A Three-Part Reality Cnversation into Workplace Safety, Industry Accountability, and the Future of Real Estate in Canada
By Rob Andress
Violence Prevention Specialist
Street Safe Self Defence Training Company
I’ve worked with thousands of professionals whose jobs place them in unpredictable environments.
Police officers.
Healthcare workers.
Municipal employees.
Security professionals.
Teachers.
And REALTORS®.
Over those years I’ve noticed something that I can’t ignore anymore. When workplace safety is discussed in almost every other profession, the conversation begins with one question:
“How do we make the workplace safer?”
In real estate, I rarely hear that question. Instead, what I’ve heard for years is… almost nothing.
That silence should concern every REALTOR®, every Broker of Record, every brokerage owner, every real estate board, and every association in Canada.
Because REALTORS® don’t work in traditional workplaces. Their workplace is someone else’s home, a vacant property, a parking lot.
An isolated rural listing, an evening appointment with someone they’ve never met. Their office changes every single day, and unlike many professions, they often walk into that workplace completely alone.
Safety Was Never Supposed to Be an Individual Problem
One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding REALTOR® safety is that it’s something each individual member is expected to figure out for themselves.
Take a safety course if one is available.
Download an app.
Text someone before a showing.
Hope your instincts are right.
Those are useful tools, but they’re not a safety system. Imagine telling a nurse that workplace violence is simply their responsibility. Imagine telling a municipal by-law officer that if they get assaulted, they should have downloaded a better app. Imagine telling a teacher they’re responsible for creating their own workplace violence prevention program.
We would never accept that. So why has real estate become comfortable with that expectation?
An Industry Built on Trust
Real estate is one of the most relationship-driven professions in Canada.
Trust is everything.
Clients invite REALTORS® into their homes. REALTORS® walk into properties owned by complete strangers.
Every transaction begins with trust, that’s exactly what makes the profession unique. And unfortunately, it’s also what makes it vulnerable. Predators understand trust!
They understand professional courtesy, they understand that REALTORS® are trained to build rapport, solve problems, and provide exceptional customer service.
The vast majority of clients are wonderful people. But violence prevention has never been about the majority.
It’s about recognizing the very small minority who don’t think like everyone else. I’ve spent my career studying that minority.
The patterns are remarkably consistent.
Violence is rarely random.
Human behaviour leaves clues.
Predators communicate long before they attack.
The question is whether we’ve taught REALTORS® what they’re looking at?
We Don’t Rise to the Occasion. We Default to Our Training.
One thing I’ve learned after teaching thousands of professionals is this: People don’t suddenly become better decision-makers under stress. They become more like whatever they’ve already practised.
If we’ve only trained REALTORS® to sell homes, they’ll default to selling homes. If we’ve trained them to recognize behavioural anomalies, establish safer first points of contact, manage space, verify identity, and understand the difference between social conflict and predatory behaviour, they’ll default to those skills instead.
Safety isn’t instinct, it’s education! It’s preparation, and it’s repetition.
My Experience Has Changed the Way I Look at REALTOR® Safety
I’ve had the privilege of working with thousands of real estate professionals across Canada.
I’ve listened to stories that never made the news. Stories that were never formally reported. Stories shared quietly during breaks, after seminars, or once the room emptied.
A client who refused to leave. A showing that suddenly didn’t feel right. Someone waiting outside a property. An appointment that changed from uncomfortable to frightening in seconds.
These stories don’t always become police reports. But they’re real, and when enough professionals tell similar stories, you begin to see patterns.
That’s what violence prevention is about, not reacting to isolated incidents, but recognizing patterns before they become incidents.
Maybe We’ve Been Asking the Wrong Question
For years, the conversation around REALTOR® safety has focused on what individual members should do.
Carry this.
Download that.
Text someone.
Meet in public.
All thoughtful suggestions, but do these recommendations work in the field of REALTOR Safety? I’ll tell you now they don’t, this I’ve learned from meeting and speaking with far too many survivors of violence within this Industry.
But I think there’s a bigger question is this. What responsibility does the profession itself have?
What responsibility do brokerages have? What responsibility do boards have? What responsibility do associations have?
Because if workplace violence is a recognized occupational hazard across Canada, shouldn’t REALTOR® safety be more than optional education?
Shouldn’t it be part of professional practice?
Those aren’t accusations. They’re questions, questions I believe the industry is ready to answer.
A Conversation Worth Having
This series isn’t about assigning blame, it’s about creating responsibility.
The Canadian real estate profession has evolved tremendously over the past twenty years. Professional standards have improved, education has improved, technology has transformed the way REALTORS® work.
Perhaps it’s time our approach to safety evolved as well. Because I believe something very simple.
