Colleges with occupational health and safety degrees

The Occupational Health & Safety Management Ontario College Graduate Certificate program is a multi-disciplinary program that is designed to encompass a broad range of knowledge in occupational health, safety and environmental management systems that are critical to an organizations success. This program provides students with a strong health and safety foundation by developing the competencies required for the effective development, implementation and evaluation of health and safety systems in occupational settings.

Emphasis is placed upon learning the application of legislation and recognizing, controlling and evaluation workplace hazards. This program will enable students to become leaders in health and safety by motivating proactive behavioural change. Students will anticipate and employ strategies to manage emerging health, safety and environmental issues while examining accident theories, emergency response planning, ergonomic principles, risk management principles and the promotion of workplace safety and wellness.

This program is accredited by the Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals (BCRSP).

Fall 2022 Delivery Format

For full details about the spring delivery format of this program, please visit the Academic Delivery Approach page. 

This Lambton College program is licensed to and delivered by Cestar College (PDF), a licensed private career college in Toronto, Ontario. Students that are registered at Lambton in Toronto are students of a public college and as such, will receive full credit from Lambton College for all Lambton College courses completed at the Cestar College campus in Toronto. Students who meet program graduation requirements will graduate with a credential from Lambton College. Students may be scheduled to have classes on Saturdays.

See Course List

Admission Requirements

A university degree in engineering, health sciences or human resources or equivalent field.

The admissions process is competitive and meeting the minimum academic requirements does not guarantee admission.

Lambton College reserves the right to alter information including admission requirements and to cancel at any time a program or course; to change the location and/or term in which a program or course is offered; to change the program curriculum as necessary to meet current competencies or changes in the job market; to change the pathways third-party certification bodies; or to withdraw an offer of admission both prior to and after its acceptance by an applicant or student because of insufficient applications or registrations or over-acceptance of offers of admission. In the event Lambton College exercises such a right, Lambton College’s sole liability will be the return of monies paid by the applicant or student to Lambton College.

English Language Requirements

Applicants must demonstrate language proficiency by submitting one of the following scores:

• IELTS of 6.5
  - or -
  IELTS of 6.0 + Completion of EAP-3106 (English for Academic Purposes) during first term of study.
• TOEFL iBT 79
  -or-
  TOEFL 70 + Completion of EAP-3106 (English for Academic Purposes) during first term of study.
• Passed Lambton Institute of English placement test 

Please Note: IELTS is the only proficiency score accepted by the Study Direct Stream (SDS) program. Additional country-specific requirements may also be applicable.

Meeting the minimum English requirements does not guarantee admission. Students with higher English proficiency scores will receive priority in the admission assessment process.

Not all students will qualify for EAP-3106 in place of the required IELTS or TOEFL test scores.

Technology Requirements

In order to keep pace with the requirements of each and every course in your program, Lambton College recommends that each student have access to a laptop while studying at our college.

Course List

BUS-1883: Business Analytics

Strong computer skills are essential to finding Canadian employment in management and administration. This course provides students with resources and guidance to develop skills in Microsoft Office Excel and apply data processing and data analysis to Canadian and real-world business scenarios. Students develop skills in time management, self-discipline, and having an eye for detail by strengthening their ability to read and follow written instructions. Business Analytics is a course delivered using practical hands-on applications in the computer lab, utilizing student self-assessments, and online resources all designed to provide flexibility in learning. This course prepares students for further opportunities to apply their spreadsheet and data processing skills and expand upon them as they continue in their areas of study.

This course is designed for international students with diplomas or degrees. It focuses on polishing communications skills acquired through one's academic career and workplace experience. Through various business writing and speaking scenarios, students learn Canadian business practices and communication styles. Close attention is paid to proper incorporation of the intellectual property of others to ensure academic integrity. Students will practice organized and dynamic speaking and will strive for polished business documents.

Basic theoretical and operational knowledge of the hazards and techniques that may be encountered in the workplace are discussed. Students will identify hazards and safe operating procedures that include: Safeguard Systems, Personal Protective Equipment, Hazardous Energy, Materials Handling and Storage, Hoisting and Rigging Equipment, Powered Industrial Vehicles, Hand and Portable Power Tools, Woodworking Machinery, Welding and Cutting, Metalworking Machinery, Automated Systems or Processes, Confined Spaces, and Fall Protection.

