What is an Occupational Health or Safety Specialist?
Occupational Health or Safety Specialist Example Review, evaluate, and analyze work environments and design programs and procedures to control, eliminate, and prevent disease or injury caused by chemical, physical, and biological agents or ergonomic factors. May conduct inspections and enforce adherence to laws and regulations governing the health and safety of individuals. May be employed in the public or private sector. Includes environmental protection officers.
Life As an Occupational Health or Safety Specialist: What Do They Do?
- Order suspension of activities that pose threats to workers’ health or safety.
- Conduct safety training or education programs and demonstrate the use of safety equipment.
- Develop or maintain hygiene programs, such as noise surveys, continuous atmosphere monitoring, ventilation surveys, or asbestos management plans.
- Investigate the adequacy of ventilation, exhaust equipment, lighting, or other conditions that could affect employee health, comfort, or performance.
- Develop or maintain medical monitoring programs for employees.
- Prepare hazardous, radioactive, or mixed waste samples for transportation or storage by treating, compacting, packaging, and labeling them.
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Occupational Health or Safety Specialist Required Skills
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Types of Occupational Health or Safety Specialist
- Restaurant Inspector
- Work Environment Safety Inspector
- Food Inspector
- Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH)
- Chief of Safety and Protection
Is There Going to be Demand for Occupational Health and Safety Specialists?
There were about 83,700 jobs for Occupational Health or Safety Specialist in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8.1% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 6,800 new jobs for Occupational Health or Safety Specialist by 2026. There will be an estimated 5,000 positions for Occupational Health or Safety Specialist per year.
The states with the most job growth for Occupational Health or Safety Specialist are Utah, North Dakota, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, Rhode Island, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of an Occupational Health or Safety Specialist
The typical yearly salary for Occupational Health and Safety Specialists is somewhere between $42,450 and $108,520.
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists who work in Rhode Island, District of Columbia, or California, make the highest salaries.
How much do Occupational Health and Safety Specialists make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $71,000 |
| Alaska | $86,940 |
| Arizona | $70,840 |
| Arkansas | $64,620 |
| California | $88,400 |
| Colorado | $86,390 |
| Connecticut | $83,660 |
| Delaware | $75,580 |
| District of Columbia | $90,540 |
| Florida | $66,790 |
| Georgia | $71,450 |
| Hawaii | $73,900 |
| Idaho | $72,440 |
| Illinois | $76,390 |
| Indiana | $63,950 |
| Iowa | $70,710 |
| Kansas | $64,840 |
| Kentucky | $66,730 |
| Louisiana | $76,280 |
| Maine | $69,380 |
| Maryland | $78,920 |
| Massachusetts | $84,480 |
| Michigan | $70,910 |
| Minnesota | $78,140 |
| Mississippi | $70,920 |
| Missouri | $69,880 |
| Montana | $69,890 |
| Nebraska | $66,990 |
| Nevada | $74,020 |
| New Hampshire | $74,410 |
| New Jersey | $80,990 |
| New Mexico | $72,440 |
| New York | $76,020 |
| North Carolina | $69,870 |
| North Dakota | $88,470 |
| Ohio | $76,740 |
| Oklahoma | $67,410 |
| Oregon | $74,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $70,330 |
| Rhode Island | $92,330 |
| South Carolina | $61,990 |
| South Dakota | $68,220 |
| Tennessee | $75,350 |
| Texas | $75,720 |
| Utah | $78,040 |
| Vermont | $68,660 |
| Virginia | $71,260 |
| Washington | $78,240 |
| West Virginia | $73,900 |
| Wisconsin | $66,070 |
| Wyoming | $76,790 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Occupational Health and Safety Specialists may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Word processing software
- SAP
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Project
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Database software
- Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP
- EcoLogic ADAM Indoor Air Quality and Analytical Data Management
How do I Become an Occupational Health or Safety Specialist?
What kind of Occupational Health or Safety Specialist requirements are there?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where do Occupational Health and Safety Specialists Work?
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists work in the following industries:
You May Also Be Interested In…
Those interested in being an Occupational Health or Safety Specialist may also be interested in:
Career changers with experience as an Occupational Health or Safety Specialist sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
Image Credit: Gina Collecchia via Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic
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