census

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 (2023-2033)

1,000
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 (2023-2033)

Map of BC Map of BC highlighting Cariboo region Map of BC highlighting Kootenay region Map of BC highlighting Mainland/Southwest region Map of BC highlighting North Coast and Nechako region Map of BC highlighting Northeast region Map of BC highlighting Thompson-Okanagan region Map of BC highlighting Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Job Openings Avg. Annual Employment Growth
Cariboo 30 0.0%
Kootenay 30 1.0%
Mainland/Southwest 630 1.3%
North Coast and Nechako 0 -1.2%
Northeast 30 0.5%
Thompson-Okanagan 110 0.9%
Vancouver Island/Coast 170 1.4%
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 (2023-2033)
Public Administration250
Health Care And Social Assistance240
Professional, Scientific And Technical Services170
Manufacturing70
Mining And Oil And Gas Extraction50
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Resources