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Occupational and Health Safety Specialist Jobs

Occupational and health safety specialists are like the "job police." They spend their time reviewing, evaluating, and analyzing workplaces, and also design programs and procedures to protect people in the work environment from chemicals, physical dangers, and ergonomic factors that can cause disease or injury, harm equipment, and threaten the environment.

These workers often conduct inspections and enforce laws and regulations that address the health and safety of individuals. Occupational and health safety specialists may be employed in the public or private sector, including positions as environmental protection officers. Common government employers are the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). They must possess a high level of comprehension of the regulations of the agency they work for.

The Federal government and many other employers of occupational and health safety specialists require candidates to hold a bachelor's degree in some safety-related field. Additional prerequisites may include a written examination and work experience in the occupational health and safety field.

Occupational and health safety specialists have a very high level of responsibilities, and are rewarded with a comparably high level of pay, which averaged $63,030 in 2008, according to the BLS.