Day
in the Life
Occupational
health and safety specialists and technicians work in a variety of
settings from offices and factories to mines. Their jobs often involve
considerable fieldwork, and some require frequent travel.
Occupational health
and safety specialists and technicians may be exposed to many of the
same strenuous, dangerous, or stressful conditions faced by industrial
employees. They may find themselves in an adversarial role if an
organization disagrees with their recommendations. Many occupational
health and safety specialists and technicians work long, and often
irregular, hours.
Occupational
health and safety specialists and technicians who work for the Federal
Government advance through their career ladder to a specified
full-performance level if their work is satisfactory. For positions
above this level, usually supervisory positions, advancement is
competitive and based on agency needs and individual merit. Advancement
opportunities in State and local governments and the private sector are
often similar to those in the Federal Government.
Specialists and
technicians with broad education and experience and those who are well
versed in numerous business functions usually have the best advancement
opportunities. With an advanced degree, professionals can become professors or do
research. Promotion to senior specialist positions is likely to require
an advanced degree and substantial experience in several areas of
practice.
Note: Some resources in this section are provided by the US Department
of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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