Occupational Health and Safety Specialists

What the job really is

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.

At a glance

• Sector: Life, Physical & Social Science
• O*NET-SOC code: 19-5011
• O*NET job zone: 4 — considerable preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Recommend measures to help protect workers from potentially hazardous work methods, processes, or materials.
• Develop or maintain hygiene programs, such as noise surveys, continuous atmosphere monitoring, ventilation surveys, or asbestos management plans.
• 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.
• Collect samples of dust, gases, vapors, or other potentially toxic materials for analysis.
• Collaborate with engineers or physicians to institute control or remedial measures for hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions or equipment.
• Investigate the adequacy of ventilation, exhaust equipment, lighting, or other conditions that could affect employee health, comfort, or performance.
• Conduct safety training or education programs and demonstrate the use of safety equipment.
• Investigate health-related complaints and inspect facilities to ensure that they comply with public health legislation and regulations.
• Write reports.
• Inspect specified areas to ensure the presence of fire prevention equipment, safety equipment, or first-aid supplies.

Tools and technology

Microsoft Access, Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Project, Microsoft SharePoint, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Word, SAP software, Aerosol monitoring instruments

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
• Occupational Health and Safety Technicians
• Environmental Compliance Inspectors
• Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
• Construction and Building Inspectors
• Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
• Environmental Engineers
• Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 4 (considerable preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Occupational Health and Safety Specialists — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.