Work Environment
As an occupational health and safety technician, people are required to visit many different job sites and businesses. Most of the time Occupational Health and Safety Technicians spend their time out in the field, but they may also spend time behind a desk in an office. Occupational Health and Safety Technician deal with many different people and must have excellent communication Occupational Health and Safety Technician skills. Whether running around or sitting in the office, there is someone to discuss some issues with.
How to become an Occupational Health and Safety Technician
Educational and Training
All occupational health and safety technicians are trained to know the laws or inspection procedures through classroom and on the job training. Most Occupational Health and Safety Technician courses include English, chemistry, physics, biology, and mathematics. The Federal government and many other employers require Occupational Health and Safety Technicians to hold a bachelor’s Occupational Health and Safety Technician degree in some safety related field. Additionally, Occupational Health and Safety Technician qualifications include a written examination and work experience in the occupational health and safety field.
Both the American Board of Industrial Hygiene and the Board of Certified Safety Professionals offer some kind of certification for occupational health and safety technicians. Contact one of those boards to find out what the Occupational Health and Safety Technician qualifications may be and how long the certification may take.
Advancement
Advanced Occupational Health and Safety Technician degrees related to the safety industry make a candidate more completive for management positions as well as opening doors to become a researcher, or a college or university instructor. Some people actually prefer teaching as opposed to actual practice because they get to help others advance along the way. This isn’t to say that one couldn’t do both, but often teaching is a nice break from practice.
Employment Opportunities
Occupational health and safety technicians work for different organizations such as private companies, the State or Federal government, and many private sectors. They work along side the occupational health and safety specialists. Along with working for governments, Occupational Health and Safety Technician opportunities are available in manufacturing firms, private general medical and surgical hospitals, private colleges, universities, and professional schools.
How much does an Occupational Health and Safety Technician make – Occupational Health and Safety Technician Salary and Wages
The highest 10 percent of the Occupational Health and Safety Technician salary range were paid more than $71,450 in 2002 while the middle half earned between $58,230 and $34,280 annually. The lowest paid 10 percent of the Occupational Health and Safety Technician salary range earned less than $25,080. The median for all technicians was $46,010. People employed by the government or large private firms are known to make much more than those in smaller firms. There are also more benefits available with larger companies, as those in small firms tend to be small or non-existent. Healthcare, 401k plans, and pension plans did show an improvement for the Occupational Health and Safety Technician salary range though.
Occupational Health and Safety Technician Resources
American Industrial Hygiene Association