Choosing A Career In Environmental Health And Safety
The work of environmental health and safety professionals is crucial to protecting workers, communities and the environment. Whether your interests lie in worker safety or environmental health, you can choose from many different career paths in this field, with an abundance of entry-level roles and leadership positions available.
Individuals interested in becoming a leader in the effort to protect workers and the environment through a career in environmental health and safety can explore Eastern Kentucky Universitys online Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety program to learn more about this vital field.
With courses that include Safety and Health Program Management, Industrial Hygiene and Introduction to Environmental Health Science, students can expand their knowledge and learn skills that will help them achieve their professional goals to safeguard us and our world.
Recommended Readings
Safety Training: An Introduction To The Fundamental Principles
People – sometimes referred to as human capital – are the most underused resource in the developed world. People are our most valuable resource, yet they are not often equipped with the intellectual and practical skills needed to perform optimally. In this course, students learn effective workplace training tools and the ability to implement intelligent training strategies that are key to effective leadership.
At Oxbridge Academy You Can Study The Following Courses:
These courses will improve your knowledge and skills in occupational health and safety, and will help you to decide whether a career in this line of work is the right choice for you. They will also help to prepare you for working in certain OHS roles such as OHS Practitioner, Safety Representative, among others.
Short Learning Programmes
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Ohs 2623 Safety Management Systems And Measurement Systems Ii
Analyze the effectiveness of an organization’s overall safety system. Explore several measurement and analysis tools and investigate various approaches used to determine safety program effectiveness. Explain and contrasts compliance analyses and best practice analyses. Several methods for designing and administering review criteria, questionnaires, perception surveys, interviews, and a final report will be covered. Analyze either the workplace inspection component or the safety committee component of a safety program at an organization of your choice. Students will review both internal and external audit processes from initial planning through to completion including needs assessment and developing and implementing policies, procedures, and plans.
Ohs 1532 Incident Investigation And Response
This course introduces the basic concepts of incident causation and investigation with the intention of using those concepts for the strategic development of occupational health, safety and environmental processes within an organizational context. Students will learn how to apply the content to a wide variety of industrial and commercial settings, as well as many different types of organizations.
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Sometimes People Wont Really Listen
You may have experienced this on board a flight. Despite the air hostess giving a great safety demonstration, many of the passengers are looking away or otherwise not paying attention.
Occupational health and safety professionals can experience this as well. Although you might know the various risks and dangers and even have seen the consequences, others are less safety aware. You may, at times, be trying to communicate important safety messages to people who arent invested in learning.
The key here is to have good two-way communication skills. Read the room and try to pitch your message to connect with your audience. Some stories of past experiences can help enliven things up when giving a danger presentation.
Enroll In A Healthcare
The first step in your occupational health specialist training is enrolling in a bachelors degree program from an accredited college or university. For a future career as an occupational health specialist, you may want to consider a B.S. program focused on occupational health, or on adjacent fields like a Bachelor of Science in Health & Wellness or a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration. Earning your bachelors degree will require dedication, focus, and plenty of study time, but its an achievable goal for just about anyone whos willing to put in the work. For example, to enroll in any of the healthcare bachelors degree programs at Brookline College, all youll need is a high school diploma or GED, plus a passing score on a Scholastic Level Exam and a computer literacy exam.
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How To Become An Osha Compliance Assistance Specialist
The path to become an OSHA compliance assistance specialist closely follows that of positions in other environmental health and safety careers. A bachelors degree in occupational health and safety or a related field is generally required. Coursework in subjects like occupational safety management, writing and communications, and industrial hygiene is also beneficial.
Specialists should have a comprehensive understanding of OSHA and other regulations. Work experience and training in the field is also essential to understanding the specific standards and rules governing different work environments, from factories to restaurants.
The median annual salary of occupational health and safety specialists was $76,340 as of May 2020, while that of occupational health and safety technicians was $53,340, according to the BLS.
What Degree Do You Need To Be An Occupational Health Specialist
To gain a sufficient knowledge of workplace hazards and how to prevent them, occupational health specialists typically need to earn at least a bachelors degree. While traditional bachelors degree programs require a full four years in school, some accelerated degree programs can be completed in just two and a half years. Some colleges offer bachelors degree programs focused specifically on occupational health, though other healthcare programs or even degrees in subjects like engineering, biology or chemistry can also prepare you for a career as an occupational health specialist .
Many of the top-paying occupational health specialist jobs will prefer to hire candidates with a masters degree in subjects like industrial hygiene, health physics, or a Master of Public Health degree. Many masters degree programs require another two to three years in school, but just like your bachelors degree, you can finish your MPH degree much faster with an accelerated degree program. Some MPH programs can even be completed entirely online in as few as 63 weeks!
