February 11, 2025 - Industry News
Carola Mittag, RDHCarola's dedication to promoting health and safety across industries, especially property management, makes her an inspiring leader and advocate for workers' rights. Her unwavering commitment to educating and empowering businesses is just one example of how women continue to shape and elevate industries everywhere.
As the owner of an occupational health and safety company, I ensured businesses complied with Ministry of Labour Laws and Regulations. My mission was always to promote safe work practices, ensuring that workers returned home safe and sound at the end of each day. Now, as a consultant, I continue to educate companies on the importance of health and safety while guiding them to understand their legal, moral, and ethical responsibilities toward their employees.
In my previous role, I provided property management teams with information on health and safety laws and regulations required for compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act. I quickly realized the important intersection between health, safety, and property management, which set the stage for my transition into the field.
I began my career in health and safety in 2004, providing expertise to property managers on occupational safety for many years.
After a fulfilling 35-year career as a Dental Hygienist, I transitioned into health and safety after recognizing the potential health hazards I had been exposed to. This realization sparked a passion for identifying workplace risks and ensuring the safety of workers in all industries, including property management.
In my first career as a Dental Hygienist, I had the honour of saving a young girl's life by identifying a potentially deadly disease. In my second career in health and safety, while I may never know if I prevented a serious injury or illness, knowing I may have helped even one person is enough to make this career feel worthwhile.
Property managers face numerous challenges, and understanding their responsibilities when it comes to health and safety is often overlooked. Educating them to understand their obligations and take proactive steps to protect their employees has been a significant challenge.
My best friend of 48 years. She’s intelligent, an honest critic, and a shining example of selflessness and dedication. I’m lucky to have such a strong, inspiring woman in my life.
What is the best advice you ever received?
"Dare to be different; do not follow the crowd; be proud of the individual you are." This advice helped me navigate both my careers with confidence and authenticity.
At this point, I don't have specific advice for those entering property management, but I encourage anyone entering any field to prioritize safety, ethics, and continuous learning. Those pillars will serve you well in any industry.
What changes have you seen in property management in recent years?
While I haven’t specifically focused on property management trends, I have noticed an increasing recognition of the importance of health and safety in all workplaces, including property management. This is a positive trend that needs to continue growing.
As health and safety regulations evolve, property managers will need to stay ahead of changes in legislation to ensure compliance. With greater attention to workplace safety, I see a future where property managers embrace their responsibilities and make employee wellbeing a priority.
I tend to take myself too seriously! Thankfully, my sons often tease me and remind me that laughing at myself is good medicine. It’s important to keep a sense of humour.
