Occupational Health & Safety Specialists. Work-Force Guardians.

Posted by ERUDIO in Occupational health and safety specialists on Feb 1st, 2010

Hardly more than a century ago, the “Industrial Revolution” ate workers.

Its mines crushed them, its mills incinerated them, its machines shredded them. Men, women, children alike, were need in vast numbers to feed the new machine world with raw materials that machines turned into goods. A paid army of armed thugs beat or murdered anyone who brave or desperate enough to protest.

Because for the owners, it was far cheaper to replace a disposable worker than it was to safety-modify a precious machine.

For many workers this is still true today— in many places on our globe, machines are still more highly valued than the flesh-and-blood human beings, the workers who feed the machines and nurture them, so that profits can keep churning out of the factory doors.

Around the world, as the 20th-century dawned, writers and leaders began to fight the injustice and tyranny of the machine age.

Powerful 1900’s novels like OCTOPUS, and THE JUNGLE, and DEATH SHIP caused a sensation. If you haven’t read them, you should. They still pack the emotional horsepower they once did, maybe more.

From public outrage against so much worker death and injury, federal and state governments finally began to try to protect their citizen workers.

Some wealthy factory owners fought change, and waged media campaigns, with the same old charge of “Socialism”, wanting to maximize profits. But other wiser (and perhaps more humane) Kings of Industry actually wanted to improve worker conditions.

The Molly Maguires

In the coal mines the situation was brutal— check out the relatively modern, totally relevant, films “MATEWAN” (IMHO, John Sayles best film) and “THE MOLLY MAGUIRES”, (definitely Sean Connery’s best film, even better than his other great one, THE HILL). See those films if just for their greatness alone— if you aren’t devastated, fascinated, moved, you were born without a heart.)

So, in the early 20th century, finally, there was a public outcry, for a new type of job— occupational health and safety specialists, to guard against employee deaths and injuries.

Today these professionals are known as safety and health professionals, or occupational health and safety inspectors. They help prevent harm to workers, property, the environment, and the general public. (For example, they design safe work spaces, inspect machines, or test air quality.)

That’s how government employee health and safety agencies (like OHSA in the USA) were born, in the industrial nations, worldwide.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors enforce Labor regulations and impose fines.

For example, within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health hires occupational health and safety specialists to offer companies help in evaluating safety without the risk of fines.

Most large government agencies also employ occupational health and safety specialists who work to protect agency employees.

In addition to making workers safer, specialists aim to increase worker productivity by reducing absenteeism and equipment downtime—and to save money by lowering insurance premiums and workers’ compensation payments, and preventing government fines.

Specialists working for governments conduct safety inspections and impose fines. Specialists often work with occupational health and safety technicians to ensure work place safety.

occupational health safety inspector

Occupational health and safety specialists analyze work environments and design programs to control, eliminate, and prevent disease or injury. They look for chemical, physical, radiological, and biological hazards.

They also work to make more equipment ergonomic—designed to promote proper body positioning, increase worker comfort, and decrease fatigue.

Specialists may conduct inspections and inform an organization’s management of areas not in compliance with State and Federal laws or employer policies. They also advise management on the cost and effectiveness of safety and health programs. Some provide training on new regulations and policies or on how to recognize hazards.

Some specialists develop methods to predict hazards from historical data and other information sources. They use these methods and their own knowledge and experience to evaluate current equipment, products, facilities, or processes and those planned for future use.

For example, they might uncover patterns in injury data that show that many injuries are caused by a specific type of system failure, human error, or weakness in procedures. They evaluate the probability and severity of accidents and identify where controls need to be implemented to reduce or eliminate risk. If a new program or practice is required, they propose it to management and monitor results if it is implemented. Specialists may also conduct safety training.

Training sessions might show how to recognize hazards, for example, or explain new regulations, production processes, and safe work methods. If an injury or illness occurs, occupational health and safety specialists help investigate, studying its causes and recommending remedial action. Some occupational health and safety specialists help workers to return to work after accidents and injuries.

Some specialists, often called loss prevention specialists, work for insurance companies, inspecting the facilities that they insure and suggesting and helping to implement improvements.

Occupational health and safety specialists frequently communicate with management about the status of health and safety programs. They also might consult with engineers or physicians.

Specialists monitor safety measurements in order to advise management of safety performance to correct existing safety hazards and to avoid future hazards; they write reports, including accident reports, and enter information on Occupational Safety and Health Administration record-keeping forms.

