Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) can simply be termed as a discipline that ensures safety and health consciousness at the workplace. It can be defined as a multidisciplinary field that helps improve the safety, health and welfare of people at the workplace.
Occupational health and safety workers/professionals are important in every workplace for:
- Establishing and sustaining a safe and healthy work environment
- Protecting workers from injury
- Ensuring companies’ compliance with local, state and federal laws for workers’ safety
- Contributing to the overall success and sustainability of an organisation
The value these professionals add to both the growth of an organisation and the welfare of workers in an organisation is highly significant.
OHS workers and professionals are indispensable in Canada and that makes the career to be in high demand in Canada. To key into the job opportunities and increase your income through lucrative jobs like OHS. You can get started by completing a Post Graduate Diploma in OHS.
There are schools in Canada that offer Post Graduate Diplomas in OHS. Read more to see the best school of your choice and the requirements that will enable you to become a qualified student.
What is a Post Graduate Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety?
A Post Graduate Diploma in OHS is an advanced program for individuals who have completed their first degree or undergraduate studies and want to pursue an advanced education in the field of occupational health and safety.
Post Graduate Diploma programs in OHS are established and designed with the goal of:
- Developing competent OHS professionals
- Improving applicant’s ability to analyse problems, research and provide solution
- Improving applicant’s ability to identify, assess and manage workplace accidents
- Ensuring applicants are given skills to manage and sustain the health and safety of employees where they work
Benefits of Pursuing a Post-Graduate Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety
Having a Post Graduate Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety position applicants for numerous benefits:
1. Job opportunities
Professionals in OHS can work in any industry ranging from oil and gas, construction, health facility, manufacturing, transportation and more. No sector doesn’t need the service of Occupational Health and Safety professionals.
Having a Post Graduate Diploma certificate in a field like OHS with high demand for a job. It will better position applicants on the top list when employers are considering who to employ for an OHS job role in their organisation.
2. Specialised knowledge
Institutions that offer Post Graduate Diplomas in OHS, always provide applicants with special skills and knowledge that will improve their expertise after graduation.
There will be challenging situations that professionals in OHS will encounter in the workplace, overcoming such challenges will require having a specialised skill or knowledge.
Most Post Graduate Diploma programs in OHS do include these specialised skills and knowledge in their courses to enable their applicants to become experts in their respective fields of experience after graduation.
3. Creating sustainable environment
Post Graduate Diplomas in OHS programs are designed to provide applicants with not only the skills and knowledge to create a safe workplace for employees but also the ability to create a sustainable working environment.
With a Post Graduate Diploma in OHS, applicants are guaranteed high-paying job opportunities, expertise and qualifications to create a workplace for the safety and well-being of workers.
Schools Offering Post Graduate Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety In Canada
1. Conestoga College
Located at 299 Doon Valley Drive, Kitchener, Ontario Canada. Conestoga College offers Post Graduate Certificates in Occupational Health, Safety and Wellness at the Brantford campus.
Their post-graduate certificate program in OHSW provides:
- Focused body of knowledge
- Skills required to monitor and assess the safety of people at work and related workplace hazards.
- Management skills are required to lead the development, implementation and evaluation of workplace safety, health and wellness programs across all sectors.
- Learning about existing health, safety and wellness trends
Doing your OHSW Post Graduate Certificate at Conestoga College will enable you to pursue the Canadian Registered Safety Technician (CRST) certification offered by the Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals (BCRSP).
Beyond the CRST accreditation, your courses will include:
- Organisational effectiveness
- Project management
- Disability management
- Consulting skills
| Program Name | Post Graduate Certification in Occupational, Health, Safety and Wellness |
| Duration | 1 year |
| Start Dates | May 2024 |
| Program Delivery | Full time |
| Tuition Fees | $ 3937.10 (Canadian), $ 9452.50 (International) |
Admission Requirements:
- A two or three-year diploma or a degree from an accredited college or university
- Applicants should be familiar with MS Office products
2. Cape Breton University
This school is located at 1250 Grand Lake Rd, Sydney, Ns B1M1A2, Canada. The School of Education and Health at Cape Breton University offers a Post – Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Management.
Their program promises applicants the following:
- Managerial skills necessary for effective management of occupational health, safety and risk across various disciplines in the Canadian and global context,
- Competencies to provide coaching and guidance
- Ability to identify, assess and communicate occupational health, safety and organisational risks.
- An introduction to approaches for working with various stakeholders, workplace diversity, human rights and working within an indigenous context.
After graduating from Cape Breton University with your Post-Baccalaureate Diploma., you will be prepared for roles in any industry ranging from the public sector, compliance services, business and insurance, project management, construction, safety supervisor, environmental industry, oil and gas and many more roles where advance education is highly valued and in demand.
| Program Name | Post – Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Management |
| Duration | 2 year |
| Start Date | |
| Tuition Fees | $ 16,667 (Nova Scotia Residents), $18,835 (Canadian Residents), $30,093 (International Residents) |
Admission Requirements:
- Completed a Bachelor’s degree at an accredited university
- Obtained an overall undergraduate average of B or higher
- Submit scanned original copies of the transcript
- Submit the scanned original copy of the degree completion certificate
- Applicants whose mother tongue is non-English must meet CBU’s English language proficiency requirements
3. Saskatchewan Polytechnic
The School of Human Services and Community Safety at Saskatchewan Polytechnic offers the Occupational Health and Safety Certificate Program at their Saskatoon campus. They make provision for online options for distance learning.
Their program will provide you with knowledge relevant to workplaces in:
- Auditing Safety Management
- Contractor Safety Management
- Disability Management
- Emergency Management
- Ergonomics
- Law and Ethics
- Incident Investigation
- Industrial Hygiene
- Risk Management
- Safety Management Systems
| Program Name | Occupational Health and Safety Certificate Program |
| Duration | 40 weeks |
| Start Date | August 28, 2023 |
| Tuition Fees | $13,030 |
Admission Requirements:
- Grade 12
- English Language Requirement
4. James Lind Institute
This is an accredited institute in Canada that offers an advanced postgraduate diploma in occupational health and safety management.
Their advanced postgraduate diploma in occupational Health and safety management is a distance e-learning course. They offer in-depth knowledge and expertise in the science of health and safety works.
Their programs provide the following:
- You will be mentored and expected to interface with the faculty and co-participants through online interactions
- Through the program, you will develop problem-solving skills related to safety risk identification and mitigation.
- The course places a strong emphasis on modern-day occupational health and safety concerns.
| Program Name | Advance PG Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Management |
| Duration | 6 – 8 months |
| Study Language | English |
| Study Location | Online |
| Tuition Fee | 990 Euro (Payment can be done twice after 2 months of the first payment) |
Admission Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent preferably in any life science-related domain.
- English Language Proficiency
In Conclusion
The schools in Canada that have been mentioned above offer Post Graduate Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety. Choose any school that will provide you with relevant skills and knowledge for expertise in this field.
Your previous academic grade or certification is required before you can apply. Do well to confirm if you meet the school requirements for English Language Proficiency, and ensure to comply with their terms.