Why Are These Careers Important?
The safety director will also know the federal, state, and local laws as they pertain to the company or organization for which he or she works. The compliance of all workers with regard to these laws is the ultimate responsibility of the safety director. This is why the safety director must hold meetings and teach the employees the regulations and policies that are in effect.
When you look into environmental safety jobs, you’ll find that the EPA has certain rules and regulations that are in effect for which the company must comply. If they do not follow the rules and regulations as they are required by law to do, they can incur fines which are very expensive.
EHS careers are very regulated and if a career in this field is what you are looking for, the environment will be a big part of your work. Air quality will be one of the responsibilities of the industry safety inspectors. They will test machinery and make sure emissions do not violate the rules and regulations that are set by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration).
The work place has to be up to certain standards which are designed to keep the workers safe. The productivity of workers and the incidence of work related injuries are another responsibility of the safety inspector’s job. They must keep up to date on federal as well as state and city safety regulations. All paperwork must be kept up to date on accident and safety records.
What Do Occupational Health and Safety Inspectors Do?
The safety inspector who is responsible for the health and safety of workers has to make sure there are programs designed to keep injury as well as illness from being a hazard to the worker. There are many chemical plants that must be regulated to keep contaminants from entering the air and becoming a threat to the public as well as the workers. There will be inspections to see if the company is in compliance with the set safety standards.
Another goal is to take care of the workplace so there will not be the need for compensation payments to workers, their insurance premiums will not be outrageous, and the government does not issue fines for the non-compliance of the company when it comes to safety.
Health inspectors must also make sure they test every aspect of water, machines, air, and samples of dust, vapors, and other materials that may be toxic to humans. The machines must be in the best shape so there will not be a problem with production due to inoperative machinery. This is another aspect of the health inspector’s job.
There are many responsibilities that the safety specialist will be responsible for depending upon the type of workplace by which they are employed. There are mine safety inspectors who make sure the mines are safe for the workers. There are environmental protection officers who handle hazardous materials, cleaning up areas that are contaminated which may include water and soil. The ergonomist is responsible for the worker’s health and safety. They will design the office and work environment for maximum protection and productivity. Many of the safety inspectors make sure that working conditions are free of exposure to pesticides, asbestos, and other harmful pollutants.
What Are the Education Requirements?
The majority of occupational and safety director jobs require a bachelor’s degree in either health, safety, or another field that is related to this type of work. This could be chemistry, biology, or engineering, to name a few possibilities. There are also positions that require a master’s in industrial hygiene. They may also get an associate degree and available as well are one year certification programs.
When becoming certified, there are many organizations that offer courses in the safety field. The following are a few of the organizations that do this:
1. Board of Certified Safety Professionals
2. American Board of Industrial Hygiene
3. Council on Certification of Health, Environment, and Safety
When deciding which type of safety director job you are interested in becoming there are many choices. You can choose to work in mechanical, chemical, sales, manufacturing, and many other types of safety jobs. The requirements will differ and they will usually contain certain specifications for each field.
Working closely with management, the safety director will discuss any changes he thinks are necessary for the company’s well being. They will conduct the training in safety for management as well as supervisors and workers. The requirements for these types of jobs may differ from the other typical safety director positions. They will clear any new programs with management before implementing them.
The median salary for this position in the US is approximately $91,000. This is an average from all types of industries. The occupational health and safety inspectors earn about $55,000 per year, and the high ten percent earn about $84,000. The low ten percent earn less than $32,000. The federal government employees are paid on average $70,000. Most of these safety specialists work for private firms and for government agencies in state, federal, and local governments. The benefits such as insurance and paid vacation time are better at these types of agencies than at a smaller business.
The laws and regulations that they enforce are in many occupations including fire, police, transportation, construction, financial, and many other jobs. This is a good occupation if you are a good communicator and like the challenge of keeping up with changing rules and regulations that pertain to safety in all forms.
