Nature of the Work

Occupational health and safety specialists help prevent harm to workers, property, the environment, and to the general public. They analyze work environments and design programs to control, eliminate, and prevent disease or injury. They look for chemical, physical, radiological, and biological hazards, and they work to make more equipment ergonomic—designed to promote proper body positioning, increase worker comfort, and decrease fatigue. For example, to design safe work spaces, they inspect machines, such as lifting devices or scaffolding, or test air quality to ensure that they comply with appropriate safety regulations. They may check that personal protective equipment, such as masks, respirators, protective eyewear, or hardhats, is being used according to regulations. They also check that hazardous materials are stored correctly. They test and identify work areas for potential accident and health hazards, such as toxic vapors, mold, mildew, and explosive gas-air mixtures, and help implement appropriate control measures, such as adjustments to ventilation systems. Their inspection of the workplace might involve talking with workers and observing their work, as well as inspecting elements in their work environment, such as lighting, tools, and equipment.

In addition to making workers safer, specialists aim to increase worker productivity by reducing absenteeism and equipment downtime—and to save money by lowering insurance premiums and workers’ compensation payments, and preventing government fines. Some specialists work for governments, conducting safety inspections and imposing fines. Specialists may conduct inspections and inform an organization’s management of areas not in compliance with state and federal laws or employer policies. They also advise management on the cost and effectiveness of safety and health programs. Some provide training on new regulations and policies or on how to recognize hazards. Loss-prevention specialists work for insurance companies, inspecting the facilities that they insure and suggesting and helping to implement improvements.

Sometimes, specialists develop methods to predict hazards from historical data and other information sources. They use these methods and their own knowledge and experience to evaluate current equipment, products, facilities, or processes and those planned for use in the future. For example, they might uncover patterns in injury data that show that many injuries are caused by a specific type of system failure, human error, or weakness in procedures. They evaluate the probability and severity of accidents and identify where controls need to be implemented to reduce or eliminate risk. If a new program or practice is required, they propose it to management and monitor results if it is implemented. Specialists also might conduct safety training for management, supervisors, and workers. Training sessions might show how to recognize hazards, for example, or explain new regulations and production processes.

If an injury or illness occurs, occupational health and safety specialists help investigate, studying its causes and recommending remedial action. They write reports, including accident reports, and enter information on Occupational Safety and Health Administration recordkeeping forms. They may prepare documents used in legal proceedings and give testimony in court. Those who develop expertise in specific areas may develop occupational health and safety systems, including policies, procedures, and manuals. Some occupational health and safety specialists help workers to return to work after accidents and injuries. They frequently communicate with management about the status of health and safety programs. They also might consult with engineers or physicians.

Workplace health and safety inspectors can save lives by accurately identifying and addressing safety violations. Watch this video, to see how an Oregon OSHA inspector's comments prevent a construction worker from being seriously harmed.

Work Environment

Occupational health and safety specialists and technicians work in a variety of settings, from offices and factories, to mines. Their jobs often involve considerable fieldwork, and some require frequent travel.

Occupational health and safety specialists and technicians may be exposed to many of the same strenuous, dangerous, or stressful conditions faced by industrial employees. They may find themselves in an adversarial role if an organization disagrees with their recommendations. Many occupational health and safety specialists and technicians work long, and often irregular, hours.

Training, Other Qualifications

All occupational health and safety specialists and technicians are trained in the applicable laws or inspection procedures through some combination of classroom and on-the-job training.

Education and Training

Some employers require occupational health and safety specialists to have a bachelor’s degree in occupational health, safety, or a related field, such as engineering, biology, or chemistry. For some positions, a master’s degree in industrial hygiene or a related subject is required.

As of February 2007, the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology accredited 45 programs in health physics, industrial hygiene, and safety.

Other Qualifications

In general, people who want to enter this occupation should be responsible and like detailed work. Occupational health and safety specialists and technicians also should be able to communicate well.

On the Job

• Order suspension of activities that pose threats to workers´ health and safety.
• Recommend measures to help protect workers from potentially hazardous work methods, processes, or materials.
• Investigate accidents to identify causes and to determine how such accidents might be prevented in the future.
• Investigate the adequacy of ventilation, exhaust equipment, lighting, and other conditions that could affect employee health, comfort, or performance.
• Develop and maintain hygiene programs such as noise surveys, continuous atmosphere monitoring, ventilation surveys, and asbestos management plans.
• Inspect and evaluate workplace environments, equipment, and practices, in order to ensure compliance with safety standards and government regulations.
• Collaborate with engineers and physicians to institute control and remedial measures for hazardous and potentially hazardous conditions or equipment.
• Conduct safety training and education programs, and demonstrate the use of safety equipment.
• Provide new-employee health and safety orientations, and develop materials for these presentations.
• Collect samples of dust, gases, vapors, and other potentially toxic materials for analysis.
• Investigate health-related complaints, and inspect facilities to ensure that they comply with public health legislation and regulations.
• Coordinate right-to-know programs regarding hazardous chemicals and other substances.
• Maintain and update emergency response plans and procedures.
• Develop and maintain medical monitoring programs for employees.
• Inspect specified areas to ensure the presence of fire prevention equipment, safety equipment, and first-aid supplies.
• Conduct audits at hazardous waste sites or industrial sites, and participate in hazardous waste site investigations.
• Collect samples of hazardous materials, or arrange for sample collection.
• Maintain inventories of hazardous materials and hazardous wastes, using waste tracking systems to ensure that materials are handled properly.
• Prepare hazardous, radioactive, and mixed waste samples for transportation and storage by treating, compacting, packaging, and labeling them.
• Perform laboratory analyses and physical inspections of samples in order to detect disease or to assess purity or cleanliness.

Source: BLS

Companies That Hire Occupational Health & Safety Specialists

• Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
• National Institutes of Health
• OSHA

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Additional Information

• American Industrial Hygiene Association: www.aiha.org
• American Board of Industrial Hygiene: www.abih.org
• Board of Certified Safety Professionals: www.bcsp.org
• Council on Certification of Health, Environmental, and Safety Technologists: www.cchest.org

Sources

• O*Net Online. (2009). National Center for O*Net Development. Retrieved May 1, 2009, from http://online.onetcenter.org/
• National Institutes of Health Office of Science Education. (2005, March 21). Meet a Real Occupational Health and Safety Specialist, Greg Tate. Retrieved November 12, 2009, from http://science.education.nih.gov/LifeWorks.nsf/Interviews
• KXAN. (2009, June 11). Construction Death Investigation Continues. Retrieved November 16, 2009, from http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/construction-death-investigation-continues/631E48D1FD4FAC1329F1631E48D1FD4FAC1329F1

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