Occupational Health and Safety Specialists

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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

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Tasks

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Recommend measures to help protect workers from potentially hazardous work methods, processes, or materials.
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.
Collaborate with engineers or physicians to institute control or remedial measures for hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions or equipment.
Develop or maintain hygiene programs, such as noise surveys, continuous atmosphere monitoring, ventilation surveys, or asbestos management plans.
Coordinate “right-to-know” programs regarding hazardous chemicals or other substances.
Conduct safety training or education programs and demonstrate the use of safety equipment.
Collect samples of dust, gases, vapors, or other potentially toxic materials for analysis.
Investigate the adequacy of ventilation, exhaust equipment, lighting, or other conditions that could affect employee health, comfort, or performance.
Analyze incident data to identify trends in injuries, illnesses, accidents, or other hazards.
Investigate health-related complaints and inspect facilities to ensure that they comply with public health legislation and regulations.
Collect samples of hazardous materials or arrange for sample collection.
Maintain or update emergency response plans or procedures.
Provide new-employee health and safety orientations and develop materials for these presentations.
Inspect specified areas to ensure the presence of fire prevention equipment, safety equipment, or first-aid supplies.
Maintain inventories of hazardous materials or hazardous wastes, using waste tracking systems to ensure that materials are handled properly.
Develop or maintain medical monitoring programs for employees.
Conduct audits at hazardous waste sites or industrial sites or participate in hazardous waste site investigations.
Perform laboratory analyses or physical inspections of samples to detect disease or to assess purity or cleanliness.
Prepare hazardous, radioactive, or mixed waste samples for transportation or storage by treating, compacting, packaging, and labeling them.

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Technology Skills

All 13 displayed Show 58 tools used

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 — EcoLogic ADAM Indoor Air Quality and Analytical Data Management; Medgate Enterprise EHS; Microsoft Access ; Safety Software OSHALOG 300 (see all 9 examples)
Electronic mail software — Microsoft Outlook
Enterprise resource planning ERP software — SAP
Internet browser software — Web browser software
Office suite software — Microsoft Office
Operating system software — Microsoft Windows
Presentation software — Microsoft PowerPoint
Project management software — Microsoft Project
Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel
Web platform development software — Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP
Word processing software — Microsoft Word

Hot Technology — a technology requirement frequently included in employer job postings.

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Knowledge

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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.
Mathematics — Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Biology — Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Engineering and Technology — Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Customer and Personal Service — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Physics — Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
Mechanical — Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Administration and Management — Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Computers and Electronics — Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Psychology — Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Production and Processing — Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Building and Construction — Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Personnel and Human Resources — Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

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Skills

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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.
Judgment and Decision Making — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Social Perceptiveness — Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
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.
Monitoring — Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Writing — Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Systems Analysis — Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Active Learning — Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Instructing — Teaching others how to do something.
Mathematics — Using mathematics to solve problems.
Learning Strategies — Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Operations Monitoring — Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Quality Control Analysis — Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Coordination — Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Persuasion — Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Negotiation — Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
Operations Analysis — Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
Service Orientation — Actively looking for ways to help people.
Time Management — Managing one’s own time and the time of others.

Abilities

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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.
Written Comprehension — The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Written Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Flexibility of Closure — The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Information Ordering — The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Speech Clarity — The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech Recognition — The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Far Vision — The ability to see details at a distance.
Category Flexibility — The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Mathematical Reasoning — The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Perceptual Speed — The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Number Facility — The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
Originality — The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
Visualization — The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Fluency of Ideas — The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Selective Attention — The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Speed of Closure — The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.

Work Activities

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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.
Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Providing Consultation and Advice to Others — Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Working with Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Developing and Building Teams — Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
Communicating with People Outside the Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Developing Objectives and Strategies — Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
Scheduling Work and Activities — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others — Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
Selling or Influencing Others — Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates — Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
Coaching and Developing Others — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
Performing Administrative Activities — Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.

