INTRODUCTION

Job Title: Security, Safety, Health and Environment Lead
Name: Dennis Ricard
Company Overview: Dennis Ricard serves as a Security, Safety, Health, and Environment Lead at ExxonMobil Canada, where he’s entrusted with safeguarding the health and well-being of offshore workers. His role centers around upholding ExxonMobil’s rigorous commitment to safe practices across operations, supporting both regulatory compliance and organizational safety culture.

Job Overview

Based on an offshore oil production installation, Dennis’s role requires a blend of administrative and fieldwork duties. His responsibilities involve documentation review, procedure development, and conducting hazard assessments to ensure safety compliance on site. He regularly meets with management and team members to address safety concerns, provide guidance on personal protective equipment, and respond to queries from workgroups. Dennis’s position is crucial for interpreting safety legislation, developing policies, and serving as a liaison between onshore support and the Offshore Installation Manager (OIM).

Career Path

Dennis’s journey to ExxonMobil began in hospitality, where he worked as a chef and banquet supervisor in a major urban hotel. Transitioning to safety was facilitated by an Occupational Health and Safety program at the University of New Brunswick, which offered the flexibility he needed to continue working while studying. Equipped with an Occupational Health and Safety Certificate, Dennis pursued additional courses in worker safety, injury prevention, and technical training to further enhance his knowledge and pass the Canadian Registered Safety Professional exam.

Day in the Life

A typical day for Dennis includes a combination of office tasks, on-site inspections, and team consultations. Starting his day with documentation review, Dennis may also spend time in the field addressing questions and safety concerns from workers. He values active listening, which he finds essential for understanding team members’ concerns fully, noting, “In order for me to help someone with a concern or issue, I need to fully understand what they are looking for. Only then can I search for a solution that is practical and fits the needs of everyone involved.”

Skills and Tools

Technical Skills: Safety procedure development, regulatory compliance, hazard assessment, and injury prevention. Soft Skills: Communication, active listening, problem-solving, and adaptability. Tools Used: Safety management systems, compliance software, risk assessment tools, and technical safety documentation.