The question is, how do we ensure it’s done safely?

We’re flattening the curve across many regions of Canada. Provinces are beginning to reopen, and the Prime Minister & Premiers have released principles to guide that reopening in the weeks and months ahead.

As the retail industry consults with government to draft new regulations and guidelines for a return to operation, there will be a strong emphasis on Health & Safety to protect and reassure both industry workers and customers. Provincial and municipal governments are planning carefully staged approaches, with public health and safety the number one concern in balancing the needs of people and business. Industry associations are working hard at developing frameworks, resources, and tools to assist consumer facing businesses (retail, restaurants and hotels) in preparing for the “new normal” to come.

Industry representatives are proactively reaching out to all levels of government to ensure that the recovery guidelines and regulations are as harmonized as possible and mirror the needs of the sector and its employees and customers, in accordance with provincial and local public health guidelines. These include rules around partial openings, continued social distancing, PPE in the workplace, constant – and visible – ongoing sanitizing, and a phased return of the broader workforce.

Successfully interpreting and implementing this new world of regulation will be challenging, and will require a broader, deeper, and more intense focus on Health and Safety than ever before. It will require strong leadership, constant operational flexibility and significant internal expertise. That can only be delivered by professionals with deep levels of expertise, dynamic leadership skills, and extensive experience in consumer facing service industries.

Recognizing this rapidly approaching and extensive need for top grade Health & Safety professionals, in recent weeks the JRoss team has proactively connected with 100s of Health and Safety experts across Canada to gain a sense of the talent profile available. To share some of what they found, the profiles below will give you an idea of the types of Health & Safety skills and experience that are available, and that retail organizations like yours may need. Please keep in mind that skills may be transferrable from roles in other areas as well, so those in other fields may also be able to add value in this area as retail re-opens.

Environment, Health and Safety Specialist - Calgary

With retail, construction, transportation and oil and gas sector experience, this candidate has over 15 years of experience in H&S. Armed with an Emergency Medical Responder certification, a Health Fundamentals Certificate and a OH&S Diploma, they’ve trained thousands of employees, held company wide safety meetings and mentored others in the field. They have extensive experience in safety project management, developing processes & systems, change management, system implementation and auditing. In addition, they have extensive knowledge of disability management, WCB legislation, appeals and return to work programs. This lifelong learner is currently working towards their CRSP designation and a Certificate in Management and Human Resources.

Bilingual Director of Health and Safety – Toronto (open to relocation)

This Health & Safety professional has significant experience developing and managing Health, Safety and Risk Management programs on a national level across both Canada and the USA. Currently working for a retail chain with hundred of units across Canada, they’re experts in provincial legislation covering all facets of health and safety including workplace violence and harassment incident prevention, hazard controls, OHSA compliance, injury/illness prevention, WCB, LTD and CNESST preventative leave claims management in a multi-brand setting. Their store operations, human resources and Health & Safety management systems expertise will help them adapt quickly to the changing demands of the industry as stores reopen in a world of shifting protocols and regulatory requirements.

Health and Safety Consultant – Vancouver

This Health and Safety consultant has 10 years experience in workplace health and safety, working for national restaurant, retail and security organizations. As a H&S Representative for a national restaurant group, they acted as the liaison between the restaurants and governing bodies, ensuring the restaurants complied with legislation by delegating and conducting monthly workplace inspections and conducting and facilitating JHSC meetings, while successfully maintaining a workplace hazard analysis program. They’re a well organized, methodical problem solver with a collaborative approach. They have a diploma in Protection, Security and Investigations and are currently working towards a Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety in order to obtain a CRSP designation. Currently working as a consultant for an EHS Risk Management and Compliance company, this results-oriented Health & Safety professional wants to be on the front line helping support Canada’s service industries during this crisis.

Occupational Health and Safety Director– Toronto

This tenured and experienced Environmental, Health and Safety Director has a demonstrated history of successfully working in the logistics/supply chain, automotive/manufacturing and retail/hospitality industries. They’re experienced in ISO 14001 and ISO 50001, TS 16949, Workplace Mental Health, Disability Management, Workplace Safety, Environmental Awareness, Safety Management Systems, and Continuous Improvement. They’ve focused on improving workplace safety through organizational change, affecting corporate culture, team building, improving business processes and aligning key principles. Their personal priorities include being a positive change agent while balancing corporate operational and fiscal realities with the human component of a company.