When it comes to safety especially on the job, there is no reason for taking risks and having unsafe working conditions. This is why there are safety compliance jobs. The numbers of people who have been injured or killed on the job have continued to drop since the first Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) program was started in 1992. In 2007, 5,488 fatal injuries at work have been recorded in the U.S. This is down 6% from 2006 when the total was 5,840 and this is the lowest annual rate ever reported by the CFOI. What this works out to be is approximately 3.7 fatalities per 100,000 workers.
This is proof that the system is working.
The safety compliance job will include many aspects, such as making sure that machinery and equipment is functioning properly. The inspection of work areas is one of the routine tests they perform. Air is another thing they test especially in plants that process or hold certain chemicals.
If a violation or more than one is found and the situation is not remedied by the deadline given, the company that is responsible may be fined by the government on a daily basis until the situation is resolved. Due to the increased awareness of safety on the job, the public has demanded much higher standards for workers. The safety compliance job makes sure this policy is adhered to and lessens the risk of major problems.
Some safety compliance jobs require the worker to design programs that will control the likelihood of an accident. These are normally in the occupational and safety areas. The items they watch for are chemical, radiological, and biological elements. When infractions are found the management will be informed of the non compliant areas which is a violation of state law, federal law or both. They are also available to train workers on new procedures that have been implemented.
Not only do these safety inspectors help to cut down on the risk of injury and death but by insuring that all rules and regulations are being followed, the need for lost work time due to injury is reduced and insurance premiums are lower. Here are a few of the positions that fall within the guidelines of safety compliance jobs.
- Loss prevention specialists
- Occupational health and safety specialists
- Occupational health and safety technicians
- Mine examiners
- Environmental protection officers
- Ergonomists
- Industrial hygienist
When you decide upon safety compliance jobs as a career, most of them require certification. Depending upon who your employer is, they may require a bachelor’s degree in either occupational health and safety or an associates degree, master’s degree in industrial hygiene, a one year certification or bachelor’s in one or more of engineering, biology, or chemistry. This is really dependent upon the prospective employer although the more education you have the better off you are. Any one who is employed in this field will have to like people. They should also be meticulous and very detail oriented. Good communication is a must.
What is the Employment Outlook for Safety Compliance Jobs?
Although the number of jobs held by specialists in the safety field numbered about 56,000 in 2006, a little less than half of these jobs were people employed by the government. The local government employed 15%, state government 12%, and federal government 13%. The federal government employed many as inspectors within the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. These are the people who make sure the regulations for the U.S. Department of Labor are enforced and if not, they issue fines.
This position is expected to experience normal growth although the need for specialists and technicians will be increasing by about 9 % over the period from 2006-2016. Since it stands to reason that technology will increase, there will be more of a need for specialists to handle these needs - especially when it comes to the advances in safety equipment and all the constantly changing rules and regulations.
Just as jobs in other markets have turnovers, there will be the openings created by those who retire and those who decide to leave this field for other positions or career changes. The government provides good job security due to the public’s call for a safer and healthier work conditions. Many private companies safety compliance jobs are either contracted or their own workers. There is some hiring done through consulting companies however, some of the specialists and technicians are working for themselves.
What Are Typical Earnings for These Positions?
The middle sector earns about $54, 920 yearly and this is the sector that employs the most people. The lower 10% earn $32, 000 and less and the highest 10% earn more than $83,000. The highest paid workers are employed by the federal government while the lowest paid were employed by state governments.
When it comes to safety compliance jobs there are many different categories within this field. These positions require a very good personality as much of it is dealing with people. When looking into this job market keep in mind there are many related fields as well. Agricultural inspectors, transportation inspectors, and building inspectors are all a part of the related occupations that ensure the safety of the public and private sectors.
