What does a health and safety officer do?

I'm curious about the role of a health and safety officer. What responsibilities do they have, and is there a specific college major I should pursue if I'm interested in this career?

A Health and Safety Officer also referred to as a Safety Officer, has the responsibility of fostering a safe and healthy work environment. Their duties often include developing and implementing safety strategies, conducting safety inspections and training, identifying potential hazard risks, ensuring compliance with occupational health and safety regulations, and implementing preventative measures for accident prevention.

For roles like these, a strong understanding of health and safety regulations and practices is important. Therefore, the college majors that are particularly suited for those interested in this career path include occupational health and safety, environmental safety, industrial hygiene, or a related field in the sciences like biology or chemistry. However, please note that the academic requirements can be different depending on the specific safety officer role and industry in question.

Beyond education, successful health and safety officers often possess outstanding communication skills, as part of their job involves training employees and disseminating safety information. They also need to have strong problem-solving abilities to identify potential hazards and determine the best ways to mitigate those risks.

In addition, certain certifications can increase your marketability in this field. Some of these include the Certified Safety Professional (CSP) or the Occupational Health and Safety Technologist (OHST), which are offered by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals.

Ultimately, gaining practical experience through internships or entry-level roles can significantly enhance your understanding of workplace safety protocol, hazard assessments, and safety management systems. This can prove invaluable as you advance in this career.