UNB Occupational Health & Safety Education - Darrel Nickerson

In this podcast episode, Darrel Nickerson discusses UNB’s occupational health & safety certification programs with an emphasis on the importance of continuous learning for safety professionals. UNB’s programs are designed to enhance knowledge and skills in safety management and leadership, featuring online, self-paced courses with over 12,000 students enrolled. 

Transcript

SSNB Podcast - UNB OHS Certification Programs - Darrel Nickerson-20250618_100612-Meeting Recording

Perley Brewer   0:11
Welcome to today's podcast.
My name is Pearlie Brewer and I will be your host.
Today's broadcast is going to focus on the University of New Brunswick.
OH&S certification programs, our guest is that they're all Nickerson, one of New Brunswick leading health and safety professionals who was involved with the program.
Welcome, Darrell.

   0:30
Thank you, pearlie.
Glad to be here.

Perley Brewer   0:32
Look, Darrel, since the last time we talked, you've retired and you're now.
Available, I guess you could say what are you up to these days?

   0:43
Yeah.
So thanks, Perley.
I I retired in December from some people will know I worked for JNDI for 35 years.
I've been involved with safety for 30 of those years and when I retired I started my own consulting business, so I've I'm I'm doing some education and some consulting with some folks and still still in the safety space and still working on my my volunteer work.
I'm currently the past year of Safety services New Brunswick and currently a governor with the the Board of Canadian registered safety Professionals National Board.

Perley Brewer   1:23
So you're busy, guy.
One of the areas that you're involved in is UNB's certificate certification programs on health and safety.
Why don't you tell us and our listeners a little bit about those programs?

   1:37
Yeah.
So I've been involved with with the UMB program since 2018.
Currently I'm an instructor for three courses in their diploma program, which I'll explain a little bit later, but I'm an instructor for effective communications, human performance development and work in complex and work environments, which is basically a confined space course.
I've also a course designer for for some courses and they also have a webinar series every year and I'm a regular presenter for that.
We've got our 20252026 season kicking off this fall.
I've got 2 webinars, 1 in December on serious injuries and fatalities, and then in April next year on effective communication tips for risk management.
So um, a lot of a lot of really good stuff happening at at UNB, and if you want, we can kind of get right into the the programs themselves.

Perley Brewer   2:42
Sure.
Why don't you do that?

   2:44
So the the the main program.
One of the main programs they have ispational Health and safety.
It's consists of 11 courses and each course is takes about 10 weeks to do.
It's really the base level safety information that folks need in order to be successful in safety.
Um, I've recommended this program to a lot of folks that that I work with and have worked with over the years because it really provides that knowledge of safety, the safety management system, and it sets folks up um to be effective in health and safety longer term and upon completion the graduates will meet the formal education requirements to rate the we see ersp's Canadian registered Safety Technician exam.
Following that, there's the diploma program, which is the the program that I'm most familiar with.
It also has 10 courses.
Um and it's the advanced program, so it kind of takes the the learnings from the certificate program and kind of takes it to the next level and really focuses on leadership safety, leadership and and the more technical aspects of safety and moves more into system thinking than and then incident thinking and when coupled with the certificate program it provide you the formal education requirements to write the Canadian registered safety professionals exam.
In addition to that, they also have a certificate in safety leadership.
So it's a three course certificate program and again it's targeted for those folks that want to improve their knowledge, skills and abilities around safety, leadership and working with senior management and and working with groups of folks.
So it's a, it's a great addition as you grow in your career in safety of other programs they have is certificate in psychological safe leadership.
It's a again, a three course certificate program and it's designed really to equip leaders with the skills and insight they need to identify the metal risks and reduce the metal harms in the workplace.
So again, the lot of a lot of talk you although the in the industry now around psychologically safe and and there's more programs coming around.
So this this really gives the safety professionals a good solid understanding of of how to work within that within that space.
Any other programs they have is it's called certificate and becoming a psychologically safe and inclusive employee, and it's really structured for individuals to help them develop the skills to be able to be supportive and work within a respective workplace and and help reduce the conflicts that sometimes can happen in workplaces.
So again, it's a three course certificate program.
They also offer a number of individual courses.
Um, two of the probably the most popular are the CRST and the CRSP exam preparation courses.
So for anybody who has or or is planning to write the CRST or Canadian Ridge safety technician CRSP Kenny registered safety professional uh, they're familiar with the exam process.
You're writing a challenge or challenging the exam.
The prep course will help you prepare to write the rate those exams.
There's also a new one just put out last year called Ethics for the OHS professional.
Um again?
Anybody who is a serious tier serious P would be familiar with their part of their continuing continuous program development cycle.
One of the mandatory requirements to have is to have training in ethics and this course will meet that meet that requirement, and they also have some workplace uh Wellness courses, including mental fitness pathways that coping and cannabis in the workplace.

