Occupational Health and Safety Specialists

Summary

Occupational health and safety specialists examine lighting, equipment, ventilation, and other conditions that could affect employee health, comfort, or performance.

Quick Facts: Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
2010 Median Pay	$64,660 per year $31.09 per hour
Entry-Level Education	Bachelor’s degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	Moderate-term on-the-job training
Number of Jobs, 2010	58,700
Job Outlook, 2010-20	9% (Slower than average)
Employment Change, 2010-20	5,000

What Occupational Health and Safety Specialists Do

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.

Work Environment

Occupational health and safety specialists work in a variety of settings, such as offices, factories, and mines. Their jobs often involve fieldwork and travel. Most specialists work full time.

How to Become an Occupational Health and Safety Specialist

Occupational health and safety specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree. All specialists are trained in the specific laws or inspection procedures through a combination of classroom and on-the-job training.

Pay

The median annual wage of occupational health and safety specialists was $64,660 in May 2010.

Job Outlook

Employment of occupational health and safety specialists is expected to grow by 9 percent from 2010 to 2020, slower than the average for all occupations.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of occupational health and safety specialists with similar occupations.

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Contacts for More Information

Learn more about occupational health and safety specialists by contacting these additional resources.

What Occupational Health and Safety Specialists Do About this section

Industrial hygienists (a type of specialist) examine the workplace for health hazards, such as exposure to lead, asbestos, noise, pesticides, or communicable diseases.

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.

Duties

Occupational health and safety specialists typically do the following:

• Identify chemical, physical, radiological, and biological hazards in the workplace
• Collect samples of potentially toxic materials for analysis
• Inspect and evaluate workplace environments, equipment, and practices to ensure that safety standards and government regulations are being followed
• Recommend measures to help protect workers from potentially hazardous work conditions
• Investigate accidents to identify their causes and to determine how they might be prevented in the future

Occupational health and safety specialists, also known as occupational safety and health inspectors, examine lighting, equipment, ventilation, and other conditions that could affect employee health, safety, comfort, and performance. Workers usually are more alert and productive in environments that have specific levels of lighting or temperature.

Specialists seek to increase worker productivity by reducing absenteeism and equipment downtime. They also seek to save money by lowering insurance premiums and workers’ compensation payments and by preventing government fines. Some specialists develop and conduct employee safety and training programs. These programs cover a range of topics, such as how to use safety equipment correctly and how to respond in an emergency.

Specialists work to prevent harm not only to workers but also to property, the environment, and the public by inspecting workplaces for chemical, radiological, and biological hazards. Specialists who work for governments conduct safety inspections and can impose fines.

Occupational health and safety specialists work with engineers and physicians to control or fix potentially hazardous conditions or equipment. They also work closely with occupational health and safety technicians to collect and analyze data in the workplace. For more information, see the profile on occupational health and safety technicians.

The tasks of occupational health and safety specialists vary by industry, workplace, and types of hazards affecting employees.

Environmental protection officers evaluate and coordinate storing and handling hazardous waste, cleaning up contaminated soil or water, and other activities that affect the environment.

Ergonomists consider the design of industrial, office, and other equipment to maximize workers' comfort, safety, and productivity.

Health physicists work in locations that use radiation and radioactive material, helping to protect people and the environment from hazardous radiation exposure.

Industrial hygienists identify workplace health hazards, such as lead, asbestos, noise, pesticides, and communicable diseases.

Loss prevention specialists work for insurance companies. They inspect the facilities that are insured and suggest improvements to prevent losses.

Work Environment About this section

Occupational health and safety specialists often work with computers and complex testing equipment.

Occupational health and safety specialists held about 58,700 jobs in 2010. They work in a variety of settings, such as offices, factories, and mines. Their jobs often involve considerable fieldwork and travel.

Thirty eight percent of occupational health and safety specialists worked for federal, state, and local governments in 2010. In the federal government, specialists are employed by various agencies, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the U.S. Department of Labor. Most large government agencies employ specialists to protect agency employees. In addition to working for governments, occupational safety and health specialists worked in management, scientific, and technical consulting services; education services; hospitals; and chemical manufacturing.

Occupational health and safety specialists may be exposed to strenuous, dangerous, or stressful conditions. Specialists use gloves, helmets, and other safety equipment to minimize injury.

Work Schedules

Most occupational health and safety specialists work full time. Some specialists may work weekends or irregular hours in emergencies.

How to Become an Occupational Health and Safety Specialist About this section

Occupational health and safety specialists recommend measures to help protect workers from potentially hazardous work conditions.

Occupational health and safety specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree. Specialists are trained in the specific laws or inspection procedures through a combination of classroom and on-the-job training.

Education

High school students interested in becoming occupational health and safety specialists should take courses in English, mathematics, chemistry, biology, and physics.      

Occupational health and safety specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree in occupational health, safety, or a related scientific or technical field, such as engineering, biology, or chemistry. For some positions, a master’s degree is required in industrial hygiene, health physics, or a related subject.

Typical courses include radiation science, hazardous material management and control, risk communications, and respiratory protection. These courses may vary, depending on the specialty in which a student wants to work. For example, courses in health physics focus on topics that differ from those in industrial hygiene.

Work experience is often important in this occupation. Internships are not required, but employers often prefer to hire candidates who have had one.

Training

Although occupational health and safety specialists learn standard laws and procedures in their formal education, they also need a moderate amount of on-the-job training for specific work environments. For example, all workplaces must meet a certain standard for air quality. However, a specialist who will inspect offices needs different training than a specialist concentrating on factories.

Important Qualities

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 must pay attention to details. They need to recognize and adhere to specific safety standards and government regulations.

Physical stamina. Occupational health and safety specialists must be able to stand on their feet 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. They need to be able to find solutions to unsafe working conditions and environmental concerns in the workplace.

Technical skills. Occupational health and safety specialists must be able to use advanced technology. They often work with complex testing equipment.

Certification

Although certification is voluntary, many employers encourage it. Certification is available through several organizations, depending on the field in which the specialists work. Specialists must have graduated from an accredited educational program and have work experience to be eligible to take most certification exams. To keep their certification, specialists are usually required to complete periodic continuing education.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage of occupational health and safety specialists was $64,660 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $38,780, and the top 10 percent earned more than $94,180.

Most occupational health and safety specialists work full time. Some specialists may work weekends or irregular hours in emergencies.

Job Outlook About this section

Employment of occupational health and safety specialists is expected to grow by 9 percent from 2010 to 2020, slower than the average for all occupations. New environmental regulations and laws will require specialists to create and enforce procedures in the workplace.

The increased adoption of nuclear power as a source of energy may be a major factor for job growth for specialists in that field. These specialists will be needed to create and carry out programs to maintain the safety of both the workers and the environment.

Insurance and workers’ compensation costs have become a concern for many employers and insurance companies, especially with an aging population remaining in the workforce longer. Older workers usually have a greater proportion of workers’ compensation claims. Also, as the workforce ages, employers will have to provide more illness- and injury-related benefits, including sick leave. In addition, job growth should be good for those specializing in loss prevention.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For more information about industrial hygienists, visit

American Industrial Hygiene Association

For more information about credentialing in industrial hygiene, visit

American Board of Industrial Hygiene

For more information about occupations in safety, a list of safety and related academic programs, and credentialing, visit

Board of Certified Safety Professionals

For more information about health physicists, visit

Health Physics Society

For more information about occupational health and safety, visit

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Administration

For job vacancies within the federal government, visit

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