Career Discovery Tool
Your email has not been verified. Verify email now ›

Occupational Health & Safety Specialist

Overview and Key Facts

specialist in hardhat
Education
Education
Bachelor's degree
Median Pay
Median Pay
$83,910
Job Growth
Job Growth
12.50%
(Above US Average)
Jobs in 2034
Jobs in 2034
148,400

What Do They Do?

An occupational health and safety specialist could...

 
welders
Monitor the indoor air quality of factories to make sure workers are not exposed to toxic levels of chemicals.
woman at power plant
Inspect nuclear power plants and evaluate their procedures to ensure workers are not exposed to radiation.
farm workers
Hold safety training for supervisors of farm workers to teach them precautions to take during a heat wave and how to recognize heat stroke.
assembly line
Review the history of assembly line worker injuries to detect patterns in the accidents.
 
welders woman at power plant farm workers assembly line

Overview Listen to this section

Many people work in environments that have obvious potential dangers, like collapses in mines, chemicals in laboratories, or machinery in factories, but there can be hazards in almost any job, like repetitive stress injuries from constant computer use or from scanning groceries. Occupational health and safety specialists identify potential hazards in a job, and then figure out ways to reduce the risks of accidents or injuries to workers or to the public. They also investigate accidents when they do happen, writing reports that detail the causes, and making recommendations to prevent future mishaps. Their motto is "safety on the job is no accident."
Watch this video to see how an Oregon OSHA inspector's comments prevent a construction worker from being seriously harmed. Workplace health and safety inspectors can save lives by accurately identifying and addressing safety violations.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wmcD3aM8X4

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of an Occupational Health & Safety Specialist?


  1. Speaking: ?
  2. Active Listening: ?
  3. Complex Problem Solving: ?
  4. Reading Comprehension: ?
  5. Critical Thinking: ?
More skills...

Core Tasks

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

Salary & Job Openings

Median Salary (Yearly Pay)

Tap or scroll over map to see median salaries for each state

Future Jobs

Blast-Off:

How Will Occupational Health & Safety Specialist Jobs Grow by 2034?
Projected % Growth
Rapid growth
(10% or higher)
Much faster than average
(7% - 10%)
Faster than average
(5% - 7%)
About as fast as average
(3% - 5%)
Slower than average
(0% - 3%)
Decreasing
Average of all U.S. jobs (5.3%)
Occupational Health & Safety Specialist jobs (12.50%)
Source: https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm

Steps to Get There: Becoming an Occupational Health & Safety Specialist

High School Subjects to Study

Aim to study the yellow-shaded subjects.
Math
Algebra 1
Geometry
Algebra 2
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
Statistics
Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Environmental Science
Physiology
Bio-Medical / Biotech
IT &
Engineering
Computer Science
Applied Technology
Drafting & CAD Training
Core
English
Foreign Language
Business
Psychology / Sociology

Career Pathway Listen to this section

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- Typical Degree Needed After High School Listen to this section

Degree
Post
high school credential
AA
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctoral or Professional Degree

Typical degree for an entry-level position: Bachelor's degree ? Types of Degrees and Credentials

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.

Companies That Hire Occupational Health & Safety Specialists

Try it Out with an Activity or Project

STEM Activities

STEM activities are fun hands-on explorations that usually take from 10 minutes to one hour and use readily available household or classroom materials while introducing you to STEM concepts common in this career.

Science Project Ideas

Project Ideas are in-depth STEM explorations that have a strong focus on controlling variables, taking accurate measurements, and analyzing data suitable for investigating the scientific method or the engineering design process.

On the Job

Role Models

In this interview, you'll meet Greg Tate, an occupational health and safety specialist with the National Institutes of Health, who enjoys keeping safe the researchers who devote their lives to improving public health.
What I like best about my work is the fact that I serve to keep the people - who devote their lives to improving the public’s health - healthy! 
Greg Tate, Occupational Health and Safety Specialist

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.

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.

More Information

Ask Questions

Do you have a specific question about a career as an Occupational Health & Safety Specialist that isn't answered on this page? Post your question on the Science Buddies Ask an Expert Forum.

Additional Resources

Sources

Top
Quick Links X
Free science fair projects.