The course provides students with a broad knowledge of risk management process, principles and practices. Topics include identifying, evaluating, assessing and analyzing different methods and techniques to prevent, reduce, mitigate or eliminate loss. Explore critical considerations of loss to personnel, property, liability, etc. Cost benefit analysis will also be introduced for selection of best alternative measures to manage risk and implement an effective risk management program

This subject is an examination of the contemporary Canadian business environment including the organization, leadership and management decision process which influences the behaviour of individuals and groups. Increased global competition, technological change and the rising expectations of both employees and employers have underlined the need for improved and more effective leadership. This subject provides a better understanding of this process.

Students are introduced to a detailed examination of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Canada Labor Code Part 2, applicable regulations, guidelines and codes. Students will learn the essential elements of the Canadian legal system, application of OHS law, communication and enforcement of OHS legal standards, prosecutions, professional ethics and due diligence. Students will be introduced to the historical development of occupational health. The independent and interdependent functions of occupational health team members are analyzed. Resource management, including financial considerations will be addressed.

OHS-2013: Ergonomics

Ergonomics is the science that addresses human performance and well-being in relation to the tasks that are being completed, the equipment used, and the environment in which work is being completed. Students are introduced to the practice of ergonomics and the technical elements required when developing an ergonomics program to prevent occupational illness and injury by changing the design of work and workplaces. Building on a foundation of anatomy, physiology, biomechanics and information processing, the student will learn how to evaluate and apply human capabilities and limitations to the design of workplaces, work methods, and jobs positions for optimal safety, efficiency, productivity and comfort. This course will also cover ergonomic system design, task analysis, muscle use, anthropometry, workspace design, musculoskeletal disorders, shiftwork, organizational and psychosocial aspects of work.

Exploration of key concepts leading to practices in integrated Disability Management will be learned by students. A multi-disciplinary approach to managing all forms of disability will be put forward based on sound best practice disability management techniques. The Workplace Safety and Insurance Act and how the compensation system operates, along with government legislation, Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), Accessibility for Ontarians Disability Act and applicable regulations will be reviewed. Multiple models of disability management will be presented. The assessment, evaluation, and accommodation of various return to work processes will be undertaken, developed and implemented.

This course will provide students with the knowledge for implementing and evaluating the performance of a fully functional management system based on organizational requirements. This course will focus on the most common and current management systems applied in Canada, particularly the requirements for Environmental Management Systems (EMS) ISO 14001:2015 and Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) ISO 45001:2018 (OHSAS 18001), and CSA: Z1000-14.

This course provides students with the skills and practical knowledge that apply to various regulatory standards related to air, water, soil, hazardous waste, chemical management and other related environmental legislation. Topics will be analyzed in terms of standard development, enforcement at municipal, provincial and federal levels, and the validity of the standard's ability to protect health and the environment particularly specific environmental statues that are significant to Ontario practice today.

In this course students will focus on Health and Wellness promotion and prevention as integral parts of occupational health and safety. The relationship between work and the determinant of health will be presented. Students will examine workplace trends and observations as key drivers in the development of Workplace Wellness Programs. Students will be skilled in: identifying risk factors and hazards influencing the health, safety and well-being of individuals and organizations; conducting workplace health surveys; designing, promoting, implementing and evaluating wellness initiatives based on health promotion theory; and using a holistic and multidisciplinary approach in accordance with organizational policies.

Process safety refers to the prevention of unintentional releases of chemicals, energy, or other potentially dangerous materials (including steam) during the course of chemical processes that can have a serious effect to the plant and environment. Students will study how industrial processes can affect worker and environmental health and safety.

An intensive certified Red Cross course, including written and practical tests, is designed to teach people first aid procedures and skill (without special equipment) that can be applied at the scene of an accident. This course also instructs the students in one and two rescuer CPR in adult and child and on rescuer infant victims. In the absence of professional medical help or supervisor, one will use techniques to preserve life, minimize the effects of injury, and promote recovery. Course fee includes materials.

This course provides students with an introduction to work-integrated learning paths (Co-op and WIL Project) and assists with the preparation for successful transitioning from the classroom to the professional workplace. Students are introduced to the services and support systems available through the Co-op and Career Services Department as well as the Work Integrated Learning Policy. The process of career planning and development is introduced with a focus on the design of preliminary job search strategies. Emphasis is placed on valuable self-assessment and reflection that allows for skills discovery and personal development. Topics including teamwork, interpersonal expectations, intercultural communication as well as navigating conflict in the workplace are introduced to assist in the development and enhancement of in-demand soft skills. Learners will develop marketing materials including a cover letter and resume, and practice interview techniques.