Perley Brewer   7:02
So you deliver these some of these courses.
Can you describe how a course is actually delivered as such?

   7:10
Yeah.
Yeah, so, so these courses are fully online, self-paced and they're they're called asynchronous or basically you can start them at anytime.
So there's not a set time like if you think about education, you know you'd start in September, you'd start in January.
These courses you can start at anytime you go online, you you register and once you're registered then you can start that course that day.
And as I said, they're fully online and self-paced, so it really fits with today's working professional to be able to fit into their their lifestyle because you can do these courses anytime, anywhere as long as you've got the access to to the Internet.

Perley Brewer   7:56
So what's the course actually to look like?
So I I I log in with my information.
Uh, take it from there and describe what what a participant would see.

   8:07
Yeah.
So each course has a syllabus or, you know, kind of the the what?
You're gonna go.
What you're going to run down through and there's a series of modules that the student will see and and the the work that they have to do is is included in those modules.
So the work their way through that each of the modules is designed to be as interactive as as possible with the online environment.
So again, it's not just a page that you're reading information.
There's there's quizzes as you go along.
There's interactions.
Sometimes we include videos or we'll include other readings, so trying to to make sure that the student has a full experience as they're learning the material and then some courses, they'll be quizzes as you go through.
Some will have a final exam like I think all of them have a final exam and some courses will have assignments that will have to be done.
So it might be an essay or or some kind of an assignment that has to be completed.

Perley Brewer   9:16
So what's your roles and Instructor?

   9:19
O my role instructor really is to make sure that the material is is kept up to date and and valid um also to provide any feedback to the students.
So any of the material that they have to to turn in any assignments, then we mark those, provide the feedback and also be available to the students.
So if they have any questions as they're going through, they can reach out to us and and then we'll be able to support them from there.

Perley Brewer   9:48
So do you get many questions when you do, of course.

   9:52
Not a lot of questions we get.
You know, I'll get.
I'll get some.
Some students will will be working through and and you know, don't understand, maybe how what we're looking for from an assignment or as they're going through there might be some things that might not make sense to them as their as their reading through it.
So, you know, we'll get what questions you know occasionally from students, but it's not a it's not an everyday, not an everyday thing.

Perley Brewer   10:20
Hmm.
Um, you mentioned the webinar series that you're involved with.
What are?
What would be some of the other topics that they would cover in the in the webinar series?

   10:31
So there's a there's a range of of topics, and and all core safety related.
I have done a few on on risk.
I've done again the one coming up is on serious injuries and fatalities.
The they're all available on.
On the UNB website.
Um, but we've talked about leadership.
We've talked about some of the specific.
Um, you know things within the program, whether it be hygiene or health or any of those.
So really a wide variety.
We've been doing these now, I think for the last four years and we do 5-4 or five a year.
So there's been a there's a number of them that are available online.

Perley Brewer   11:18
So who enrolls in these certification programs?

