Online learning, determination, and perseverance helped one woman reskill and excel in a new career.

A decade ago, Erin Williamson was a stay-at-home mom, pursuing studies in bookkeeping, when her life abruptly changed. Her husband, a truck driver, was involved in a fatal accident that left him emotionally paralyzed and diagnosed with PTSD. The day after the accident, Williamson realized her husband would no longer be able to provide for their family. She immediately began applying for several positions in the city closest to their home where she knew she could earn at least half the wage her husband had been making, and possibly get her family through the dark times ahead.

Williamson was hired as a bookkeeper/controller at an acid hauling company and started taking care of the organization's payroll and financial needs. The company happened to be in the middle of a Certificate of Recognition audit with Energy Safety Canada and was in jeopardy of losing its certification. Williamson says she muddled through the audit and managed to demonstrate that the company was compliant with its health and safety management system and relevant legislation but saw a need for a deeper look into the program.

It was during this process that Williamson's employer recognized her passion for the health and safety of workers and offered to assist her in gaining more knowledge, encouraging her to research training programs. Thanks to a recommendation from Energy Safety Canada, Williamson selected UNB for her Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) training and enrolled in the online Certificate in Occupational Health & Safety (COHS) program.

"While working full time and taking care of the needs of my husband and three children, I was able to work through the programs and retain the knowledge I needed to assist me in passing the courses in good time."

Sadly, Williamson's education was put on hold for a time due to another series of tragic events, which did not allow her the time to focus on her own self-improvement and career.

In 2018, after moving to another company, Williamson was ready to continue her studies with the goal of obtaining her CRSP designation through the Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals. Once again, she looked to UNB and enrolled in the online Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety (DOHS) program.

"The program consisted of a number of modules, which were all valuable in where I wanted to go with my knowledge. One of the highlights was the focus on leadership, which is truly the cornerstone of the health and safety professional."

Williamson worked through the training, earned her DOHS, then completed CEL's CRSP exam preparation course.

"On September 16, 2020, I took the hardest, most anxiety-driven exam of my life and passed with the help of the education I received through the University of New Brunswick."

Williamson says UNB's courses are written and delivered in a way that made it easy for her to continue working and allowed her to challenge herself. Feedback from instructors was valuable, timely, and effective. With her improved writing skills, Williamson says she now feels she is competent and enjoys mentoring others to lift them up to their full potential.

"Being able to use my education to give back to the community through volunteering as the Safety Officer for our minor hockey association has been fulfilling as I was able to assist the association in procedures, protocols and practices for safety in our facility, and the health of our members during the pandemic by offering solutions and prevention measures to deal with the risks of COVID."

Without her OHS education, Williamson says her employment and career would have been affected much more by the current economic climate and public health emergency.

"Over the last 10 years, my dreams in respect to my career have come true. I earn an excellent living as a Health and Safety professional employed full-time, with many contracts on the side through my sole proprietorship. I hope my story is an inspiration to others who are facing challenges and looking for quality education to start or continue a new career."

Did you know health and safety credentials can boost your professional portfolio and help you become an Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) champion in your organization?

The University of New Brunswick's OHS training programs are fully online, making it convenient to fit education into your busy schedule. For more information, visit our website, sign up for an information session, or email us at customerservice@unb.ca.