Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
Life, Physical, and Social Science
Workplaces are reviewed for chemical, physical, biological, and ergonomic risks, then programs and procedures are written to reduce those risks. Inspections check equipment, practices, and conditions such as ventilation, exhaust, and lighting against safety rules and the law; activities that pose an immediate threat can be stopped. Accidents are investigated so the same cause is less likely to recur, and samples of dust, gases, or vapors may be taken for analysis. Hygiene work can include noise surveys, air monitoring, or asbestos plans, for public agencies or private employers. It suits people who like reading regulations closely, explaining findings clearly, and deciding when a workplace is safe enough to continue.
Typical education: Bachelor’s Degree (4-year)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$90'150
Median Wage Market Position
$90'150
What you might do
- Inspect workplaces for health and safety hazards
- Advise on protections from hazardous materials
- Investigate accidents to learn how they started
- Sample dust, gases, and vapors for analysis
- Order a halt when work endangers people
- Review ventilation, lighting, and exhaust for problems
Skills that matter
- Reading workplace safety laws and standards
- Hearing workers describe unsafe methods
- Writing hygiene and asbestos management plans
- Explaining hazard controls to managers
- Halting work that threatens health
- Tracing causes after workplace accidents
AI & the future of this role
AI may streamline hazard documentation, incident trend analysis, and regulatory lookups. On-site assessments, program design for messy workplaces, and accountability for compliance still lean on human judgment and liability.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details