They also may prepare documents used in legal proceedings and give testimony in court. Those who develop expertise in specific areas may develop occupational health and safety systems, including policies, procedures, and manuals. Some specialists plan budgets needed to implement programs that help achieve safe work practices.

The responsibilities of occupational health and safety specialists vary by industry, workplace, and types of hazards affecting employees.

Environmental protection officers evaluate and coordinate the storage and handling of hazardous waste, the cleanup of contaminated soil or water, or other activities that affect the environment.

Ergonomists consider the design of industrial, office, and other equipment to maximize worker comfort, safety, and productivity.

Health physicists work in places that use radiation and radioactive material, helping to protect people and the environment from hazardous radiation exposure.

Industrial hygienists examine the workplace for health hazards, such as exposure to lead, asbestos, noise, pesticides, or communicable diseases.

Most jobs require a bachelor’s degree in occupational health, safety, or a related field; some require advanced degrees. All specialists are trained in the applicable laws or inspection procedures through some combination of classroom and on-the-job training.

For some positions, a master’s degree in industrial hygiene, health physics, or a related subject is required. High school students interested in enrolling in a college program should complete courses in English, mathematics, chemistry, biology, and physics.

College courses may include radiation science, hazardous material management and control, risk communications, principles of ergonomics, and respiratory protection. Course work will vary depending on the degree pursued.

For example, course requirements for students seeking a degree in industrial hygiene will differ from course requirements for health physics degree seekers.

In order to become credentialed, most accrediting bodies require that specialists have attended either a regional or nationally accredited educational institution. Work experience is important in this occupation; it is typically beneficial for prospective students to select an education program that offers opportunities to complete internships.

All occupational health and safety specialists are trained in the applicable laws or inspection procedures through some combination of classroom and on-the-job training.

Typically an advanced degree and substantial work experience are needed to compete for leadership or senior roles.

In the US, occupational health and safety specialists held about 55,800 jobs in 2008. While the majority of jobs were spread throughout the private sector; about 41 percent of specialists worked for Federal, State, and local government agencies.

Most private companies either employ their own occupational health and safety workers or contract with them. Most contract work is done through consulting companies, but some specialists are self-employed.

In addition to working for governments, occupational health and safety specialists were employed in manufacturing firms; hospitals; educational services; scientific and technical consulting services; mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction, and construction.

According to BLS, the employment of US occupational health and safety specialists is expected to increase 11 percent during 2008-2018.

This increase is because more specialists will be needed to cope with technological advances in safety equipment and threats, changing regulations, and increasing public expectations. In private industry, employment growth will reflect continuing self-enforcement of government and company regulations and policies.

Insurance and worker’s compensation costs have become a financial concern for many employers and insurance companies— so, job growth should be very good for those specializing in loss prevention (especially in construction safety, also in ergonomics).

Does the idea of spending your work day prowling a factory floor (and searching for ways to help safeguard the lives of others) appeal to you?

occupational health and safety inspector

Most employers require occupational health and safety specialists to have a bachelor’s degree— in occupational health, safety, or a related field, such as engineering, biology, or chemistry.

Does a career as a guardian of health, of safety, of standing up for workers with little power to defend themselves, appeal to you?

Then educate yourself— get a degree empowering you to become a health and safety inspector.

And isn’t it always true? To earn the role of empowering others, first you must empower yourself.

Whatever career or profession you do choose, your future and the futures of others in in YOUR hands.

Educate, educate, educate!

Information about jobs in Federal, State, and local governments and in private industry is available from State employment service offices. For information on a career as an industrial hygienist, contact:
American Industrial Hygiene Association, 2700 Prosperity Ave., Suite 250, Fairfax, VA 22031. http://www.aiha.org
For information on credentialing in industrial hygiene, contact:
American Board of Industrial Hygiene, 6015 West St. Joseph Hwy., Suite 102, Lansing, MI 48917. http://www.abih.org
For more information on professions in safety, a list of safety and related academic programs, and credentialing, contact:
Board of Certified Safety Professionals, 208 Burwash Ave., Savoy, IL 61874. http://www.bcsp.org
For information on a career as a health physicist, contact:
Health Physics Society, 1313 Dolley Madison Blvd., Suite 402, McLean, VA 22101. http://www.hps.org
For additional career information, contact:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, 395 E Street SW., Suite 9200, Patriots Plaza Building, Washington, DC 20201. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh

U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Office of Communication, 200 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20210. http://www.osha.gov