Larry Masotti
Chair of the Board of Governors, Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals (BCRSP)
In today’s high-risk, dynamic work environments, technical skills are not enough. Here’s how recognized safety credentials can be a career booster.
Apprenticeships and skilled trades help to keep Canada’s economy humming and are vital to our country’s future. “As our population continues to grow, so too will demand for trades in industries such as housing development, mining development, advanced manufacturing and energy,” says Larry Masotti, Chair of the Board of Governors, Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals (BCRSP). However, these sectors operate in complex, high-risk environments where safety performance affects productivity, project delivery, and public confidence.
Technical skills no longer enough
Today’s worksites require individuals who understand risk and how to embed practical safety controls into day-to-day operations. Who better to lead the charge than skilled tradespeople? “Journeypersons, workers, supervisors, and managers are in close contact with these hazards, so they understand the risks of working in a dynamic environment,” says Masotti. “Providing them with recognized safety credentials allows them to bridge the gap between policy and practice and help translate safety programs into actions that work on real job sites,” says Masotti.
Enhance your employability and earnings potential
The Canadian Registered Safety Technician® (CRST®) designation from BCRSP lets skilled tradespeople to do just that within a short time. Since its launch in 2018, the CRST program has been growing quickly. “While there are several pathways to obtaining this certification, what makes it unique is its acceptance of journeyperson status as qualifying educational background,” says Masotti.
Journeypersons, workers, supervisors, and managers are in close contact with these hazards, so they understand the risks of working in a dynamic environment. Providing them with recognized safety credentials allows them to bridge the gap between policy and practice and help translate safety programs into actions that work on real job sites.
Aligned with the ISO 17024 standard, the CRST certificate is recognized as a valid and valuable professional credential. “Having safety technicians who understand the language of both the trades and the occupational health and safety (OH&S) requirements benefits employers by helping to instill a stronger safety culture, more effective training, and improved regulatory compliance,” says Masotti.
Employees also benefit from a credential that can propel them into leadership roles early on in their career. Most of all, having clear, credible pathways from the trades into safety leadership strengthens the workforce and reinforces the shared goal of ensuring people return home safe at the end of every workday.
To learn more about BCRSP’s CRST certification and other safety certifications, individuals are encouraged to visit their website. “We also have a large network of CRSTs that you can speak to for guidance or assistance,” says Masotti. “As health and safety professionals it’s inherent in our nature to want to help others, so there’s no shortage of people who will be happy to speak with you,” he says.
