Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
$103,690Median Wage (2023)
1,500Projected job openings (2023-2033)
5.1%Projected growth (2023-2033)
Promote worksite or product safety by applying knowledge of industrial processes, mechanics, chemistry, psychology, and industrial health and safety laws. Includes industrial product safety engineers.
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Detailed Work Activities
Investigate safety of work environment.
Research product safety.
Teach safety standards or environmental compliance methods.
Update technical knowledge.
Advise others on health and safety issues.
Maintain operational records or records systems.
Document design or operational test results.
Explain engineering drawings, specifications, or other technical information.
Evaluate designs or specifications to ensure quality.
Prepare procedural documents.
Testify at legal or legislative proceedings.
Test facilities for environmental hazards.
Develop safety standards, policies, or procedures.
Confer with technical personnel to prepare designs or operational plans.
Research human performance or health factors related to engineering or design activities.
Investigate the environmental impact of projects.
Confer with other personnel to resolve design or operational problems.
Design industrial equipment.
Fabricate devices or components.
Inspect facilities or sites to determine if they meet specifications or standards.
Monitor work environment to ensure safety or adherence to specifications.
Inspect safety equipment to ensure proper functioning.
Inspect equipment to ensure safety or proper functioning.
Install safety or support equipment.
Direct installation activities.
Work Values
Achievement
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Working Conditions
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Recognition
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
Relationships
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Support
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Independence
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Tasks
Investigate industrial accidents, injuries, or occupational diseases to determine causes and preventive measures.
Conduct research to evaluate safety levels for products.
Evaluate product designs for safety.
Conduct or coordinate worker training in areas such as safety laws and regulations, hazardous condition monitoring, and use of safety equipment.
Maintain and apply knowledge of current policies, regulations, and industrial processes.
Recommend procedures for detection, prevention, and elimination of physical, chemical, or other product hazards.
Report or review findings from accident investigations, facilities inspections, or environmental testing.
Evaluate potential health hazards or damage that could occur from product misuse.
Evaluate adequacy of actions taken to correct health inspection violations.
Interpret safety regulations for others interested in industrial safety, such as safety engineers, labor representatives, and safety inspectors.
Review plans and specifications for construction of new machinery or equipment to determine whether all safety requirements have been met.
Participate in preparation of product usage and precautionary label instructions.
Interview employers and employees to obtain information about work environments and workplace incidents.
Provide expert testimony in litigation cases.
Review employee safety programs to determine their adequacy.
Conduct or direct testing of air quality, noise, temperature, or radiation levels to verify compliance with health and safety regulations.
Provide technical advice and guidance to organizations on how to handle health-related problems and make needed changes.
Develop industry standards of product safety.
Maintain liaisons with outside organizations, such as fire departments, mutual aid societies, and rescue teams, so that emergency responses can be facilitated.
Plan and conduct industrial hygiene research.
Compile, analyze, and interpret statistical data related to occupational illnesses and accidents.
Write and revise safety regulations and codes.
Confer with medical professionals to assess health risks and to develop ways to manage health issues and concerns.
Design and build safety equipment.
Check floors of plants to ensure that they are strong enough to support heavy machinery.
Inspect facilities, machinery, or safety equipment to identify and correct potential hazards, and to ensure safety regulation compliance.
Install safety devices on machinery or direct device installation.
Work Styles
Persistence
Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Achievement/Effort
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Leadership
Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Concern for Others
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Social Orientation
Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Independence
Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Innovation
Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
Analytical Thinking
Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 28.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
