Industrial Safety and Health Engineers

Plan, implement, and coordinate safety programs, requiring application of engineering principles and technology, to prevent or correct unsafe environmental working conditions.

Median Annual Wage: $81,830

Education: Bachelor's degree (68%); Post-baccalaureate certificate (18%); Some college, no degree (5%)

Projected Growth: Average (8% to 14%)

Related Job Titles: Safety and Health Consultant; Chief Security and Safety Officer (CSO); Environmental Safety Specialist; Health and Safety Manager; Environmental Health and Safety Director (EHS Director); Safety, Health, and Environment Vice President; Corporate Health, Safety, and Occupational Toxicology Director; Corporate Health, Safety, and Security Manager; Environmental Affairs, Safety, and Security Manager; Health, Safety, and Environment Manager

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Source: O*NET OnLine information for Industrial Safety and Health Engineers.

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  • Recommend process and product safety features that will reduce employees' exposure to chemical, physical, and biological work hazards.
  • Inspect facilities, machinery, and safety equipment to identify and correct potential hazards, and to ensure safety regulation compliance.
  • Install safety devices on machinery, or direct device installation.
  • Investigate industrial accidents, injuries, or occupational diseases to determine causes and preventive measures.
  • Review plans and specifications for construction of new machinery or equipment to determine whether all safety requirements have been met.
  • Report or review findings from accident investigations, facilities inspections, or environmental testing.
  • Interview employers and employees to obtain information about work environments and workplace incidents.
  • Evaluate adequacy of actions taken to correct health inspection violations.
  • Review employee safety programs to determine their adequacy.
  • Conduct or direct testing of air quality, noise, temperature, or radiation levels to verify compliance with health and safety regulations.
  • Conduct or coordinate worker training in areas such as safety laws and regulations, hazardous condition monitoring, and use of safety equipment.
  • Provide technical advice and guidance to organizations on how to handle health-related problems and make needed changes.
  • Interpret safety regulations for others interested in industrial safety such as safety engineers, labor representatives, and safety inspectors.
  • Maintain liaisons with outside organizations such as fire departments, mutual aid societies, and rescue teams, so that emergency responses can be facilitated.
  • Write and revise safety regulations and codes.
  • Confer with medical professionals to assess health risks and to develop ways to manage health issues and concerns.
  • Compile, analyze, and interpret statistical data related to occupational illnesses and accidents.
  • Plan and conduct industrial hygiene research.
  • Check floors of plants to ensure that they are strong enough to support heavy machinery.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Industrial Safety and Health Engineers.

  • Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • 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.
  • Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
  • Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • Systems Evaluation - Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Industrial Safety and Health Engineers.

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