“REALTOR® Safety isn’t the Member’s responsibility. It’s an Industry responsibility.”
Rob Andress
That doesn’t remove personal responsibility. It recognizes that meaningful workplace safety has always been a shared responsibility.
Part Two: What Does Canadian Workplace Safety Law Actually Say?
By Rob Andress
Violence Prevention Specialist
Street Safe Self Defence Training Company
In Part One of this series, I asked a question that I believe our industry has avoided for far too long.
Who is responsible for REALTOR® safety?
This time, I’d like to move away from opinion and look at something much more objective.
The legislation.
Over the last several years, I’ve spent a considerable amount of time researching occupational health and safety legislation across Canada. Not because I’m a lawyer, I’m not—but because I wanted to understand whether the risks REALTORS® face every day are recognized elsewhere.
What I discovered was both reassuring and thought provoking.
Every province and territory in Canada has legislation intended to protect people in the workplace. While the Acts differ in their wording, scope, and application, they all share a common objective:
To reduce workplace injuries, illnesses, and, increasingly, the risks associated with workplace violence and harassment.
That immediately raised another question for me.
If REALTORS® routinely:
- Meet people they have never met before,
- Enter unfamiliar homes,
- Conduct appointments alone,
- Work evenings and weekends,
- Travel to isolated properties,
- Deal with emotionally charged situations involving money, divorce, estates, or conflict,
…aren’t those workplace hazards worth recognizing and managing?
I believe they are.
REALTOR® Safety Is About More Than Crime
When people hear the words “REALTOR® safety,” they often think about violent crime.
Assaults.
Robberies.
Home invasions.
Those events certainly happen.
But workplace violence is much broader than that.
Across Canada, workplace violence frameworks commonly recognize behaviours such as threats, intimidation, harassment, stalking, verbal aggression, and other conduct that can create physical or psychological harm.
Many of these incidents never become criminal offences.
Many are never reported.
Yet they still affect the people experiencing them.
As someone who has trained REALTORS® across Canada, I’ve heard those stories firsthand.
Not from headlines.
From members themselves.
Usually after everyone else has left the room.
REALTORS® Have One of the Most Unique Workplaces in Canada
Most people picture a workplace as an office. REALTORS® don’t have that luxury.
One appointment might be a downtown condominium.
The next is a vacant farmhouse forty minutes outside the city.
Then an open house.
Then a listing presentation with someone contacted through social media.
Then an evening showing.
The workplace changes constantly.
The potential hazards don’t.
Working alone.
Meeting unknown individuals.
Limited escape routes.
Unfamiliar environments.
Emotional clients.
Financial stress.
Family conflict.
These aren’t unusual situations.
They’re part of everyday real estate practice.
That’s why I believe REALTOR® safety deserves to be viewed through the same professional lens as any other occupational risk.
One Size Does Not Fit All
One of the most important things I’ve learned through my research is that there isn’t one workplace safety law for Canada.
Every province and territory has its own legislation. The legal obligations imposed on employers, supervisors, workers, and organizations can differ.
The way independent contractors are treated may also differ depending on the legislation and the circumstances.
That’s an important distinction.
This article isn’t intended to provide legal advice or suggest that every brokerage has identical legal obligations across Canada. It is intended to encourage brokerages, Boards, and REALTORS® to understand the workplace safety framework that applies in their own jurisdiction.
Because understanding your responsibilities is always the first step toward managing risk.
| Province / Territory | Primary Occupational Health & Safety Legislation* | Workplace Violence / Harassment Framework | Primary Regulator |
|---|
| British Columbia | Workers Compensation Act & Occupational Health and Safety Regulation | Yes | WorkSafeBC |
| Alberta | Occupational Health and Safety Act | Yes | Alberta Occupational Health and Safety |
| Saskatchewan | The Saskatchewan Employment Act (Part III – Occupational Health and Safety) | Yes | Saskatchewan OHS |
| Manitoba | Workplace Safety and Health Act | Yes | Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health |
| Ontario | Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) | Yes | Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development |
| Quebec | Act Respecting Occupational Health and Safety (AOHS) | Yes | CNESST |
| New Brunswick | Occupational Health and Safety Act | Yes | WorkSafeNB |
| Nova Scotia | Occupational Health and Safety Act | Yes | Nova Scotia Labour, Skills and Immigration |
| Prince Edward Island | Occupational Health and Safety Act | Yes | Workers Compensation Board of PEI |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Occupational Health and Safety Act | Yes | WorkplaceNL |
| Yukon | Occupational Health and Safety Act | Yes | Yukon Workers’ Safety and Compensation Board |
| Northwest Territories | Safety Act & Occupational Health and Safety Regulations | Yes | Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC) |
| Nunavut | Safety Act & Occupational Health and Safety Regulations | Yes | Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC) |
A Positive Example: British Columbia
One of the most encouraging developments I’ve seen came from the British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA).