Like any other long-term goal, becoming an occupational health specialist can be broken down into a series of smaller steps, which can keep you on track and make the final outcome feel much more attainable.
Heres a step-by-step guide to the education, experience, and certifications youll need to become an occupational health specialist:
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An Introduction To Psychological Health & Safety In The Workplace
This is an introductory course that provides an overview of the basic concepts of psychological health and safety in the workplace and is designed for learners of all levels. Students will become familiar with the basics of psychological health and safety understand the legal, health and business case for implementing a PHS strategy within their workplace obtain an understanding of the developments that lead to the creation of the National Standard and be equipped with tools to begin implementing a psychological health and safety strategy within their organization.
Iwhm: Building A Business Case
-Certificate Module- This CE Module is the culmination of CE Modules 2 to 11. It explains how to build a business case by using the materials pulled together in CE Modules 2 to 11. This module also provides a number of application tools and teaches how to deliver a business case to organizational leaders.
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You Have To Bossy When Required
Occupational safety and health professionals often have an enforcement role, much like umpires, referees, parking attendants and police officers. So be prepared for occasionally being in some tough situations.
Youll have inspections and audits to carry out. And you need to ensure people are following protocols. Penalties may apply in circumstances when rules are broken.
You need to be firm when required. Not everyone may like you. The job suits people who are passionate about health and safety and are prepared to do whats required to achieve their goals.
Occupational Health And Safety Specialists And Technicians: Salary Career Path Job Outlook Education And More
- Education Required
- Occupational health and safety specialists typically need a bachelors degree in occupational health and safety or a related scientific or technical field, such as engineering, biology, or chemistry. For some positions, a masters degree in industrial hygiene, health physics, or a related subject is required. In addition to science courses, typical courses include ergonomics, writing and communications, occupational safety management, and accident prevention.
- Training Required
- Occupational health and safety technicians usually receive on-the-job training. They learn about specific laws and inspection procedures, and learn to conduct tests and recognize hazards. The length of training varies with the employees level of experience, education, and industry in which he or she works.
- Job Outlook
- The projected percent change in employment from 2016 to 2026: 8%
- Licenses/Certifications
- Although certification is voluntary, many employers encourage it. Certification is available through several organizations, depending on the field in which the specialists work. Specialists must have graduated from an accredited educational program and have work experience to be eligible to take most certification exams. To keep their certification, specialists usually are required to complete periodic continuing education.
- Median pay: How much do Occupational Health and Safety Specialists and Technicians make?
- $66,820 Annual Salary
- $32.13 per hour
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Work As An Occupational Health And Safety Specialist
A big part of your education is on-the-job training. When you work as an occupational health and safety specialist, youll learn the ins and outs of regulations. As you progress in your career, you should become better at spotting issues in the workplace, communicating with employees and providing prevention training.
Key Principles For Managers
This is an introductory course that provides managers with an overview of the basic issues that arise when managing psychological health issues at work. The course identifies fundamental concepts in dealing with psychological health issues in the workplace for managers and provides practical strategies for managers to respond more effectively in supporting employees with psychological health issues.
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Health & Safety Good News Was Reported In The Recent Occupational Health And Safety In Ontario: 2015
Fewer injury claims, critical injuries and fatalities were reported in Ontario workplaces in 2015-16. This definitely is health & safety good news! With recent news stories involving serious employer penalties and worker injuries, it is nice to hear that overall workplace health & safety trends in Ontario are moving in a positive direction.
The report summarizes Ontarios OHS strategy. It is a multi-sectorial approach involving the general public and employers, educators, researchers and safety specialists in both private and public sectors. Areas of focus include increasing public knowledge and changing attitudes and behaviour about safety at work. Workplace practices that put employees at risk are being challenged. Workers are understanding that they have the right to be safe while working and employers are doing more to keep employees out of harms way.
Ontarios OHS initiatives include new legislation, worker training requirements, enforcement activities and mass media workplace safety marketing . The end result is the health & safety good news of fewer workers getting hurt. Continued improvement will requires creativity, effort and commitment to change from all workplace parties.
What Do Occupational Health And Safety Specialists And Technicians Do
Occupational health and safety specialists and technicians typically do the following:
- Inspect, test, and evaluate workplace environments, equipment, and practices to ensure that they follow safety standards and government regulations
- Prepare written reports on their findings
- Design and implement workplace processes and procedures that help protect workers from hazardous work conditions
- Evaluate programs on workplace health and safety
- Educate employers and workers about workplace safety by preparing and providing training programs
- Demonstrate the correct use of safety equipment
- Investigate incidents and accidents to identify what caused them and how they might be prevented
Occupational health and safety specialists examine the workplace for environmental or physical factors that could affect employee health, safety, comfort, and performance. They may examine factors such as lighting, equipment, materials, and ventilation. Technicians may check to make sure that workers are using required protective gear, such as masks and hardhats.
