Occupational Health & Safety Expert
Job Description
Working can be a hazardous activity as demonstrated by the fact that over 100,000 Americans are injured daily at their workplace and approximately 150 are killed, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In order to help cut back on the number of people hurt at their place of work, occupational health and safety experts provide programs that will help to prevent, control, or eliminate workplace safety and health dangers.
These experts are also instrumental in formulating healthier, safe, and more efficient methods of working.
Responsibilities
Those who choose to become occupational health and safety expert as their career choice will work to pinpoint, control, minimize, or eliminate safety and health problems caused by physical, chemical, or biological processes.
Among your many duties will be ascertaining whether an employer is in compliance with governmental health and safety regulations by inspecting the premises to determine working conditions.
Skills
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Physical Endurance |
OHSEs on their feet all the time and need to be able to respond quickly to situations as they arise. |
|
Stress Management |
They must manage the stress and pressure that comes with their job. |
| Organization | Must be able to situate tasks and documents to keep sensitive information in order. |
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Communication |
They must speak to organizations and business and maintain healthy work environments for many people, so they must be able to communicate clearly and effectively and relay information at a high level. |
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Detail-Oriented |
These specialists have a ton of tasks they must perform, so they have to pay attention as they multitask throughout their day. |
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Critical Thinking |
Must constantly be devising new ways of interacting with people, adapt to changes, and learn about the things a medical professional needs to know. |
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Use Complex Testing Equipment |
Must be able to effectively use equipment to test environments and ensure safety. |
Working Conditions
Because health and safety requirements apply to nearly every public and private business, the occupational health and safety expert can find themselves working in a wide range of conditions.
Those who undertake this career will engage in fieldwork as they evaluate places of employment, and this job can entail traveling. Irregular working hours are often the norm for both specialists and technicians.
Salary Outlook
| Estimated Annual Salary | Average Hourly Wage | Positions Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| $67,582.00 | $32.49 | 70,000 |