Rather than waiting for an incident to force the conversation, BCREA developed a Safe Employment Policy to help brokerages take a more structured approach to REALTOR® safety.
I had the privilege of contributing to discussions surrounding that initiative.
What impressed me wasn’t simply the policy itself. It was the leadership behind it.
Instead of asking,
“What happens after something goes wrong?”
The conversation became,
“How do we reduce the likelihood that it happens in the first place?”
That’s the same philosophy Beth and I have taught through Street Safe for more than two decades.
Stop the Before, So the After Never Happens.
Safety Education Is About Decision-Making, Not Fighting
Whenever I teach REALTORS®, someone eventually asks,
“So… are you teaching us how to fight?”
The answer surprises them. Very little, because by the time you’re physically defending yourself, dozens of opportunities to recognize risk have already passed.
Behaviour leaves clues.
People leak intent.
Predatory behaviour follows patterns.
Violence prevention is about recognizing those patterns early enough to make better decisions.
It’s about creating distance before you need to escape.
It’s about identifying anomalies before they become emergencies.
It’s about understanding human behaviour—not winning a fight.
This Conversation Is Bigger Than Compliance
I don’t believe REALTOR® safety should be driven by fear of lawsuits. Or insurance. Or liability.
Those issues matter, but they shouldn’t be the reason we care.
The reason should be much simpler. Every REALTOR® deserves to go home safely. Every single day.
Not because they were lucky. Because the profession intentionally created a culture where safety is valued alongside ethics, professionalism, and client service.
That’s a culture worth building.
Provincial Workplace Safety Legislation & Resources
If this series encourages one thing, I hope it’s curiosity.
Read the legislation that applies where you work.
Talk to your brokerage.
Ask questions.
Understand the workplace safety framework in your own province or territory.
Provincial & Territorial Resources
- British Columbia – WorkSafeBC
https://www.worksafebc.com - Alberta – Alberta Occupational Health and Safety
https://www.alberta.ca/occupational-health-safety - Saskatchewan – Saskatchewan Occupational Health and Safety
https://www.saskatchewan.ca/business/safety-in-the-workplace - Manitoba – Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health
https://www.gov.mb.ca/labour/safety - Ontario – Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA)
https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90o01 - Quebec – CNESST
https://www.cnesst.gouv.qc.ca - New Brunswick – WorkSafeNB
https://www.worksafenb.ca - Nova Scotia – Occupational Health and Safety Division
https://novascotia.ca/lae/healthandsafety - Prince Edward Island – Workers Compensation Board of PEI
https://www.wcb.pe.ca - Newfoundland and Labrador – WorkplaceNL
https://workplacenl.ca - Yukon – Yukon Workers’ Safety and Compensation Board
https://www.wcb.yk.ca - Northwest Territories & Nunavut – Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC)
https://www.wscc.nt.ca
National Resources
- Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS)
https://www.ccohs.ca - Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA)
https://www.crea.ca
Learn More
- Street Safe Self Defence Training Company
https://streetsafeselfdefence.com - Street Safe for Agents
https://streetsafeforagents.com
Coming in Part Three
We’ve looked at the conversation.
We’ve examined the legislative landscape.
Now comes the most important question of all.
What kind of safety culture does the Canadian real estate profession want to build?
In Part Three, I’ll share what I believe brokerages, Boards, associations, educators, and REALTORS® can do together to make
Important Note
This article is intended as general educational information based on publicly available occupational health and safety principles across Canada. It is not legal advice. Occupational health and safety legislation varies by province and territory, and brokerages should obtain legal advice regarding their specific obligations.
Who Is Responsible for REALTOR® Safety in Canada?
Part Three: Where Do We Go From Here?
By Rob Andress
Violence Prevention Specialist
Street Safe Self Defence Training Company
If you’ve read the first two parts of this series, you already know this isn’t about blaming anyone. It’s about changing the conversation.
For too long, REALTOR® safety has lived on the edge of our profession. It’s been discussed after a tragic headline, during Safety Month, or as a breakout session at a conference. Then, like so many important conversations, it fades into the background.
The problem is that violence doesn’t work on a schedule. It doesn’t wait until September!
It doesn’t care whether you’ve taken an elective course. It doesn’t care if you’ve sold ten homes or ten thousand.
It simply looks for opportunity.
And that’s why I believe REALTOR® safety has to become part of the profession itself, not an optional addition to it.
