Industrial Safety and Health Engineers

About the job

Plan, implement, and coordinate safety programs, requiring application of engineering principles and technology, to prevent or correct unsafe environmental working conditions.

What you'll do

• Check floors of plants to ensure that they are strong enough to support heavy machinery.
• Compile, analyze, and interpret statistical data related to occupational illnesses and accidents.
• Conduct or coordinate worker training in areas such as safety laws and regulations, hazardous condition monitoring, and use of safety equipment.
• Confer with medical professionals to assess health risks and to develop ways to manage health issues and concerns.
• Design and build safety equipment.
• Interpret safety regulations for others interested in industrial safety such as safety engineers, labor representatives, and safety inspectors.
• 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.
• Provide technical advice and guidance to organizations on how to handle health-related problems and make needed changes.
• Write and revise safety regulations and codes.

Things you need to know

• Engineering and Technology – 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.
• English Language – Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Public Safety and Security – 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.
• Chemistry – 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.
• Physics – 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.

Abilities you'll need to have

• Reading Comprehension – Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Speaking – Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Critical Thinking – Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Active Listening – 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.
• Complex Problem Solving – Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Active Learning – Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Writing – Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.