What does a health and safety engineer do?
Health and safety engineers use their specialized knowledge and skills to recognize and evaluate potential dangers and hazards. They plan, organize, and employ a variety of safety programs to prevent of minimize unsafe environmental working conditions and prevent and reduce the risks of injury, illness, and damage. Some health and safety engineers work in manufacturing industries to make sure new products are safe and do not pose unnecessary risks. Many health and safety engineers collaborate with other organizations such as the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA).
What kind of training does a health and safety engineer need?
Healthy and safety engineers must have at least a bachelor degree in engineering. Prospective health and safety engineers typically complete a variety of courses in mathematics, computer science, physics, engineering, and safety engineering. Many health and safety engineers complete internships while pursuing their education to gain practical experience in the field. All states require health and safety engineers that offer their services directly to the public to be licensed. Licensing requirements typically include minimum education and experience and passing a state examination. Many health and safety engineers obtain professional certification from the American Society of Safety Engineers to remain competitive in the field. Health and safety engineers often complete continuing education throughout their careers to maintain their licenses and certifications, keep their skills current, and stay up to date on developments in the field.
What are the prospects for a career as a health and safety engineer?
Employment of health and safety engineers is expected to grow about as fast as average for all professions, increasing 10% from 2008 to 2018 (1). The growing population and increased concern for safe work environments will drive job growth.
Job prospects are expected to be good, especially for health and safety engineers with extensive experience. Many job openings will stem from the need to replace health and safety engineers that retire, transfer, or leave the field for other reasons.
How much do health and safety engineer make?
As of April 2010, the middle 50% of health and safety engineers earn annual salaries between $48,400 and $60,415 (2).
A career as a health and safety engineer is an excellent choice for individuals with a strong interest in health and safety engineering and ensuring a variety of products and processes abide by the necessary safety requirements. Health and safety engineers must have a solid understanding of the required safety procedures and requirements. Detail orientation, logical thinking, and creativity are necessary characteristics. Health and safety engineers must have good communication skills and be able to work effectively as part of a team.
