Bioenergy Career Map: Safety Technician

• Basic knowledge of missions, organizations, programs, and requirements of bioenergy infrastructure systems
• Ability to analyze and recommend solutions to complicated problems
• Knowledge of risk potentials of safety hazards.

Research and development (R&D) at any bioenergy or biorefinery facility can be risky or dangerous, due to biological agents, heavy moving machinery, and complex chemical reactions. Safety personnel directly impact others and assist in providing more safe work environments for employees.

Ensuring the health and safety of scientists and engineers working on bioenergy R&D, safety workers contribute to assuring safe and healthful working conditions in covered workplaces through the development of workplace standards, regulations, and guidance addressing exposures to harmful agents. They work to produce organizational standards on feedstock quality, safety and health reports on the use of catalysts in pretreatment and conversion processes, as well as ensure worker safety in operating biorefinery machinery. Health and safety employees are the stewards of ensuring the quality, timeliness, and safety of scientific and technical assignments performed by contract workers.

At the entry level, safety technicians work with supervisors to evaluate and correct risk potentials of safety hazards. They work with others to resolve occupational hazards in planning, developing, and implementing safety provisions of related programs. A bachelor’s degree in industrial hygiene, occupational health, or safety sciences is preferred. Equivalent experience or training may substitute for a degree. Employers also value relevant experience or training through undergraduate capstone research projects, part-time employment, internships, or volunteer work.