Some develop and conduct employee safety and training programs. These programs cover a range of topics, such as how to use safety equipment correctly and how to respond in an emergency.
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How To Become An Air Quality Specialist
Most air quality specialist positions require at least a bachelors degree in environmental science or a related field, such as geosciences or engineering. Coursework in biology, chemistry and physics will provide a broad approach to the natural sciences thats essential for environmental specialists. Courses in environmental policy and regulation may also be beneficial. Those looking to advance in the field may want to pursue a masters or doctoral degree.
Environmental scientists and specialists had a median annual salary of $73,230 as of May 2020, according to the BLS. Those who worked for the federal government made the most, with a median salary of $103,180.
Due partly to heightened public interest in environmental hazards, the BLS projects employment of environmental scientists and specialists will grow 8% from 2019 to 2029, twice as much as the average rate projected for all occupations.
Ohs 2996 Applied Practicum
The Applied Practicum is an applied application of critical thinking skills through the creation of a project using previously studied theory to comprehensively analyze a particular topic as it pertains to Occupational Health and Safety. A focus is placed on leadership and management practices and the cultural aspects of safety management systems and how that interacts and influences the structural components of the system. This course is considered a Capstone project in which students will use their skills to appraise, assess, compare, and make conclusions regarding their topic and will then synthesize the information from previous learning and their research to formulate their project based on their findings. This course is a requirement for completing the Associate degree program at the University of Fredericton. This exercise requires learners to demonstrate specific research and writing skills in synthesizing prior learning from courses, as well as other information they may choose to incorporate in their work.
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Earn Your Bachelor Of Science Degree
Before you can take responsibility for overseeing workplace health and safety programs, youll need to build a fundamental knowledge of human health and the issues surrounding it, as well as build your analytical and communication skills. That means earning a healthcare-focused bachelors degree can give you a major head start over other degree programs as you work toward a career as an occupational health specialist.
Like any bachelors degree program, you should expect to study a number of general-education subjects like math, literature, statistics, psychology, and communications. Theres a reason these types of classes are required of all bachelors degree studentstheyll make you a more well-rounded person and professional and help you discover new interests and talents.
Essential Skills For Occupational Health And Safety Specialists
Occupational health and safety specialists need to possess many skills. Some of these qualities, as noted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , include:
- Physical stamina: They must be able to travel and spend time on their feet. Its common for them to stand for long periods, travel and sometimes work in physically demanding settings, like mines and tunnels.
- Communication: Communication skills are critical to effectively talk with managers and employees about workplace safety hazards and prevention techniques.
- Tech-savvy: Since occupational health and safety specialists work with technology, you must be tech-savvy and learn to use complex testing equipment on the job and document your findings using a computer.
- Attention to detail: Since you have to search for problems and potential hazards in the workplace, a good eye for detail is essential. A lack of attention to detail could cause major issues, including endangering the lives of employees.
- Problem-solving: Since these professionals develop plans and procedures to fix and improve workplace safety, problem-solving is key. Youll need to apply knowledge of workplace processes and procedures to develop solutions.
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Health And Safety Specialist Job Description
Occupational health and safety specialists must be vigilant to perform their duties effectively and efficiently. They defend against seen and unforeseen emergencies and disasters that can negatively affect the workplace. Most of the health and safety specialist job description involves finding potential issues and preventing them from becoming problems.An OHSS assumes a variety of key duties. Some of these duties include:
- Identifying potential risks in work environments
- Examining tangible factors that could negatively affect employee health, such as lighting, ventilation, office equipment and office furniture
- Developing and implementing strategies designed to reduce employee absenteeism caused by occupational risks
- Conducting health and safety training for workers involving topics such as emergency preparedness
- Inspecting workplaces for compliance with safety policies
- Investigating accidents that could be prevented in the future through newly created regulation
Dism 1113 Disability Management Essential Program Elements
Disability management is most effective when integrated and embedded into the strategies and culture of an organization. This course builds on the materials addressed in DISM 1103 and covers topics such as OHS professionals- their roles and contributions to disability management, and overview of ergonomics, stakeholder education and training in disability management, joint labour-management support and involvement in and integrated disability management program, advanced program evaluation, legal aspects of disability management, and effective workplace attendance support and assistance programs.
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