21120 – Public and environmental health and safety professionals
Lead statement
Public and environmental health and safety professionals review, evaluate and monitor public health and environmental safety hazards and develop strategies to prevent, control and eliminate disease and environmental impact caused by biological and chemical factors. They inspect restaurants, industrial establishments, municipal water systems, public facilities, and institutions to ensure compliance with government regulations regarding sanitation, pollution control and the handling and storage of hazardous substances.
Main 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 biological and chemical samples and specimens for analysis; measure physical, biological and chemical; and conduct safety and environmental audits
- 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
- Lead the development and the implementation of public safety and environmental health and safety programs and strategies to mitigate risk and optimize the general public and worker’s health and safety and environmental protection
- 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.
Employment requirements
- 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).
Example job titles
beauty salon inspector · dangerous goods inspector - railway transport · dangerous waste inspector · hazardous waste inspector · environmental health inspector · environmental health inspectors supervisor · environmental health officers supervisor · flood damage inspector · food inspector · hotel and restaurant inspector - public health · nursing home inspector · public health safety inspector · safety and sanitary inspector - public and environmental health · water inspector · sewage disposal inspector - environmental health · mine examiner · restaurant inspector · sanitary department inspector - environmental health · waste water treatment plant inspector · welfare institute inspector - public health · pollution control inspector · rodent control officer · rodent control inspector · health standards inspector · sanitary standards inspector · public health inspector · public health inspectors supervisor · public health unit supervisor · environmental officer · quarantine officer - public health · environmental health officer · industrial waste control inspector · enforcement officer - environmental health · public safety specialist · public safety officer · public safety coordinator · public safety consultant · public safety advisor · public health and safety coordinator · environmental safety specialist
Wages (per hour)
| Province / territory | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $29.33 | $45.00 | $56.41 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $29.60 | $41.00 | $53.85 |
| Nova Scotia | $32.97 | $41.58 | $53.85 |
| New Brunswick | $30.00 | $41.00 | $51.58 |
| Quebec | $27.96 | $45.64 | $56.41 |
| Ontario | $31.40 | $46.67 | $65.93 |
| Manitoba | $25.05 | $36.00 | $46.70 |
| Saskatchewan | $23.00 | $39.18 | $46.78 |
| Alberta | $28.78 | $45.43 | $67.18 |
| British Columbia | $32.97 | $45.00 | $64.10 |
Source: Job Bank wages, 2025 release (ESDC). Low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.
Occupation details: ESDC OaSIS 2025, based on NOC 2021.