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Career Exploration

Occupational Health and Safety Technicians

Also called: Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), Construction Safety Consultant, Industrial Hygiene Consultant, Industrial Hygienist

What they do:

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

On the job, you would:
  • 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.
On the job, you'll need:

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Education and Training

  • teaching and course design

Business

  • customer service
  • administrative services

Safety and Government

  • public safety and security

Basic Skills

  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • reading work related information

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

People and Technology Systems

  • figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one

Verbal

  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say

Ideas and Logic

  • make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
  • notice when problems happen

Realistic

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.

  • Integrity
  • Concern for Others
  • Dependability
  • Attention to Detail
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Cooperation

Data base user interface and query software

  • Database software
  • Microsoft Access

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint

Electronic mail software

  • Email software
  • Microsoft Outlook

Video courtesy of CareerOneStop.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for this position is Bright.

New job opportunities are very likely in the future. This career will grow rapidly in the next few years.

Median Annual Salary: $57,970

Education

Bachelor's degree or associate's degree is usually needed.