Occupational Health & 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.
Technology Tools
Key Tasks
- Recommend measures to help protect workers from potentially hazardous work methods, processes, or materials.
- Develop or maintain hygiene programs, such as noise surveys, continuous atmosphere monitoring, ventilation surveys, or asbestos management plans.
- 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.
- 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.
- Investigate health-related complaints and inspect facilities to ensure that they comply with public health legislation and regulations.
- Conduct safety training or education programs and demonstrate the use of safety equipment.
- Write reports.
- 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.
- Analyze incident data to identify trends in injuries, illnesses, accidents, or other hazards.
- Maintain or update emergency response plans or procedures.
- Coordinate "right-to-know" programs regarding hazardous chemicals or other substances.
- Conduct audits at hazardous waste sites or industrial sites or participate in hazardous waste site investigations.
- 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.
- Prepare hazardous, radioactive, or mixed waste samples for transportation or storage by treating, compacting, packaging, and labeling them.
- 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.
Skills
Knowledge
Build a Resume for Occupational Health & Safety Specialists
Create a professional, ATS-optimized resume tailored to this career path.
Abilities
Work Activities
Work Context
How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?
96%
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?
90%
Telephone Conversations
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
90%
Health and Safety of Other Workers
How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
83%
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in an environmentally controlled environment (like a warehouse with air conditioning)?
83%
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
82%
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
81%
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?
79%
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
How much freedom does the worker have in determining the tasks, priorities, or goals of the job?
78%
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?
78%
Freedom to Make Decisions
How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
76%
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
76%
Duration of Typical Work Week
Number of hours typically worked in one week.
74%
Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities
How important is it to coordinate or lead others (not as a supervisor or team leader) in accomplishing work activities in this job?
72%
Physical Proximity
To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks physically close to other people?
72%
Written Letters and Memos
How frequently does your job require written letters and memos?
70%
Frequency of Decision Making
How often is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
69%
Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working in an environment that is not environmentally controlled (like a warehouse without air conditioning)?
64%
Time Pressure
How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
64%
Consequence of Error
How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not easily correctable?
59%
Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
59%
Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers
How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
58%
Exposed to Contaminants
How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
57%
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
57%
Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
How important is it to deal with external customers (as in retail sales) or the public in general (as in police work) in this job?
53%
Spend Time Sitting
How much does this job require sitting?
53%
Conflict Situations
How frequently are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
51%
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment (like a car)?
51%
Public Speaking
How frequently does your job require public speaking (one speaker with an audience)?
48%
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
How important are continuous, repetitive, physical activities (like key entry) or mental activities (like checking entries in a ledger) to performing this job?
46%
Level of Competition
To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
46%
Outdoors, Under Cover
How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (like in an open shed)?
46%
Spend Time Standing
How much does this job require standing?
45%
Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions?
44%
Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People
How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?
43%
Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
41%
Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection
How often does this job require wearing specialized protective or safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection?
39%
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
38%
Exposed to Hazardous Equipment
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
37%
Spend Time Walking or Running
How much does this job require walking or running?
33%
Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions
How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions?
31%
Exposed to High Places
How often does this job require exposure to high places?
31%
Work Schedules
How regular are the work schedules for this job?
31%
Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings
How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings?
30%
Degree of Automation
How automated is the job?
29%
Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body
How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
29%
Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions
How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?
28%
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
26%
Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles
How much does this job require climbing ladders, scaffolds, poles, etc.?
25%
Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling
How much does this job require kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling?
25%
Exposed to Disease or Infections
How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
22%
Exposed to Radiation
How often does this job require exposure to radiation?
18%
Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance
How much does this job require keeping or regaining your balance?
17%
Dealing with Violent or Physically Aggressive People
How frequently does this job require the worker to deal with physical aggression of violent individuals?
16%
Exposed to Whole Body Vibration
How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (like operating a jackhammer or earth moving equipment)?
15%
In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment
How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or operating equipment (like a tractor)?
15%
Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)
13%
Education
Bachelor's degree
Post-baccalaureate certificate
Master's degree
Interests
Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the f
Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or hum
Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, t
Social
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
Enterprising
Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertis
Artistic
Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts,
Work Styles
Work Values
Ready to pursue a career as Occupational Health & Safety Specialists?
Create a professional resume that highlights the right skills and experience for this role.
Build Your Resume Now