Career Details
Career Details
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Career Details

19-5011.00 - Occupational Health and 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.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
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Forecasted Employment
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Change in Employment
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Change in Employment %
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Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Order suspension of activities that pose threats to workers' health or safety.
  • Recommend measures to help protect workers from potentially hazardous work methods, processes, or materials.
  • Investigate accidents to identify causes or to determine how such accidents might be prevented in the future.
  • Investigate the adequacy of ventilation, exhaust equipment, lighting, or other conditions that could affect employee health, comfort, or performance.
  • Develop or maintain hygiene programs, such as noise surveys, continuous atmosphere monitoring, ventilation surveys, or asbestos management plans.
  • 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.
  • Conduct safety training or education programs and demonstrate the use of safety equipment.
  • Provide new-employee health and safety orientations and develop materials for these presentations.
  • Collect samples of dust, gases, vapors, or other potentially toxic materials for analysis.
  • Investigate health-related complaints and inspect facilities to ensure that they comply with public health legislation and regulations.
  • Coordinate "right-to-know" programs regarding hazardous chemicals or other substances.
  • Maintain or update emergency response plans or procedures.
  • Develop or maintain medical monitoring programs for employees.
  • Inspect specified areas to ensure the presence of fire prevention equipment, safety equipment, or first-aid supplies.
  • Conduct audits at hazardous waste sites or industrial sites or participate in hazardous waste site investigations.
  • Collect samples of hazardous materials or arrange for sample collection.
  • Maintain inventories of hazardous materials or hazardous wastes, using waste tracking systems to ensure that materials are handled properly.
  • Prepare hazardous, radioactive, or mixed waste samples for transportation or storage by treating, compacting, packaging, and labeling them.
  • Perform laboratory analyses or physical inspections of samples to detect disease or to assess purity or cleanliness.
  • Analyze incident data to identify trends in injuries, illnesses, accidents, or other hazards.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Education and Training
  • 84%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 English Language
  • 84%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Chemistry
  • 80%
    Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
 Public Safety and Security
  • 80%
    Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
 Law and Government
  • 78%
    Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
 Mathematics
  • 77%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Biology
  • 76%
    Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
 Engineering and Technology
  • 75%
    Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 73%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 Physics
  • 71%
    Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
 Mechanical
  • 67%
    Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 66%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Administration and Management
  • 66%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
 Psychology
  • 64%
    Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
 Production and Processing
  • 63%
    Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
 Building and Construction
  • 61%
    Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
 Personnel and Human Resources
  • 60%
    Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
 Communications and Media
  • 56%
    Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
 Clerical
  • 55%
    Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
 Medicine and Dentistry
  • 54%
    Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
 Design
  • 54%
    Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Sampling equipment
  • Aerosol monitoring instruments
  • Air sampling impingers
  • Air sampling pumps
  • Cascade impactors
  • Dry gas meters
  • Gravimetric dust samplers
  • High-volume air sampling pumps
  • Low-volume air sampling pumps
  • Particle sensors
  • Sample vials
  • Sampling trains
 Liquid and gas flow measuring and observing instruments
  • Air flow monitors
  • Rotameters
  • Wet test meters
 Meteorological instruments
  • Anemometers
  • Barometers
 Gas analyzers and monitors
  • Benzene detector tubes
  • Charcoal absorption tubes
  • Chemical detection tubes
  • Chlorine monitors
  • Multi-gas detectors
  • Sorbent tubes
 Surveillance and detection equipment
  • Combustible gas meters
  • Gas leak testing equipment
 Pneumatic tools
  • Compressed air guns
 Computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Notebook computers
  • Personal computers
 Vision protection and accessories
  • Emergency eye wash stations
  • Safety goggles
 Fire fighting equipment
  • Fire extinguishers
 Nuclear evaluation instruments
  • Gamma radiation survey meters
 Chromatographic measuring instruments and accessories
  • Gas chromatographs GC
  • Ultraviolet UV digital meters
 Nuclear physics materials
  • Geiger-Muller counters
 Humidity and moisture measuring instruments
  • Humidity measurement equipment
  • Moisture meters
  • Psychrometers
 Indicating and recording instruments
  • Liquid leak testing equipment
  • Refrigerant leak detectors
 Safety apparel
  • Personal protective suits
 Hearing protectors
  • Protective ear muffs
 Dosimetry equipment
  • Radiation monitoring instruments
 Respiratory protection
  • Respirators
  • Self-contained breathing apparatus
 Safety footwear
  • Safety shoes
 Spectroscopic equipment
  • X ray fluorescence XRF lead testing analyzers
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Data management and query software
  • Curtis Management Resources Training Management System
  • Database software
  • EcoLogic ADAM Indoor Air Quality and Analytical Data Management
  • ImageWave MSDSFinder
  • Medgate Enterprise EHS
  • Microsoft AccessHOT
  • Quality Systems Incorporated Safety Tagging System
  • RAE Systems HazRAE
  • Safety Software OSHALOG 300
 Industry specific software
  • ESS Compliance Suite
  • Mannus Compliance: EHS
  • Primatech AUDITWorks
 Development software
  • Microsoft Active Server Pages ASPHOT
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
  • Word processing software
 Business function specific software
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
  • Microsoft ProjectHOT
  • Microsoft SharePointHOT
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
FastForward at Virginia's Community Colleges is a short-term training program for high-demand industries, like healthcare, information technology, and skilled trades and infrastructure, helping Virginians get the jobs and salaries they need. Our goal is to get you trained, help you earn your certification, and get you into a career that can support you and your family. Explore the latest training program offerings by visiting FastForward
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific certifications are listed for this career
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Appalachian College of Pharmacy
Old Dominion University
Tidewater Community College