Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
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.
Sample of reported job titles:
Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), Chemical Hygiene Officer, Environmental Health and Safety Officer, Environmental, Health, and Safety Officer (EHS Officer), Industrial Hygienist, Industrial Hygienist Consultant, Safety Consultant, Safety Management Consultant, Safety Officer, Safety Specialist
Occupation-Specific Information
Tasks
- Order suspension of activities that pose threats to workers' health or safety.
- Recommend measures to help protect workers from potentially hazardous work methods, processes, or materials.
- Investigate accidents to identify causes or to determine how such accidents might be prevented in the future.
- Investigate the adequacy of ventilation, exhaust equipment, lighting, or other conditions that could affect employee health, comfort, or performance.
- Develop or maintain hygiene programs, such as noise surveys, continuous atmosphere monitoring, ventilation surveys, or asbestos management plans.
Technology Skills
- Cloud-based data access and sharing software:Microsoft SharePoint
- Compliance software:ESS Compliance Suite,Mannus Compliance: EHS,Primatech AUDITWorks
- Data base user interface and query software:Curtis Management Resources Training Management System,Database software,EcoLogic ADAM Indoor Air Quality and Analytical Data Management,ImageWave MSDSFinder,Medgate Enterprise EHS,Microsoft Access,Quality Systems Incorporated Safety Tagging System,RAE Systems HazRAE,Safety Software OSHALOG 300
- Electronic mail software:Microsoft Outlook
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software:SAP business and customer relations management software
Occupational Requirements
Work Activities
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards:Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
- Getting Information:Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates:Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems:Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others:Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
Detailed Work Activities
- Advise communities or institutions regarding health or safety issues.
- Analyze data to identify trends or relationships among variables.
- Analyze laboratory specimens to detect abnormalities or other problems.
- Analyze operational data to evaluate operations, processes or products.
- Collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan or provide treatment.
Work Context
- Electronic Mail:95% responded"Every day"
- Responsible for Others' Health and Safety:86% responded"Very high responsibility"
- Telephone:82% responded"Every day"
- Face-to-Face Discussions:82% responded"Every day"
- Level of Competition:77% responded"Moderately competitive"
Worker Requirements
Skills
- Speaking:Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- 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.
- Complex Problem Solving:Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Critical Thinking:Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Reading Comprehension:Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Knowledge
- Education and Training:Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
- English Language:Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Chemistry:Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
- Public Safety and Security:Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
- Law and Government:Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Education
How much education does a new hire need to perform a job in this occupation? Respondents said:
- 73%Bachelor's Degree
- 18%Master's Degree
Worker Characteristics
Abilities
- Deductive Reasoning:The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Inductive Reasoning:The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- Oral Comprehension:The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Oral Expression:The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Problem Sensitivity:The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
Interests
- Investigative:Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
- Conventional:Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Work Values
- Support:Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
- Working Conditions:Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
- Achievement:Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Work Styles
- Integrity:Job requires being honest and ethical.
- Cooperation:Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
- Attention to Detail:Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
- Dependability:Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
- Adaptability/Flexibility:Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Get yourself a new skill
In this Path
Track1
Analytical Skills
Track2
Microsoft Office Set
Microsoft Excel
This course is designed to take you from Zero to Hero on Excel, and make your accounting job and req...
Read moreFiltered AI
Microsoft Word
Word is not just for writing plain text; and this is why this course is here to guide you through ev...
Read moreIntellezy Learning