The Guardian
Occupational Safety
Occupational safety professionals ensure that workplaces are safe, healthy, and compliant with regulations. You identify hazards, implement safety programs, and protect workers from injury.
Salary Range
$50,000 - $130,000+
Growth Outlook
Good -- increased regulation and corporate liability concerns drive consistent demand for safety professionals.
What You Do
- Conduct workplace safety inspections and audits
- Investigate incidents and identify root causes
- Develop and implement safety training programs
- Ensure compliance with OSHA and other regulations
- Analyze injury data and recommend preventive measures
Steps to Get There
1
Study Safety or Engineering
Degrees in occupational safety, industrial hygiene, or environmental health are ideal.
2
Start in a Safety Coordinator Role
Begin conducting inspections, writing safety reports, and leading training sessions.
3
Earn CSP Certification
The Certified Safety Professional (CSP) credential is the industry gold standard.
4
Advance to Safety Director
Move into director or VP roles overseeing organization-wide safety strategy and compliance.
Opportunities
Safety CoordinatorConstruction, Manufacturing
Industrial HygienistChemical, Mining
EHS ManagerAny regulated industry
OSHA Compliance OfficerGovernment
VP of SafetyEnterprise leadership