Construction Safety Officer (CSO) Training in Burnaby: What You'll Learn and Who It's For

The Construction Safety Officer (CSO) training course is a 35-hour course that includes five days of technical instruction. This course expands on the Trade Safety Coordinator course by including fall protection, confined space, electrical safety and other elements. Participants must pass with a 75% average on assignments and the final exam to receive a certificate of completion and qualify to apply for the CSO(P) designation with ASTTBC. For Burnaby course dates call 604-617-0211.

If you work on construction sites and want to move into a safety role, CSO training is the next step after the Trade Safety Coordinator (TSC) course. This guide explains what the course covers, who can enroll, how you're assessed, and what the certification can lead to.

What does a Construction Safety Officer do?

A Construction Safety Officer enables an organization to implement and enforce health and safety requirements. This means understanding the OHS Regulation and the Workers Compensation Act to identify hazards, communicate with crews and supervisors, and discuss fall protection, confined spaces, electrical safety and occupational hygiene.

The CSO course covers more ground than the TSC program by focusing on specific elements of the OHS Regulation and the Workers Compensation Act and addressing hands-on skills, so you know what applies and why when you arrive on site.

Who can take CSO training?

To qualify for the Construction Safety Officer course and certification, you need to:

• Be at least 16 years old.

• Have the physical ability to perform the first aid skills required to complete the learning tasks.

• Have completed the Trade Safety Coordinator (TSC) course. TSC is a requirement, not a recommendation.

If you haven't taken TSC yet, start there.

What you'll learn

The course content covers the topics a CSO is expected to understand:

• Hazards and controls: electrical safety for trade workers, lock out, excavation and shoring, structural components, fall protection, cranes and rigging, and confined space.

• Health and personal protection: industrial hygiene, respiratory protection and PPE, and WHMIS 2015.

• Workplace conduct and roles: bullying and harassment, the role of the attendant, and expectations for CSOs.

• Site and industry knowledge: traffic control for CSOs, and the associations that support safety professionals.

Course length and format

The program takes place over five (5) classroom days of 35 hours of learning. Mainland Safety offers part-time options for evenings and weekends. Kindly check their respective websites for their class schedules and contact them directly for current programs available in Burnaby.

How you're assessed

Certification requires full participation and attendance for the whole course. You must also:

• Demonstrate practical skill competency.

• Achieve 75% on your assignments.

• Achieve 75% on the exam.

On successful completion you receive a certificate, typically valid for three years.

What the certification can lead to

Graduates are eligible to apply for the professional designation CSO(P) with the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC (ASTTBC). The program is recognized as 5 credits towards BCCSP requirements for professional development or application.

Build your safety skills beyond CSO

Many CSOs add related training to round out their skills. Mainland Safety offers fall protection training, confined space training and WorkSafeBC first aid courses, which pair naturally with what you learn in the CSO program.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Construction Safety Officer course? The course is 35 hours, delivered over five classroom days.

Do I need the Trade Safety Coordinator course first? Yes. Completing the TSC course is a prerequisite for the Construction Safety Officer course and certification.

What score do I need to pass? You need 75% on your assignments and 75% on the exam, plus demonstrated practical skill competency and full attendance.

What can I do after I complete the course? You can apply for the CSO(P) designation with ASTTBC, and the program counts for 5 credits toward BCCSP professional development or application.

Ready to register?

Call 604-617-0211 or email info@mainlandsafety.ca for upcoming Burnaby dates, pricing and the class location. You can also read the full course details on the Construction Safety Officer (Full Time) overview page.