From industry to impact: A career in Prevention
Meet Chelsea
When people think about workplace safety, they often picture visible hazards like machinery, falls from heights, or heavy equipment. But many of the risks workers face every day are less obvious. Psychological health and safety hazards, including bullying, harassment, and chronic stress, can be just as harmful as physical ones — and far harder to spot. For Chelsea Wilson, addressing these unseen risks is at the heart of her work.
Based in Prince George, Chelsea is an Occupational Safety Officer (OSO) in our Prevention Field Services team who specializes in psychological health and safety. Her role focuses on supporting workers and employers across Northern B.C., helping them understand their rights and responsibilities, strengthen their safety systems, and foster workplaces where people feel safe, both physically and psychologically.
“Psychological health and safety is important in every workplace,” Chelsea says. “It doesn’t matter the industry. It affects manufacturing, construction, retail, health care — every workplace, every community.”
A career rooted in industry
Chelsea began her career in the manufacturing sector, spending 13 years in the sawmill industry where she eventually took on a safety coordinator role. Her experience in industry, which included helping build a new sawmill from the ground up, gave her a strong grounding in day-to-day operations, construction, and system-level safety.
That environment also shaped Chelsea’s belief that safety is built on communication, trust, and connection — lessons she says can’t be learned in a classroom alone. But after years in industry, Chelsea wanted to do more.
“I have a strong belief that every worker deserves a safe working environment,” she says. “I wanted to be part of something bigger and to support safety across many workplaces, not just one.”
She joined WorkSafeBC nearly 11 years ago, initially working as a generalist OSO in Northern B.C., a role that required covering a wide range of industries, from forestry and manufacturing to retail and health care. Over the past two years, she’s transitioned into a specialized role focused entirely on psychological health and safety.
What drew her to this area was its reach: “Psychological health and safety isn’t limited to one sector. It impacts every workplace and every community, including in the north, where people live and work in close-knit environments.”
Training and support that builds confidence
Chelsea credits WorkSafeBC’s training and development programs in preparing her for the complexity of the OSO role. The New Prevention Officer Development (nPOD) program provided a strong foundation through classroom learning, mentoring, and extensive field experience.
“The training gives you the tools,” she says. “But the real learning happens when you’re out there, boots on the ground, supported by mentors and experienced officers.”
She emphasizes that no one is expected to know everything right away.
“You don’t need all the answers. You just need to know who to call, when to ask for help, and how to keep learning.”
That culture of support extends beyond training. Chelsea is part of her region’s peer support network, a program that ensures officers have someone to turn to after difficult inspections or critical incidents.
“This work can be heavy,” she says. “What makes the difference is knowing you’re not carrying it alone.”
The power of trust and listening
Much of Chelsea’s work involves supporting workers and employers through bullying and harassment concerns.
“Many workers don’t take calling us lightly,” she says. “By the time they do, they’re scared, exhausted, and unsure of what to do next.”
Chelsea approaches these conversations by listening first and meeting people where they are. She’ll then explain what the regulations allow and help them understand the next steps.
“It’s about being clear, respectful, and human. People need to feel heard before they can move forward.”
She applies the same approach with employers, recognizing that defensiveness often comes from uncertainty rather than resistance.
Why this work matters
Some conversations are difficult, not every situation leads to immediate change, and psychological hazards can be challenging to recognize and address. Even though the work isn’t without its challenges, Chelsea chooses to focus on why it’s so important.
“When people don’t understand or don’t want to hear it, that can be discouraging,” Chelsea says. “But I remind myself why I’m doing this: to keep people safe.”
What keeps her motivated are the moments when trust is built, such as when workers feel safe enough to ask for help or when employers reach out for guidance before a situation escalates.
“Even small changes matter,” she says. “When you see a mindset shift or when barriers start to come down, that’s real progress.”
For Chelsea, psychological health and safety goes beyond the workplace. The skills built in healthy work environments — communication, respect, and problem solving, for example — extend into families and communities as well. This is especially true for Northern B.C., as people’s work and personal lives are often closely connected.
Her advice to those considering a career as an OSO is simple: Be curious, communicate clearly, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.
“You don’t have to be perfect,” she says. “You just have to care, keep learning, and show up for people.”
To learn more about becoming an Occupational Safety Officer and to explore current opportunities in Prevention Services, visit our Careers page.