What Does it Take to Be an Occupational Health or Safety Specialist?
Occupational Health or Safety Specialist Job Description 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
- Develop or maintain medical monitoring programs for employees.
- Investigate accidents to identify causes or to determine how such accidents might be prevented in the future.
- Prepare hazardous, radioactive, or mixed waste samples for transportation or storage by treating, compacting, packaging, and labeling them.
- Collect samples of dust, gases, vapors, or other potentially toxic materials for analysis.
- Collect samples of hazardous materials or arrange for sample collection.
- Perform laboratory analyses or physical inspections of samples to detect disease or to assess purity or cleanliness.
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Skills Needed to be an Occupational Health or Safety Specialist
Below is a list of the skills most Occupational Health and Safety Specialists say are important on the job.
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
- Public Health Service Officer
- Radiological Health Specialist
- Safety Consultant
- Risk Control Consultant
- Industrial Waste Inspector
Is There Job Demand for Occupational Health and Safety Specialists?
In the United States, there were 83,700 jobs for Occupational Health or Safety Specialist in 2016. 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.
Occupational Health or Safety Specialist Salary
The salary for Occupational Health and Safety Specialists ranges between about $42,450 and $108,520 a year.
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 each U.S. state?
| 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 to Become an Occupational Health or Safety Specialist
Education needed to be an Occupational Health or Safety Specialist:
What work experience do I need to become an Occupational Health or Safety Specialist?
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists Sector
Below are examples of industries where Occupational Health and Safety Specialists work:
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those interested in being an Occupational Health or Safety Specialist may also be interested in:
Are you already one of the many Occupational Health or Safety Specialist in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: Gina Collecchia via Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic
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