Forty awardees recognized for redefining what it means to lead in the modern safety profession
Canadian Occupational Safety has released its 2026 Young Achievers special report, recognising 40 of Canada's top safety leaders under 35 who are reshaping the occupational health and safety profession through technical expertise, emotional intelligence, and a commitment to genuine worker protection.
Now in its fourth year, the report draws on survey data and in-depth interviews with five featured professionals spanning construction, manufacturing, infrastructure, and global operations. The findings reveal a profession under pressure and in transition, with mounting demands on early-career practitioners who are now expected to serve as analysts, communicators, and change agents from day one.
The standout data point: emotional intelligence ranked second among traits most important for career advancement, scoring 4.56 out of 5, behind only hard work at 4.85, according to the COS Young Achievers 2026 survey. A relevant degree ranked fifth, scoring 3.39 out of 5 — nearly 1.2 points below emotional intelligence.
"A top-performing young OHS professional in 2026 represents a new generation of integrators and influencers – people who can translate risk, data, and human behaviour into practical action," said Eldeen Pozniak, director of Pozniak Safety Associates, who provided expert analysis for the report.
Shannon Bolger, BSc, CRSP, president of Benchmark Safety, noted the expanded scope of the modern safety role. "We need to remember that a lot of changes happened within the safety world during COVID-19, and I see companies leaning more heavily on their safety professionals to address mental health, diversity, and communication in a way that we didn't see everywhere before," she said.
The report situates the Young Achievers cohort against a challenging national backdrop. Alberta recorded 203 workplace deaths in 2024 — the highest figure in more than a decade, according to data published by AWCBC in February 2025. Meanwhile, the Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals (BCRSP) has flagged a significant cohort of experienced practitioners approaching retirement, creating real urgency around developing and retaining young occupational health and safety talent.
Among this year's featured professionals are Colin Vair, health, safety, and environmental manager at McCloskey International, who built a no-cost digital emergency evacuation system using Microsoft tools that was subsequently deployed to a 1,500-person facility in Brazil; Ryan Mani, health and safety manager at Concord Adex, who oversees multiple construction trades on high-rise projects in one of Canada's most diverse workforces; and Adam Sweetman, health, safety, and environment coordinator at Envent, who oversees global safety operations across five countries while pursuing a PhD in psychosocial workplace well-being.
Ontario dominates the geographic breakdown, with 80 per cent of winners whose province was confirmed based there, reflecting the concentration of construction, infrastructure, and industrial activity in the province, per the COS 2026 survey.
