To ensure safe working environments, occupational health and safety professionals inspect workplaces. Occupational health and safety specialists lead these investigations, are responsible for informing management of violations, and can suspend the business from operating if necessary. Occupational health and safety technicians work with occupational health and safety specialists, and complete tasks such as recording the findings of an inspection.
Occupational Health and Safety Job Options
Occupational safety and health professionals are employed in both the public and private sectors to ensure the safety and productivity of working environments. Health and safety job vacancies can be found in varied settings including offices, construction sites, mines and factories.
Examples of occupational safety degree jobs include occupational safety and health specialists, health and safety engineers, and health and safety managers and directors. Occupational health and safety officer jobs also may require a bachelor's degree. Examples of associate's degree in occupational safety and health jobs include work as occupational health technicians or safety technicians.
Occupational safety and health technicians and specialists are two common job options. While most specialists are required to obtain at least a bachelor's degree in a relevant field, technicians generally are not.
| Occupational Safety and Health Specialist | Occupational Safety and Health Technician | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Education Required | Bachelor's degree in occupational health, safety, or related field | High school diploma at minimum |
| Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)* | 4% | 5% |
| Average Salary (2019)* | $76,290 | $56,470 |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Occupational Safety and Health Specialists
Job Duties
Occupational safety and health specialists carry out inspections of work environments and notify management of any violations. They have the obligation of issuing suspension orders to employers if the violations are not corrected in a timely manner. Occupational safety and health specialists provide recommended actions to rectify hazardous or potentially hazardous situations.
Designing workspaces, methods, controls and programs that help prevent injuries or illnesses and maintain good air quality is part of an occupational safety and health specialist's job. When patterns of illness, injury or absenteeism appear, occupational safety and health specialists perform investigations.
Educational training programs are taught by occupational safety and health specialists to show employees how to use and dispose of hazardous chemicals, safely operate equipment, handle emergency situations and perform other safety procedures. These professionals also collect samples of potentially harmful substances like dust and gas to test their toxicity levels.
Education Requirements
Most occupational safety and health specialists are required to have a bachelor's degree in occupational health, safety or a related field, according to the BLS. Positions in certain industries may require a master's degree in health physics, industrial health or similar subjects. Coursework for a bachelor's degree in occupational safety and health includes classes such as:
- Industrial accident standards
- Fire prevention
- Hazardous materials
- Safety management
- Chemistry
- Toxicology
Practical work experience is also required for occupational safety and health specialists. While pursuing their college degree, students can obtain occupational safety internships to gain on-the-job training and experience.
Salary and Job Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, www.bls.gov), the average yearly salary for occupational safety and health specialists as of May 2019 was $76,290. Those working in accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services made the most, with an average annual wage of $98,290. From 2019 to 2029, the BLS projected that employment of occupational health and safety specialists would increase by approximately 4%, as fast as average across all occupations.
Occupational Safety and Health Technicians
Job Duties
Occupational safety and health technicians work alongside occupational safety and health specialists to ensure the safety of work environments. These professionals do most of the record-keeping and take notes regarding the working conditions of equipment, how materials are stored, air quality and other data. They report back with their notes to occupational safety and health specialists for further evaluation.
Safety equipment is supplied and maintained by occupational health and safety technicians. They confirm that employees are properly using the equipment and verify that employers have proper licensing and permits to perform work tasks.
Education Requirements
An associate's degree or a certificate is often substantial enough to gain an entry-level position as an occupational safety and health technician. Some technicians acquire their positions through work experience, training and advancement. Additional education to learn applicable laws and safety procedures is required for all occupational safety and health employees. Classes to become an aspiring occupational safety and health technician may include:
- Safety management and training
- Incident investigation
- Ergonomics
- Industrial protection
- Industrial sanitation
Salary and Job Outlook
What is the average occupational health technician salary? As of May 2019, the BLS estimated that the average annual wage for occupational safety and health technicians was $56,470. Those working in waste treatment and disposal earned the most, with an average yearly salary of $83,430. Occupational health technician jobs are expected to grow in the next ten years; from 2019 to 2029, the BLS projected that employment of occupational health and safety technicians would increase by about 5%, faster than average for all occupations.
Certification Options for Occupational Health and Safety Jobs
Certification is voluntary for occupational safety and health specialists and technicians, though recommended by many employers. The Board of Certified Safety Professionals offers various certifications for occupational health and safety professionals to prove proficiency in their particular fields. Certification indicates that the individual meets certain educational and skill criteria, has passed scrupulous testing and meets the approval of top safety professionals.
Occupational health and safety specialists are required to have a bachelor's degree and prior work experience, which they can acquire by completing an internship. Occupational health and safety technicians need a certificate or associate's degree. Professional certification for specialists and technicians is optional, but it may appeal to employers.
