Alternate Title(s) | N/A |
Minimum Education Requirements | Bachelor's degree |
Salary | See Bureau of Labor Statistics for more information |
Job Skills | - Ability to use technology. Occupational health and safety specialists must be able to use advanced technology. They often work with complex testing equipment. - Communication skills. Occupational health and safety specialists must be able to communicate safety instructions and concerns to employees and managers. They need to be able to work with technicians to collect and test samples of possible hazards, such as dust or vapors, in the workplace. - Detail oriented. Occupational health and safety specialists need to understand and follow safety standards and complex government regulations. - Physical stamina. Occupational health and safety specialists must be able to stand for long periods and be able to travel regularly. Some specialists work in environments that can be uncomfortable, such as tunnels or mines. - Problem-solving skills. Occupational health and safety specialists must be able to solve problems in order to design and implement workplace processes and procedures that help protect workers from hazardous work conditions. |
Job Duties | Occupational health and safety specialists typically do the following: - Identify hazards in the workplace - Collect samples of potentially toxic materials for analysis - Inspect and evaluate workplace environments, equipment, and practices for compliance with corporate and government health and safety standards and regulations - Design and implement workplace processes and procedures that help protect workers from hazardous work conditions - Investigate accidents and incidents to identify their causes and to determine how they might be prevented - Conduct training on a variety of topics, such as emergency preparedness |
Job Profile | Occupational health and safety specialists analyze many types of work environments and work procedures. Specialists inspect workplaces for adherence to regulations on safety, health, and the environment. They also design programs to prevent disease or injury to workers and damage to the environment. Occupational health and safety specialists examine the workplace for environmental or physical factors that could affect employee health, safety, comfort, and performance. They may examine factors such as lighting, equipment, materials, and ventilation. Specialists seek to increase worker productivity by reducing absenteeism and equipment downtime. In addition to protecting workers, specialists work to prevent harm to property, the environment, and the public by inspecting workplaces for chemical, physical, radiological, and biological hazards. Specialists who work for governments conduct safety inspections and can impose fines. |
The information presented within this occupational profile was synthesized from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s Handbook of Occupational Groups & Families.