   11:23
So.
Well, there's a a variety of folks that that, that I guess we'll enroll.
Most of them are folks that are in the safety space, so they're looking to improve their career or further their their career or they're looking to.
You know, look, maybe they're going to be taking a safety designation like the Sierra or Sierras P or one of the other designations as out there is available.
Um, one of the things that I think is is important is again a lot of new folks that are coming into the safety space.
It's a great base and all the certificate program is a really good base safety program.
They really give them an understanding of the management system.
How safety works and industry?
Um, and you know folks who are also just interested in safety.
Like maybe you're on a a Josh committee or an accommodation safety committee.
Those folks also will will take these courses because again, it's a great a great learning to understand how the the safety process work.
Uh.

Perley Brewer   12:31
So what?
So what kinds of uptake has there been on the program over the years?
Do you have any sense of numbers or I know sometimes companies are reluctant to give out numbers, but.

   12:37
Yet.
Yeah.
No, actually UMB's quite proud of that today.
There's been more than 12,000 students that have completed one or more of the OS programs.

Perley Brewer   12:49
Well.

   12:49
So yeah, it's it's actually one of Canada's leading OHS providers online, OHS, providing institutions and you know, he's very proud of that.
We've well, we've been doing it for many, many years.
Um, actually just the couple of awards we received is the candy occupation, health and safety Readers Choice award for the top educational institution in OHS programming for the last three years and just this year, we're awarded best institution for professional development by the Atlantic Business Magazine.
So it's a very well renowned program and had have had lots of students and and is continuing to grow.
What?

Perley Brewer   13:33
So from what locations are the students registering?
It's always interesting to find out where the audience is.

   13:37
Yeah.
Yeah, it's, it's it's interesting because you know, I mean the short answer is it's it's everywhere.
You know the there's a lot of folks from out West.
UNB is is highly regarded in Western Canada as as one of the top OHS schools, but growing their we're growing our presence in Ontario and here in the East.
Of course.
The.
Unb marketing team spends every year out at trade shows, marketing to program out to students.
But we've had students, you know, from the US, we've had students all around the world, and probably about 45 countries around the world in total over the years.
And I've had, you know, person.
I've had students from Kazakhstan and from Dubai and and down in the states, so it's it's an international, internationally understood program and and respected.

Perley Brewer   14:40
Now, what challenges would you have in in offering a course to an international student coming from some of the countries you just mentioned, where health and safety is really very different than what it would be here in Canada?

   14:52
Yeah, that.
And that's one of the things that you know, we always have those conversations with those students is that, you know, we our programs are built on safety.
Um, you know, safety philosophies and management systems.
We do talk about, you know, regulations and we we always make sure the folks understand that we're dealing with Canadian regulations, but we also have to be generic because we're also dealing with all of our provinces.
And of course, as you know, in Canada regulations are different in every province.
So we we try not to to hone in two specifically on um, you know the the specific regulations but talk about regulations in general how to read them, how to understand them, how to interpret them.
So that would that would also be the same in other countries.
So whether you know we're getting, whether you're in in the US or any European country, they have to understand their regulations.
What we're really doing is giving them the base safety knowledge and how to interpret those and and put those into your safety management system.

Perley Brewer   15:57
So if I were to put the question to you NB future plans where they see health and safety going from the point of view of, of, of their institution, that kind of response would I get.

   16:09
Well, the safety is I think you know, one of the things that safety is is a a growing industry, if you'll call it.
You know we've you look at um over the years, safety has truly become a professional, a profession that you can aspire to, and you and me supports the safety profession through their courses, through their their programs as well.
As you know other other other courses that are available through the professional development programs and making sure that you know the safety as people grow in their profession, they're prepared to take that next step and and you know we see safety as a as a growing I call IT industry.
There are more organizations are are seeing the benefits of safety.
You know, you'll recall early years ago, safety was always seen as a cost or sometimes a detriment to safety, you know, over the years that has really changed and a lot of organizations are beginning to see the value in safety because it does save money.
It saves the save the employee from getting hurt and and overall it's good business to have good safety.

Perley Brewer   17:28
Yeah.
When I think back, you know, 2025 years ago, there was very little from the point of view of education institutions like you NB, that offer these kinds of programs.
So certainly from a point of view, NB they've done a tremendous job.
There's a good variety of courses there.
Um, it's it's been a big change over the years as as you've seen and I've seen and it's it's great to see alternatives and options for for people that want to improve their knowledge.

