Zachary Ponto
“People see the Gold Seal Certificate on my wall and say ‘you’re not just someone who stepped on the job-site and began bossing people around. You clearly have education and experience and that is valuable.’”
Zachary Ponto, P.GSC, Health, Safety and Environment Advisor, Cana Construction
Zachary is a health, safety and environment advisor at Cana Construction. As part of his role he supports the management team on-site. Daily, approximately 200+ workers on-site require full-time safety supervision. His role involves making sure that everyone is aware of the OH&S legislated safety requirements and industry best practices, as well as following the Cana Construction’s instated health and safety program. Furthermore, Zachary completes safety inspections and reviews site activities.
His career in safety began while he was working at a former job as a contract insulator. “I was working with primarily spray foam applications. Eventually, the company I was working for got their Certificate of Recognition (COR) in Alberta, for their health and safety program. Due to the nature of the work and the number of employees, my employers did not require a full-time safety person, thus those duties fell on our office administrator. Eventually we spoke about her role and she mentioned that this was a role I would be well suited for. I am a very detail oriented worker, to be able to accomplish my job there are a lot of variables I need to be aware of… So, I considered her advice because working alongside toxic chemicals in the spray foam wasn’t something I wanted to be around for an extended period. I did some research and thought it was truly something I would really enjoy doing as a career, so at that point I began taking the required courses to get my NCSO. It didn’t take long for me to obtain it either, because I already had the experience I needed.”
Unfortunately, the downturn of the economy held Zachary back and he was unable to work in Health and Safety right away. He returned to spray foam application, but after a work injury stood between him and his duties, Zachary required to be placed with lighter tasks during his recovery time.
Fortunately, around the same time his injury occurred his employers were searching for someone new to replace a departing safety advisor they had. Once more Zachary had the opportunity to pursue the career he felt truly passionate about. Later, he joined a dry-wall company and became a full-time safety officer. During those two years, Zachary learnt a lot of skills he had not previously been exposed too, and appreciated the experience he obtained. Once again, however, there was another economic downturn and Zachary was left searching for another full-time position where he would be able to continue to grow and use his skills. An opportunity at Cana Construction presented itself, and that’s where he is still employed today.
After he completed his OH&S Certificate in 2015 that he decided it was time to take another step higher in his career and qualifications. “At the point of where I was in my career, I needed to reach the top. The Gold Seal Certification shows a person’s dedication and commitment to their field. I wanted to show my employers and possible prospective ones, that I wasn’t just going to get my NCSO. Having my Gold Seal Certification has given me an advantage over my competitors.” Ultimately, Zachary is thrilled about obtaining his Gold Seal Certification.
“Gold Seal certification is something you should consider as you continue to progress in your career. Not only for the benefit of putting it on your resume, but for what it displays about your knowledge, skills and experience. Like my story says, having my Gold Seal Certification shows that this is what I’m meant to be doing and I can succeed in my field.”