Occupational Health and Safety Management (Co-op)

Program Overview

Occupational health and safety specialists focus on recognizing, preventing and managing potential risks to the health and safety of workers in their work environment. Fanshawe’s Occupational Health and Safety Management program is a two-year Ontario College Graduate Certificate (including three academic semesters and one co-op semester) that prepares graduates for entry-level supervisory roles in the field of occupational health and safety.

international only

Yes

PGWP

Yes

CIP Code

15.0701

Program Details

Program Code

OLH1

Credential:

Ontario College Graduate Certificate

Duration

45 Weeks

International Students

Start Dates

Locations

Availability

Full Time Offerings

2025 May

London

Open

2026 May

London

Open

Your Learning Experience

OLH1 is for international students. Domestic students can enrol in OLH2.

Fanshawe’s Occupational Health and Safety Management program prepares students for careers promoting health and safety within organizations by developing safer, healthier and more efficient ways of working. The curriculum aligns with the six competency domains of the Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) certification offered by the Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals (BCRSP), including:

Hazard and Risks: Identification and Assessment
Hazard and Risks: Controls and Mitigation
Health and Safety Management
Ethics, Professional Role and Function
Technical, Human and Social Sciences
Management Sciences

Graduates will be prepared for employment opportunities in all occupational environments, from manufacturing and healthcare to transportation and agriculture, as in-house professionals or as consultants.

Career Information

This program prepares graduates for entry-level supervisory roles in the field of occupational health and safety.

Careers include: Occupational Health Inspector, Occupational Health and Safety Officer, Industrial Health Officer and Public Health Safety Officer.

Did you know Fanshawe consistently ranks high in graduation employment rates among large colleges in Ontario? Check out our graduate employment rates and other key performance indicators.

Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

Evaluate safety management systems using industry-standard principles and practices to determine system efficacy and continuous improvement opportunities.
Develop and implement safety management systems that meet organizational goals and comply with Canadian legislation, regulations, standards, industry guidelines and best practices.
Develop and implement practices, policies and programs for workplace health and wellness that are aligned with regulatory requirements and industry practices.
Collaborate with stakeholders to identify, investigate and address health, safety and wellness challenges within organizations.
Evaluate and evolve the health, safety and wellness performance of the organizational culture using industry benchmarks, metrics, and best practices.
Implement controls and mitigation strategies appropriate for identified hazards and risks to protect workers and the organization.
Identify and assess hazards and risks at the workplace, using a variety of industry-standard techniques and tools, to protect workers and the organization.
Develop and implement corporate environmental social responsibility and sustainability practices, policies and programs that comply with Canadian legislation, regulations, standards and guidelines.
Comply with the professional and ethical obligations and expectations for safety professionals outlined in the BCRSP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.
Apply strategies for personal and professional development to enhance performance and maintain currency within the industry in a Canadian context.

Academic School

School of Public Safety

Program Coordinator:

Mahesh Mallikarjunan

Admission Requirements

Ontario College Diploma, Ontario College Advanced Diploma, Degree, or equivalent

Note: To qualify for Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) certification from the Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals (BCRSP), applicants must possess a Bachelor's degree in any field from a recognized academic institution or a two-year (900 hours or 60 academic credit) diploma or certificate in occupational health and safety or equivalent from a recognized academic institution. For more information go to bcrsp.ca

International Admission Equivalencies

Admission equivalencies for Fanshawe depends on your country of study. Please enter your location to see the requirements for your country below.

English Language Requirements

Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to demonstrate proficiency in English by one of the following methods:

� A Grade 12 College Stream or University Stream English credit from an Ontario Secondary School, or equivalent, depending on the program's Admission Requirements

� Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) test with a minimum score of 88 for the Internet-based test (iBT), with test results within the last two years

� International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic test with an overall score of 6.5 with no score less than 6.0 in any of the four bands, with test results within the last two years. SDS Program Requirements.

� Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) test with an overall score of 70 with no score less than 60 in any of the four bands, with test results within the last two years

� Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE) with a minimum score of 59, with test results within the last two years

� A Cambridge English Test (FCE/CAE/CPE) with an overall score on the Cambridge English Scale of 176 with no language skill less than 169, with test results within the last two years

� An English Language Evaluation (ELE) at Fanshawe College with a minimum score of 75% in all sections of the test, with test results within the last two years

� Fanshawe College ESL4/GAP5 students: Minimum grade of 80% in ESL4/GAP5 Level 9 or 75% in ESL4/GAP5 Level 10

Applicant Selection Criteria

Where the number of program eligible applicants exceeds available spaces, the Applicant Selection Criteria for this program will be:

1. Preference for Permanent Residents of Ontario

2. Receipt of Application by February 1st (After this date, Fanshawe College will consider applicants on a first-come, first-served basis until the program is full)

3. Achievement in the Admission Requirements

Courses

Level 1
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:
CANS-6001	Contemporary Canadian Society	3
Using a sociological lens, this course introduces students to the Canadian social landscape and key societal topics. Students will learn about Canada's history and the experiences of various ethnic, linguistic, and racial groups within the nation. Through understanding the myriad dynamics of culture, socialization, and oppression, students will gain critical insight and holistic understanding of Canadian contemporary society. Topics relevant to race, gender, class, and immigration will be examined in the context of increased equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives within Canadian institutions.
CANS-6002	Citizenship & Immigration in Canada	3
What are the factors that have influenced Canada's ever-evolving immigration and citizenship policies and how do these factors influence us today? These are the two major questions that we will address in this course. In answering these questions, we will look at why immigration was central to Canada's nation-building, why there was backlash to immigration, and why World War II was a catalyst for change in Canadian immigration policies. Through understanding the past, we will learn about today's understandings of culture, society, politics, civic responsibility, and belonging in relation to Canadian citizenship and immigration.
POLI-6001	Canadian Government & Politics	3
Canada's governments and political systems are faced with the challenge of governing a diverse population who inhabit the second-largest nation in the world. Understanding those systems is key to living, learning and working in Canada. Students taking this course will learn the history and current status of Canadian political systems and leaders - from the foundations of the nation at Confederation to the policies and issues behind current government decisions. Students will understand the rights of citizens, the laws of the nation, the political parties that seek to govern us, our three levels of government, and how to engage with those levels for specific issues or needs. Throughout the course, students will learn how to find reliable Canadian media sources to develop the skills needed to critically analyse current issues and consider ways in which the political system could be improved - in part, by considering the policies and practices of other nations.
HLTH-6051	Canadian Health Care System	3
This course will introduce graduate-level international students to the Canadian health care system. Topics to be covered include the history of health care, provincial and federal roles and responsibilities, key health care occupations, provincial health insurance inclusion, and private health care in Canada. Students will also explore and debate current health care issues and trends. At the conclusion of the course, students will have the knowledge and skills to confidently navigate and access their provincial health care system for themselves and their families.
DEVL-6035	The Canadian Workplace	3
This course will teach post-graduate level students that are new to the Canadian workplace the fundamentals of job searching practices, the various processes related to applying to jobs, interview techniques and employer expectations when interviewing. It will also examine workplace culture and on-the-job expectations in order to be successful in Canada. Students will become familiar with their rights and employment standards in Canada, and specifically in Ontario. Students will be able to create targeted resumes for various levels of employment in Canada. Students will also be introduced to the importance and value of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion as it relates to workplace organizations. By the end of the course, students will have the necessary tool kit, including essential entry-level marketing documents and various resources to be successful, to begin their career journey in Canada.
COMM-6046	Canadian Workplace Communications	3
This course will introduce post-graduate level international students to communication within the Canadian workplace. Topics to be covered will include verbal, non-verbal and written communications, with a focus on cultural differences. In this course, students will learn how to create basic workplace messages (including social media), engage in workplace conversations, organize workplace meetings, and deliver informal presentations. Instruction will emphasize the importance of tone, audience, purpose, body language, word choice, and grammar in the Canadian context. Through group work, students will develop interpersonal strategies for common face-to-face workplace interactions. By the end of the course, students will be able to confidently engage in basic communication with co-workers, clients and customers in the Canadian workplace.
DEVL-6036	Post-Secondary Learning in Canada	3
This course will prepare graduate-level international students for the learning environment in Canadian post-secondary institutions. Topics to be covered will include academic integrity, research methods and online learning. Students will learn to apply research, information evaluation and citation skills in addition to learning critical Academic Integrity principles. Students will also be exposed to common teaching and learning methods used in graduate certificate programs, including case-based learning, problem-based learning and experiential learning, and investigate relevant study skills and College resources that will support their learning and development Students will work individually and in groups, both in F2F and online learning environments, and will have ample opportunity for skill development that will support their success in future coursework.

View all courses