   17:58
Absolutely.
And and you know, one of the one of the great things about that we talked about you and B and their their commitment.
One of the things I've done is all of their instructors for their programs, for their HHS programs, are Canadian registered safety professionals.
So they're folks who have been in the business have have received the formal education, have received their designation in safety and are committed to the safety industry.
So you know, it's really it's really that it really a.
Uh, it's really been A and evolving practice and I think you Inb has grabbed onto that and and and seeing the benefit of making sure that our folks are prepared.
Hmm.

Perley Brewer   18:48
Over the years today I Darrel that want more information on these programs.
What's the easiest way for them to contact you and be?

   18:57
So the best way is right through the website.
It's www.umb.ca/C El.
So is our continuous education learning?
And then they can.
There's a spot where they can go to OHS and it talks about their promotions and programs.
A couple of things.
As they you know, once they find that they, they do have prior learning assessments available.
So, um, the students actually have potential to receive up to five course credits from the certificate program based on their previous education or previous learning.
So um would save them a little bit of money, but if they've already got some some certifications or some education in certain areas they could get credit for that.
Um as well for our listeners in New Brunswick, UMB gives out five OHS awards each year to residents in New Brunswick who are enrolled in other the certificate in OHS or the Diploma in OHS program?
So there's some financial support available there as well.
If they want website.
And they can.
Actually see all this?
They call it syllabi.
All the course syllabuses.
Um so that before they sign up to a course, they'll know exactly what the modules are, what they're going to be, what they're going to be learning, and then of course, they can also take in any of the safety webinars series right through that same link that can go over there and they'll be able to see all of the past webinars as well as register for the upcoming.
Beyoncé.

Perley Brewer   20:35
Now, from my point of view cost, is there a standard cost or does it vary depending on their Survation program, webinar, etcetera?

   20:42
The the costs are very very similar.
They're all and I'm not familiar with the the exact cost of each of them, but if they go to the website, they actually be able to see the see the cost for each one.
They're all fairly close.
They they were.
You can either pay by course, so you can do one course at a time, or you can actually pay for the whole program and be enrolled in the program and work your way through that, so they they've made it give you some options.
One of the other things if if folks are interested in learning more about the programs we have live and prerecorded information sessions available.
Um, some of our listeners will be familiar with Glenn Jones.
Glenn is a is a safety professional from out West, has been involved with the UNB programs for many years, teaches a number of the of the programs and and isn't all around great guy.
Um, he has a couple upcoming live sessions.
On September the 17th, another one on January the 28th, again available from the the website.
But he's actually giving a live session to talk specifically about the certificate program.
The document, the Diploma in Occupational Safety Program and the Certificate and Safety leadership, and we also have prerecorded information sessions.
So folks want to see here, but now they can access those programs and learn more about the programs.

Perley Brewer   22:11
So Darrel was someone that's been involved in how to take me for a long time, maybe just to finish up.
Why are these horses so important?
For for any health and safety professional.

   22:22
Yeah, I I think you know the the biggest.
Are you of these?
Is is that continuous learning?
Um, you know, for folks who have been involved in safety for a while.
Um, you know, this is part of the continuing development as we grow in our profession, we we can't just rest on the things that we used to do or the things that we know we have to continually be learning.
And and this is a great way for, especially for folks who are new to the the the safety world.
It's a great way for them to learn, but you know, providing that base knowledge, understanding how safety works from a a larger level and and learning from, you know, safety professionals who've been in the business and and have have worked their way through, it's a it's a great opportunity to to do some learning and and advance your career.

Perley Brewer   23:23
Well, look, Darrel, thank you very much for joining us today and our Podcast on our Podcast.
We would like to promote those individuals and organizations in our province, whether it's private public sector, that have good, good efforts out in health and safety and can provide health and safety professionals with updated knowledge and expertise.
So for our listeners, thank you very much for listening to today's Podcast.
Stay safe.
We will talk to you again next week.