Selecting and Hiring an OH&S Consultant

If you have determined that you need to hire the services of a consultant to assist you with occupational health and safety (OH&S) program or compliance requirements, there are some things you should consider. Health and safety consultants offer a wide range of services. On an as needed or ongoing basis, they can help you with:

• Technical assessments and measurements – for example: noise monitoring, ergonomics, air sampling, indoor air quality (IAQ) issues, medical monitoring, etc.,
• Audits or assessments of your health and safety program (for compliance, audit to industry standards, as part of your internal program review, etc.), or
• Develop and implement policies, procedures, and program elements.

No. CCOHS does not offer general OH&S consulting services. See the final question below on how to find an OH&S consultant.

If you are unsure what you need, consultants can work with you and provide assistance to determine what work needs to be done. A scope of work document is valuable because it describes how the expected outcomes (deliverables) will be achieved and in what timeframe. It is important to reach a scope of work that is agreed upon by both the client and the consultant. The scope of work should:

• outline the consultant’s duties and authority,
• clarify any procedural expectations by the client (for example: how a consultant will access the work site, read records, or conduct research with workers),
• outline the how much work will be done in terms of the various aspects of the issue/problem/project/etc.,
• list any requirements for final reports or any restrictions on developing recommendations, and
• outline steps to be taken to ensure confidentiality, payment terms, termination clauses, etc.

Understanding credentials

As stated by the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (2015): “In Canada and other countries, the terms “certification” and “designation” are often used interchangeably when referring to an individual’s qualifications in occupational health and safety. There are numerous certifications and designations currently available for OH&S practitioners to earn. In general, qualifications of this type serve to confirm that, based upon an assessment process, the individual has demonstrated they have met an established standard for the knowledge, skills, and abilities for which they have been evaluated. These qualifications are available for health and safety “general practitioners”, as well as those who specialize in a particular industry (e.g., construction) or a specific area of practice (e.g., occupational hygiene or ergonomics).”

Contact the association that grants the credential for more specific information.

Verifying relevant experience or qualifications

It is also important to confirm experience, request samples of work, and check references. Talking with previous clients and verifying the consultant’s competence, professionalism, and ability to deliver results can provide reassurance that you have selected the right service provider.

You may also need to perform verification of qualifications (licenses, degrees, certificates, etc). For example, many jurisdictions require various types of assessments be carried out by a professional engineer, qualified person, or competent person. In order to satisfy your legal obligations as an employer, you may be called on to demonstrate through records that someone acting on your behalf in this capacity is adequately qualified or competent. Therefore, request and maintain records and keep documentation of the person’s qualifications, their resume, and verified references. A professional should not be offended by this request and should willingly provide the documentation supporting their experience or credentials.

Sample questions to ask the consultant or a previous client may include:

1. Were deadlines met?
2. Were there overruns on cost?
3. Was the consultant's analysis of the problem accurate?
4. Did she/he offer constructive recommendations?
5. How well did he/she interact with the company's staff?
6. Who did the work?Who was expected to do the work?
7. How well did the consultant prepare for and follow-up meetings?
8. What evaluation process was used?
9. How did they meet your reporting expectations?

A written contract is generally recommended. As with any other procurement process (for goods or services), a contract helps to clarify both parties’ expectations up front and it can help resolve any disputes that may arise down the road. A poorly worded or vague contract is of little value; therefore, after drafting a contract for services, it is a good idea to have it reviewed by someone with experience in this area. Both parties should sign and date the contract and keep their own copies.

Industry associations or credential granting organizations may publish a list of members that offer services. Health and safety associations may also provide industry specific consulting or services, and are also a good source of information.

To locate consultants in your area use a search engine, such as Google. Key words include “occupational health and safety consultants”. You may wish to add your specific topics (e.g., indoor air quality) and location to help narrow the results.

Some organizations provide a list of professionals that offer services* include:

• Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals
• Canadian Registration Board of Occupational Hygienists (see consultant listing under Resources)
• Association of Canadian Ergonomists, Directory of Consultants
• Association of Canadian Ergonomists, Directory of Ergonomists
• Health and Safety Consultants - Nova Scotia
• Occupational Hygiene Association of Ontario, Directory of Consultants in Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety
• American Industrial Hygiene Association

(*We have mentioned these organizations as a means of providing a potentially useful referral. You should contact the organization(s) directly for more information about their services. Please note that mention of these organizations does not represent a recommendation or endorsement by CCOHS of these organizations over others of which you may be aware.)