The Best Safety Programs Don’t Start After Someone Gets Hurt
One thing I’ve learned from working with healthcare, municipal government, education, and security is this:
The organizations with the strongest safety cultures don’t wait for an incident before taking action.
They ask better questions.
Where are our people vulnerable?
What hazards do they face every day?
What knowledge will help them recognize risk sooner?
How do we support them before they need us?
That’s what leadership looks like.
It’s proactive.
Not reactive.
REALTOR® Safety Should Be a Professional Competency
We expect REALTORS® to understand contracts.
Ethics.
Disclosure.
Privacy.
Financing.
Negotiation.
Technology.
Those expectations exist because they’re essential to practising professionally.
So let me ask another question. Why isn’t behavioural awareness considered just as essential?
Every REALTOR® will meet strangers.
Every REALTOR® will work alone at some point.
Every REALTOR® will manage uncertainty.
Every REALTOR® will make decisions about personal safety.
Those aren’t unusual events.
They’re part of the job.
If that’s true, then shouldn’t the knowledge needed to manage those realities also be part of the profession?
I think the answer is yes.
Safety Is More Than an App
Technology has given REALTORS® some valuable tools.
Safety apps.
GPS tracking.
Emergency notifications.
Digital check-ins.
Those resources have their place.
But no app can recognize a behavioural anomaly for you, and NO PANIC STYLE APP WILL KEEP YOU SAFE!
No phone can tell you that someone’s story suddenly stopped making sense.
No panic button can replace good judgment before a situation begins to deteriorate.
Technology supports awareness, it doesn’t replace it.
The most powerful safety tool any REALTOR® will ever carry is still the human brain.
The question is whether we’ve trained it to recognize what matters.
The Conversation Needs to Include Everyone
This isn’t a challenge for REALTORS® alone. It belongs to all of us.
Brokerages should be asking whether every new agent receives meaningful violence prevention education.
Boards should continue creating opportunities for members to learn beyond the basics.
Associations can help establish consistent expectations and share evidence based resources.
Educators can introduce safety as a core professional skill rather than a specialty topic.
Experienced REALTORS® can mentor new members not only on how to build a business, but also on how to protect themselves while doing it. Every part of the profession has a role to play, and when everyone accepts a share of the responsibility, everyone benefits.
A Culture Is Built One Decision at a Time
An Industry Leader ask me what success in violence prevention looks like for REALTORS
Success is helping them recognize the behavioural cues that prevent them from ever needing to.
Success is hearing someone say, “I cancelled the appointment because something didn’t feel right.”
Success is a Broker of Record who tells a new REALTOR®, “Your safety comes before the sale.”
Success is an association that treats violence prevention as part of professional excellence rather than an optional seminar.
That’s the culture I hope we build.
The Future Is Ours to Shape
I’ve spent much of my career studying violence, not because I’m fascinated by violence itself. I’m fascinated by prevention!
Again and again, I’ve seen the same truth. Violence leaves clues, and human behaviour is patterned.
The earlier we recognize those patterns, the more options we have.
That’s why I remain optimistic.
The Canadian real estate profession has never been more willing to have difficult conversations.
We’ve embraced professionalism! We’ve embraced ethics! We’ve embraced technology!
I believe we’re ready to embrace safety with the same commitment.
Because every REALTOR® deserves to return home at the end of the day.
Not because they were lucky. But because the profession decided that their safety mattered.
One Final Thought
When this series began, I asked who is responsible for REALTOR® safety.
After three articles, my answer hasn’t changed. It’s not the responsibility of one person, it’s not the responsibility of one brokerage.
It’s not the responsibility of one association. It’s the responsibility of an entire profession that cares enough about its people to make safety part of its identity.
I’ve believed that for years.
Today, I believe it more than ever.
“REALTOR® Safety isn’t the Member’s responsibility. It’s an Industry responsibility.”
Rob Andress
That statement doesn’t remove personal responsibility.
It recognizes something much bigger.
The strongest safety cultures are built when individuals, leaders, brokerages, boards, educators, and associations all accept that protecting people is a shared commitment.
If this series starts that conversation, then it’s already been worth writing.
About the Author
Rob Andress is a Violence Prevention Specialist and founder of Street Safe Self Defence Training Company. Together with Beth Andress, he has trained thousands of REALTORS® and frontline professionals across Canada in behavioural awareness, workplace violence prevention, and evidence-based personal safety strategies. Rob, and Street Safe Self Defence Training Company is recognized as Canada’s Leader in Reality Violence Prevention and Safety Education for Today’s Real Estate Professional.
Stop the Before, So the After Never Happens.
Learn More
Additional Resources
- Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS): https://www.ccohs.ca
- Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA): https://www.crea.ca
- WorkSafeBC: https://www.worksafebc.com