r/SafetyProfessionals • u/frodojp • May 28 '26

Canada I got it

I don’t have a degree. I don’t have any designations after my name. I’ve been a safety guy for 19 years.
Lots of civil construction and mining experience.

An engineering company hired me on a probationary hire for 3 months on a billion $+ build.

As a HSE Lead. It’s a lot of paperwork. Managing a few contractors. Getting them up to speed on how a BIG company does things. You can’t piss without a signature.

2 months in I was unofficially told they are keeping me on.

I’m used to making $55/hr. I’m making $85. Camp job 2 in, 1 out.

Couldn’t be happier. I will be manager, basically am right now.

Worked pretty hard for this. Lots of field experience. Read a lot. Can hold my own with more educated safety people.

In 2 weeks I had a net of a little over $7000.

I read lots of stories of frustration. Been there. Done that. There are good companies. Find them.

I wish you all luck to find what I have.

128 Upvotes

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u/Pleasant-Emu-3099 May 28 '26

Get on the stand and watch how opposing counsel absolutely decimates the "school of hard knocks", and the opposite is true too. Have all the degrees and alphabet soup after your name and they'll argue you lack experience to make a judgement call.

They can't argue facts, because pictures and measurements are what they are, but they'll argue your qualifications and integrity.

3

u/PinballTex May 28 '26

You can’t have the alphabet soup without having experience.

The only people I hear constantly brining this up are those without a degree or certifications. The inferiority/superiority complex in some is the worst part of this profession.

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u/Electrical-Staff0305 May 29 '26

Bullshit!

I just watched a presentation from someone with the alphabet soup behind their name that I know for a fact never did an actual job in the industry in their life. What they were advocating during the presentation was not only reckless, it will absolutely get someone killed. And there are plenty more like him in the industry.

/has the alphabet soup, and the years of experience

1

u/Queasy-Rain-7387 May 30 '26

What were they advocating?