Construction Safety Nova Scotia adopts NCSO® and NHSA™ designations

Jan. 9, 2023

Will allow for increased mobility for construction safety professionals across the country

DARTMOUTH, NS — Construction Safety Nova Scotia is pleased to announce that it is now offering the National Construction Safety Officer (NCSO®) designation. Nova Scotia is the last province to adopt the designation amongst the construction safety associations across Canada, making this a significant milestone in the efforts of harmonizing safety from coast to coast.

“By adopting the designation that is recognized across the country, construction safety professionals can much more easily work across the Atlantic Provinces or as far away as B.C. or the Yukon,” said MJ MacDonald, CEO of Construction Safety Nova Scotia. “We are striving to simplify safety for our members, and this is a big step in that direction.”

The NCSO® seal verifies that a person has met the training, practical application, minimum three years of experience and written performance measurement standards as set out by the members of the Canadian Federation of Construction Safety Associations.

“We’re happy to welcome Nova Scotia to the NCSO® family,” said Sean Scott, chair of the Canadian Federation of Construction Safety Associations (CFCSA). “The designation is an excellent way to jump start your career in construction and it is recognized and sought-after by employers across Canada. Having Nova Scotia on board opens up opportunities across provinces for all designation holders.”

Persons who achieve the NCSO® standing can be a valuable resource to management in the administration and implementation of a company’s health & safety program for the purpose of reducing incidents, injuries, or loss.

All Construction Safety Supervisor (CSS) designation holders can apply via an online application to write the NCSO® exam to earn the designation.

NHSA™

Construction Safety Nova Scotia will also be offering the National Health and Safety Administrator (NHSA™) designation for the first time. The program provides formal, entry-level training to individuals who are active in the administration of their company’s health and safety program, but do not currently possess the minimum of three years’ construction field experience that is required to achieve the NCSO® designation.

The NHSA™ designation indicates to employers that the participant has practical and theoretical knowledge in various health and safety management skills and principles.

An NHSA™ provides valuable assistance to employers and their NCSO® in the administration and implementation of the company’s health and safety program. The NHSA™ designation is the first step toward a becoming a leader in the construction safety field.

“Every leader needs a great support system. We wanted to offer the NHSA™ designation to allow those individuals who are just starting out their careers get a leg up and be on the fast track to safety leadership,” said MacDonald.

Construction Safety Nova Scotia is hosting a live stream webinar on Jan. 26 at noon AST to discuss the benefits of the designations, the requirements, and answer any questions that construction safety professionals may have.

Learn more about both designations and the process to achieve them here.

ABOUT CONSTRUCTION SAFETY NOVA SCOTIA

Construction Safety Nova Scotia (CSNS) is an industry funded not-for-profit association focused on improving occupational health and safety in the construction sector. All companies with a current WCB account under the construction industry classification codes 4011-4499 and 3551 are automatically members of the association due to the levies they pay to the WCB. CSNS is a highly regarded leader in occupational health and safety (OHS) services with over 300,000 students trained in health and safety and over 1,150 firms attaining the association’s COR® Safety Certification. Members receive subsidized training and access to free mentorship for all aspects of their OHS programs. The board of directors, trainers, OHS advisors, and CSNS staff work towards a safer construction industry by engaging with its membership to reduce injuries and improve safety culture. https://constructionsafetyns.ca/