Detailed Work Activities

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Advise communities or institutions regarding health or safety issues.
Inspect work environments to ensure safety.
Design public or employee health programs.
Collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan or provide treatment.
Consult with others regarding safe or healthy equipment or facilities.
Conduct health or safety training programs.
Analyze data to identify trends or relationships among variables.
Analyze operational data to evaluate operations, processes or products.
Investigate safety of work environment.
Test facilities for environmental hazards.
Develop emergency procedures.
Prepare healthcare training materials.
Monitor the handling of hazardous materials or medical wastes.
Maintain inventory of medical supplies or equipment.
Analyze laboratory specimens to detect abnormalities or other problems.

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Work Context

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Electronic Mail — 95% responded “Every day.”
Responsible for Others’ Health and Safety — 86% responded “Very high responsibility.”
Face-to-Face Discussions — 82% responded “Every day.”
Telephone — 82% responded “Every day.”
Work With Work Group or Team — 57% responded “Extremely important.”
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results — 55% responded “Important results.”
Freedom to Make Decisions — 55% responded “Some freedom.”
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 45% responded “Every day.”
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets — 59% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
Contact With Others — 55% responded “Constant contact with others.”
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 41% responded “Extremely important.”
Structured versus Unstructured Work — 57% responded “Some freedom.”
Duration of Typical Work Week — 55% responded “More than 40 hours.”
Frequency of Decision Making — 41% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled — 45% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
Coordinate or Lead Others — 50% responded “Very important.”
Letters and Memos — 50% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
Deal With External Customers — 41% responded “Very important.”
Consequence of Error — 36% responded “Extremely serious.”
Physical Proximity — 45% responded “Moderately close (at arm’s length).”
Exposed to Contaminants — 45% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
Time Pressure — 55% responded “Once a month or more but not every week.”
Responsibility for Outcomes and Results — 41% responded “Moderate responsibility.”
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Equipment — 45% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable — 41% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
Spend Time Sitting — 68% responded “About half the time.”
Outdoors, Exposed to Weather — 50% responded “Once a month or more but not every week.”
Level of Competition — 77% responded “Moderately competitive.”

Job Zone

Title	Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Education	Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor’s degree, but some do not.
Related Experience	A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Job Training	Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Job Zone Examples	Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, chemists, art directors, and cost estimators.
SVP Range	(7.0 to < 8.0)

Education

Percentage of Respondents	Education Level Required
73	Bachelor’s degree
18	Master’s degree
5	Post-secondary certificate

Credentials

Interests

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Interest code: IC Want to discover your interests? Take the O*NET Interest Profiler at My Next Move.

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.
Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Social — Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Work Styles

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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.
Concern for Others — Job requires being sensitive to others’ needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Initiative — Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Analytical Thinking — Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Leadership — Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Persistence — Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Self-Control — Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Achievement/Effort — Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Stress Tolerance — Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
Independence — Job requires developing one’s own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Innovation — Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
Social Orientation — Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.

Work Values

All 3 displayed

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.

Related Occupations

All 9 displayed

11-9021.00	Construction Managers Bright Outlook
11-9161.00	Emergency Management Directors
13-1041.01	Environmental Compliance Inspectors
17-2081.00	Environmental Engineers
17-2111.00	Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
17-2112.02	Validation Engineers
19-1031.00	Conservation Scientists
19-5012.00	Occupational Health and Safety Technicians
25-2032.00	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School

Wages & Employment Trends

Median wages (2020)	$36.70 hourly, $76,340 annual
State wages
Local wages	ZIP Code:

Employment (2020)	98,000 employees
Projected growth (2020-2030)	Average (5% to 10%)
Projected job openings (2020-2030)	7,800
State trends

Top industries (2020)	Government Manufacturing

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2020 wage data external site and 2020-2030 employment projections . “Projected growth” represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2020-2030). “Projected job openings” represent openings due to growth and replacement.

Job Openings on the Web

Sources of Additional Information

All 9 displayed

Disclaimer: Sources are listed to provide additional information on related jobs, specialties, and/or industries. Links to non-DOL Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement.

American Board of Industrial Hygiene
American Chemical Society
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists
American Industrial Hygiene Association
American Society of Safety Engineers
Board of Certified Safety Professionals
National Fire Protection Association
National Safety Council
Occupational Outlook Handbook: Occupational health and safety specialists and technicians

This page includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.