Academic Break

HRM-5003: Program Design Development and Implementation

Students will learn to design, implement, manage and evaluate new and existing programs in the workplace. Students will learn how to review legislative requirements, processes, tools and equipment, collect and analyze data to design effective and functional programs to meet organizational needs. Students will learn methods to evaluate programs and present findings to assist in making informed decisions.

The history of accident prevention will be examined, and will concentrate on the principles of managing safety. This course examines proper accident investigation, accident reporting, audits, inspections, accident costs, safety committees, elimination of hazards and basic loss control principles. This course examines the techniques and procedures for the prevention, control, and investigation of workplace accidents, incidents and hazards (with an emphasis on the Province of Ontario).

Students will develop an understanding of various emergency plans/procedures, identifying roles and responsibilities in emergency plans. This course is specific to the Emergency Response field with a strong focus on fire prevention. Students will learn unique information concerning response to emergencies, how to manage them, drill preparation and preparedness.

Students will be introduced to the historical background and basic concepts of occupational hygiene recognition, evaluation. Other topics include the control of health hazards in the workplace environment and to relate the role of the industrial hygienist to other professionals in the occupational health team, chemical, biological, physical and ergonomic stresses, and an in-depth examination of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Values (TLV) booklet.

Workers may be exposed to various hazards in the workplace which may affect their health and safety. Exposure monitoring for chemical, biological, and physical hazards frequently encountered in the workplace is reinforced through laboratory experiments and field measurements. As a hands-on component to theory of industrial hygiene and toxicology, students employ practical methods of sampling, measurement techniques and interpretation of results.

This series of workshops will provide students with the skills and knowledge which is applicable and specific to a variety of different business settings and industrial workplace environments. Over the course of these workshops, students receive a variety of tools and strategies that will assist in putting health and safety skills demonstrated through these workshops into practice. Guest speakers will be invited to present on particular topics.

This course enhances the foundational concepts learned to effectively engage in an active job search, develop networking strategies, and fine-tuning a cover letter, resume and interviewing techniques. As learners embark on the transition from student to professional employee, the course introduces learners to and supports them in demonstrating key employability skills to be successful in their work-integrated learning experience. Topics include professional and interpersonal expectations and competencies in the workplace, as well as workplace communications skills for success. Students will develop a strong foundation for career planning decisions with an emphasis placed on investigating and analyzing personality self-assessments, career goals and planning.

CPL-1049: Co-op Work Term - Full-Time*

Co-operative education provides students with the opportunity to apply classroom learning to the workplace, undertake career sampling and gain valuable work experience that may assist students in leveraging employment after graduation. For further information regarding co-op, please refer to: //www.lambtoncollege.ca/co-op_and_career/

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Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Project is aimed at enriching students by connecting different program areas of study, cutting across subject-matter lines, and emphasizing unifying concepts. The focus of the WIL Project is to make connections between study and industry by engaging students in relevant and meaningful activities that are connected to and practiced within the professional workplace. WIL Project allows students to enhance and strengthen their employability prospects post-graduation by fine tuning skills and knowledge and meeting the expectations of today's employers. Students are required to attend the scheduled shifts in the WIL office, reporting to the WIL Supervisor. Weekly real-world challenges are presented in the WIL office, designed by industry professionals. In addition to the weekly assigned deliverables, students are also offered professional development sessions, and exposed to industry guest speakers, enhancing their opportunity to develop their professional network.

*In order to be eligible to participate in a full-time Co-op Work Term (CPL-1049) students must have a GPA of 2.8 or greater.

Failing to do so will require the students to enroll in CPL-5559 WIL Project at an additional cost to the student.

See the Costs tab for current fees.

Program Maps

Students are required to follow their prescribed program map and are not allowed to take unscheduled breaks for any reason.

Current Students

Current students can view program maps from previous years on the mylambton website. 

You will need to login with your C# and password in order to access your program map.

Employment Opportunities

Program graduates can work in a wide range of roles in safety inspection, auditing, risk management, emergency management, environmental management and human resources management. Industry sectors include mining, construction, petroleum, forestry, health care, electrical and communications utilities, transportation, federal, provincial and municipal governments, retail and wholesale operations, warehousing and distribution networks, consulting, engineering and education.

For more information about post-graduate work eligibility for international students, please review the Post-Graduate Work Permit Program information.

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