For centuries, people thought that accidents and illnesses just happened, or they superstitiously blamed such unfortunate occurrences on fate, the wrath of the gods, or evil forces. Very little was done in the way of prevention other than to wear charms or offer sacrifices. At the same time, slave labor was plentiful while lives were expendable. The builders of the great structures of the ancient world gave scant thought to their human inventory, and the workers were compelled to accept their lot in life. Even in more modern times, the early history of the Industrial Revolution shows workers were considered of less importance than the machines they operated or the output of a factory or mine. Little relationship was seen between the safety and health of the workers and productivity.
In this century, however, the rapid growth of technology has made it possible to design machinery and equipment with built-in health and safety jobs mechanisms. Research in medicine has increased our knowledge of the effect of the environment on health. Psychology has made us aware of the human factors that may lead to accident or illness, and the influence of labor unions and the government had led to more concern for the men and women in industry and the conditions of their workplace. Today, people are probably safer at work than anywhere else. Not only has industry instituted practical safety measures, reducing hazards by developing new machinery and devising better safeguards, but it has established work safety rules and safety education programs. Likewise, it continues to allocate large sums to research and development in this area.
Meanwhile, safety engineers are concerned with EHS jobs yet even more focused on preventing accidents. Their specific duties depend on the specific area that they work in. In large industrial plants, they may develop a safety program that covers several thousand employees. They examine plans for new machinery and equipment to see that all safety precautions have been included. They determine the weight-bearing capacity of the plant floor. They inspect existing machinery and design, build, and install safeguards where necessary. In case of accidents, safety engineers investigate the cause. If it is related to a mechanical problem, they use their technical skills to correct it and prevent a recurrence. If it is because of human error, they may educate the workers in proper safety procedures.
On the other hand, safety engineers who work for trucking companies, known as safety coordinators, instruct truck and trailer drivers in matters pertaining to traffic and safety regulations and care of the equipment. They ride with drivers and patrol highways to detect errors in handling cargo and driving the vehicle. They also watch for violation of company regulations and observe the conditions of the vehicles and the roads. They investigate accidents and recommend measures to improve safety records and to conserve equipment.
In the mining industry, health and safety jobs are also prevalent. The safety engineers, or mining inspectors, inspect underground and open-pit mines to ensure compliance with health and safety laws. They check timber supports, electrical and mechanical equipment, storage of explosives, and other possible hazards, and test the air quality for toxic or explosive gas or dust. They may also design safety devices and protective equipment for mine workers, lead rescue activities in case of emergencies, and instruct mine workers in safety and first-aid procedures. Likewise, the light, heat, and power industry employs safety engineers or safety inspectors to ensure the safety of the workers engaged in construction and maintenance of overhead and underground power lines. The safety inspectors check safety belts, ladders, ropes, rubber goods, and tools. They also observe crews at work to be sure they use goggles, rubber gloves, and other safety devices. They examine the condition of tunnels and ditches. They investigate accidents, devise preventive measures, and may instruct workers in safety matters.
Many safety engineers who have been engaged in environmental health and safety jobs also work with design engineers to develop safe models of their company’s products. They then monitor the manufacturing process to ensure the safety of the finished product. Meanwhile, fire protection engineers also have different tasks depending on the place where they work. In general, their job is to safeguard life and property against fire, explosion, and related hazards. Those in design and consulting firms work with architects and other engineers to build fire safety into new buildings. They study buildings before and after their completion for such factors as fire resistance, usage, and contents of the buildings, water supplies, and entrance and exit facilities. Overall, their occupational health and safety jobs are done for the benefit of everybody.
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