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Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
Overview
Salary
Demand
Core Tasks
Technology Skills
Tools Used
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Top 10 Skills
Top 10 Abilities
Top 10 Work Activities
Detailed Work Activities
Majors
Interests
Top 10 Work Styles
Work Values
Related Careers
Overview
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Experience
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.
Education
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Job Training
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Examples
Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, chemists, art directors, and cost estimators.
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.
Salary Salary
Salary at 10th Percentile: $55K
Salary at 25th Percentile: $71K
Median Salary: $94K
Salary at 75th Percentile: $120K
Salary at 90th Percentile: $144K
Demand
Core 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.
Evaluate potential health hazards or damage that could occur from product misuse.
Report or review findings from accident investigations, facilities inspections, or environmental testing.
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.
Design and build safety equipment.
Confer with medical professionals to assess health risks and to develop ways to manage health issues and concerns.
Write and revise safety regulations and codes.
Check floors of plants to ensure that they are strong enough to support heavy machinery.
Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Tools Used
Tool
Example
Top 10 Knowledge Required
English Language
78%
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Engineering and Technology
77%
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.
Administration and Management
75%
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.
Customer and Personal Service
74%
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.
Law and Government
74%
Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Public Safety and Security
74%
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.
Education and Training
72%
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Mechanical
71%
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Mathematics
70%
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Chemistry
69%
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.
Top 10 Skills
Critical Thinking
80%
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension
80%
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking
79%
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Writing
79%
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Active Listening
78%
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Judgment and Decision Making
77%
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Active Learning
73%
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Complex Problem Solving
72%
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Systems Evaluation
72%
Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Systems Analysis
70%
Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Top 10 Abilities
Problem Sensitivity
83%
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Written Comprehension
82%
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Deductive Reasoning
80%
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Inductive Reasoning
80%
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Oral Comprehension
80%
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression
80%
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Written Expression
80%
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Near Vision
78%
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Information Ordering
77%
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Flexibility of Closure
74%
The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Top 10 Work Activities
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
91%
Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Getting Information
88%
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
86%
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
86%
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material
84%
Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Documenting/Recording Information
82%
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
82%
Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
81%
Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
81%
Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
81%
Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
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.
Majors
Major
Interests
Investigative
89%
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Realistic
77%
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Conventional
72%
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Enterprising
46%
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Social
29%
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Artistic
19%
Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Top 10 Work Styles
Integrity
98%
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Attention to Detail
91%
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Dependability
90%
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Cooperation
85%
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Initiative
85%
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Self Control
85%
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Analytical Thinking
84%
Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Persistence
84%
Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Adaptability/Flexibility
83%
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Stress Tolerance
83%
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Work Values
Support
77%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Working Conditions
77%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Achievement
72%
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.
Independence
72%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Recognition
67%
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
67%
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.