Occupational Health and Safety Technicians

Also called: Advisory Industrial Hygienist, Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST), Construction Safety Consultant, Consumer Safety Technician

Occupational Health and Safety Technicians

Varies

estimated salary

Occupational health and safety technicians collect data on work environments for analysis by occupational health and safety specialists. Implement and conduct an evaluation of programs designed to limit chemical, physical, biological, and ergonomic risks to workers.

  • Test workplaces for environmental hazards, such as exposure to radiation, chemical or biological hazards, or excessive noise.
  • Prepare or calibrate equipment used to collect or analyze samples.
  • Maintain all required environmental records and documentation.
  • Supply, operate, or maintain personal protective equipment.
  • Prepare or review specifications or orders for the purchase of safety equipment, ensuring that proper features are present and that items conform to health and safety standards.
  • Conduct worker studies to determine whether specific instances of disease or illness are job-related.
  • Recommend corrective measures to be applied based on results of environmental contaminant analyses.
  • Verify availability or monitor use of safety equipment, such as hearing protection or respirators.
  • Review records or reports concerning laboratory results, staffing, floor plans, fire inspections, or sanitation to gather information for the development or enforcement of safety activities.
  • Evaluate situations or make determinations when a worker has refused to work on the grounds that danger or potential harm exists.
  • Help direct rescue or firefighting operations in the event of a fire or an explosion.
  • Inspect fire suppression systems or portable fire systems to ensure proper working order.
  • Train workers in safety procedures related to green jobs, such as the use of fall protection devices or maintenance of proper ventilation during wind turbine construction.
  • Plan emergency response drills.
  • Prepare documents to be used in legal proceedings, testifying in such proceedings when necessary.
  • Provide consultation to organizations or agencies on the workplace application of safety principles, practices, or techniques.
  • Educate the public about health issues or enforce health legislation to prevent disease, to promote health, or to help people understand health protection procedures and regulations.
  • Test or balance newly installed HVAC systems to determine whether indoor air quality standards are met.
  • Examine credentials, licenses, or permits to ensure compliance with licensing requirements.
  • Maintain logbooks of daily activities, including areas visited or activities performed.
  • Collect data regarding potential hazards from new equipment or products linked to green practices.
  • Confer with schools, state authorities, or community groups to develop health standards or programs.
  • Conduct interviews to obtain information or evidence regarding communicable diseases or violations of health or sanitation regulations.
  • Collect data related to ecological or human health risks at brownfield sites.
  • Perform tests to identify any potential hazards related to recycled products used at green building sites.
  • Examine practices at green building sites to determine whether adherence to green building standards alters risks to workers.
Work Context
  • Electronic Mail — 100% responded "Every day".
  • Responsible for Others' Health and Safety — 90% responded "Very high responsibility".
  • Telephone — 75% responded "Every day".
  • Face-to-Face Discussions — 73% responded "Every day".
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 50% responded "Every day".
  • Freedom to Make Decisions — 50% responded "A lot of freedom".
  • Contact With Others — 55% responded "Constant contact with others".
  • Read More
Work Activities
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Read More
Detailed Work Activities
  • Prepare official health documents or records.
  • Protect patients or staff members using safety equipment.
  • Prepare medical supplies or equipment for use.
  • Maintain medical laboratory equipment.
  • Test facilities for environmental hazards.
  • Verify that medical activities or operations meet standards.
  • Read More

Knowledge

English Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Education and Training
  • Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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.
Read More

Skills

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.
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.
Read More

Abilities

Oral Expression
  • The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Inductive Reasoning
  • The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Problem Sensitivity
  • The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Deductive Reasoning
  • The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Read More

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
Read More

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Word processing software
  • Microsoft Word Hot Technology
  • Word processing software
Enterprise resource planning ERP software
  • SAP Hot Technology
Project management software
  • Microsoft SharePoint Hot Technology
Read More