Founder and President - Joe Collins

Joe is an accomplished safety professional with over 21 years experience in the industry serving the public.
After his academic studies in college studying business and business management in the early 80's, Joe spent many years in the construction industry holding various positions working his way up and running his own home improvement business before joining the Department of National Defense in 1989 as a weapons technician.

A better part of his career then followed training and working as a paramedic, first aid instructor and search & rescue technician after serving with the military. His strong ethical values and life experiences have laid a solid foundation for Collins Safety Services Ltd, which Joe started in 2001 and has been known ever since as a dependable company that delivers quality service to the people of British Columbia.

While dedicating his career to health and safety and serving the public, it has been Joe's passion and ongoing commitment to work with the business community as well as with the public to promote safety within our daily lives and assist in the prevention of injury or loss of life.

In early 2003 after starting Collins Safety Services, a need in the health services sector quickly came to light for Joe when he saw an immediate need for a "non-emergency patient transfer service" to support the traditional "Emergency Ambulance Service" being utilized as the only source of service offered that could assist patients with the proper medical care while meeting their transportation needs.

The BC Ambulance mandate first and foremost is to provide emergency medical services for the people of British Columbia. While meeting this mandate they are also called upon to transfer patients to and from homes, care homes, hospitals and doctors appointments. With the priority is given to "emergency" services, as it should, It doesn't take long for the non-emergency patient waiting list to get backed up and patients start missing those critical appointments. Well we think the public deserves and should have another alternative that will meet their needs.

After months of research and dedicated to the cause to support the public, Joe received consent from the Ministry of Health Services Commission of BC and the BC Ambulance Service to operate "Client Patient Transfer Services and "Contract First Aid Services"

...Thus the Collins Safety Services "Patient Transfer Unit" was born.

Non-Emergency Patient Transfer Unit - A Division of Collins Safety Services

Our objective is to provide the B.C. Health Authorities and their hospitals and care facilities as well as the private general public with a cost effective alternative to the emergency ambulance service  for all their “Non Emergency" patient transportation needs.

Convenience   /   Patient Care   /   Compassion   /   Professionalism

We believe that all patients need the proper care and professionalism along with a timely response to their  Non-emergency appointments. We work hard to provide and ensure that our service while dedicated to non-emergency will rival benefit from the experience and courtesy of our professional medical team and technical and professional equipment on board.

We believe that all patients need the proper care and timely response to their Non emergency appointments…. That’s where we come In ! 

Our Medical Team 

We employ a team comprised of highly skilled & qualified medical personnel from various backgrounds prepared to provide the highest standards of service. Our professional personnel include:

• Paramedics (PCP or ACP)
• Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT)
• Emergency First Responders (EFR,EMR)
• Registered Nurses
• Occupational First Aid Attendants (Level  I, II, III )

Our Equipment

Collins Safety Services owns and operates Type II Non-Emergency ambulances. These vehicles are fully equipped and ready to respond to any type of patient transport. We utilize top of the line "Stryker" stretchers and stair chairs with maximum weight capabilities of 650lbs for assistance with bariatric patients. Special features and unique design of our equipment assists in the provision of comfort for patients as well as ease of use for medical personnel.