Now, more than ever, organizations need qualified Occupational Health & Safety practitioners who understand the dynamics of health and safety.

Read on to learn how one New Brunswick woman stumbled into a rewarding career in this dynamic field and pursued an online education at UNB in a journey that would take her across the country and back.

When Clare Tooley moved to Alberta from New Brunswick several years ago, she had no idea what she wanted to do with her life. Her first safety-related position was as a Health and Safety Administrator. Tooley fell in love with the job from day one and says the position opened her eyes to the world of safety.

Armed with a new-found passion for the field of occupational health and safety (OHS) and a strong motivation to learn, Tooley began researching in-person classes in Alberta. Her search ended when she discovered UNB’s online OHS training opportunities and she soon enrolled in the Certificate in Occupational Health & Safety (COHS) program. After completing her COHS, Tooley enrolled in, and completed, her Diploma in Occupational Health & Safety (DOHS) – all the while continuing to work full-time.

"I had to be working full time to pay bills. Having the opportunity to be disciplined and complete each course on my own time was essential for me. CEL allows you to pay per course and gives you plenty of time to complete the courses, but also gives you a deadline to keep you driven. The teachers were great. Any time I had a question (and believe me I did!) they were right there with an email back, or sometimes a phone call! All my completed assignments came back from the instructor with helpful notes and comments which I really liked."

Upon completion of her DOHS, Tooley says she was already wondering what she could do next.

"I went on to obtain my CRSP (Canadian Registered Safety Professional) designation, which is a huge achievement in the OHS field. The certificate and diploma programs I took through CEL were prerequisites to obtain the CRSP."

Tooley has since returned to New Brunswick where she discovered safety positions are as in demand here as they are in other provinces.

"I came home to an OHS Coordinator opportunity in construction and have since moved on to another OHS position in a municipal setting. I have met so many amazing people in this field, I would not want to be doing anything else. Every day is a learning opportunity, whether you're helping coordinate a construction project or helping navigate your organization through a global pandemic."

When asked what surprised her most about her experience with CEL, Tooley says it was how worth it taking these courses truly was.

"When I started my OHS journey in Alberta, I really had no idea what that meant for me once we moved back home. But it has allowed me to thrive and obtain a successful, fulfilling career that I am proud of and enjoy coming to each day."

If you want to gain the expertise required to meet your organization’s Occupational Health and Safety needs, UNB’s comprehensive suite of training programs can help. For more information, visit our website, sign up for an information session, or email us at customerservice@unb.ca.