Synonyms: Health and Safety Engineer, Health and Safety Specialist, Safety and Health Consultant, Safety Officer

Table of Contents

• Quick Facts
• Day in the Life
• Common Characteristics
• How to Become a Safety Engineer
• Career Promotion Path
• Specialties and Similar Career Paths
• Advice from Brian

Quick Facts

What safety engineers do:

A safety engineer ensures that various workplaces, such as construction sites, factories, and healthcare facilities, comply with safety regulations. They inspect workplaces, develop safety protocols, and train workers to adhere to these guidelines effectively.

Lifestyle:

Safety engineers work various on-site hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays, with occasional remote tasks like data analysis, audits, report writing, and planning. They often travel between different work sites and adapt to dynamic environments to ensure safety standards are met.

Median income:

$103,690 annually or $49.85 per hour.

This is perfect for you if:

• You have an investigative personality, meaning you like figuring things out
• You have strong problem-solving skills to address safety issues
• You love to ensure the well-being and safety of others
• You can remain calm and make quick decisions, especially in emergencies

If that sounds like you, definitely watch our interview with Brian McMurray to learn more about being a safety engineer below!

Safety Engineer – What You Need to Know to Become a Safety Engineer | Job Dictionary

Job outlook:

The future for safety engineers is bright, with the occupation projected to grow 4% from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

Education requirements:

A bachelor’s degree in engineering or environmental health and safety, along with practical experience and certifications are typically required (see “How to Become a Safety Engineer” below).

Day in the Life

Schedule:

Most safety engineers oversee workplaces and equipment during operator shifts, adhering to on-site work hours that may start earlier or later than the usual 9 to 5 schedule. These hours are determined by the employer’s schedule or on-site needs.

Setting:

On-site at construction sites, manufacturing facilities, healthcare facilities, and other workplaces. While occasional remote work may be feasible for tasks like engineering design or audits, the nature of safety engineering requires their presence.

Tasks:

Ensuring everything runs smoothly to keep the environment safe through enforcing rules, inspecting for hazards, and addressing risks to prevent equipment malfunctions and minimize workplace injuries through careful oversight and adherence to standards.

Topics:

Continuous learning about engineering and technology, focusing on its practical applications, such as the implementation of new safety devices and systems. They also study administration, management, customer service, and strategies for public safety and security to protect people and property.

Skills:

Strong risk assessment and problem-solving skills to identify safety issues and develop effective solutions, excellent communication skills, attention to detail, decision-making abilities, and a commitment to continuous learning.

Tools:

Software-based audit tools for managing checklist items efficiently and ensuring safety compliance, as well as investigation tools to analyze incidents and identify safety hazards.

Common Characteristics

Natural Talents (strengths):

Strong problem-solving skills, including deductive and inductive reasoning, to identify and address safety issues effectively. They also have excellent communication abilities to convey safety procedures and collaborate with teams. 

Interests:

Investigative, realistic, and conventional, focused on problem-solving, designing safety procedures, and ensuring compliance with regulations to manage and organize information effectively.

Personality:

Safety engineers typically exhibit traits associated with the investigative and conventional personality types, which include being detail-oriented, analytical, and methodical in their approach to work.

*Terms used to describe interests and personality are based on the Holland Framework.

Values:

Safety, teamwork, support, and achievement, emphasizing a results-oriented approach. They prioritize workplace safety and the well-being of their teams above all else.

How to Become a Safety Engineer

Education requirements:

To become a safety engineer, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree along with certifications like the Certified Safety Professional (CSP). Additionally, proficiency in Six Sigma concepts can enhance problem-solving and improvement efforts within safety protocols and procedures.

Preferred majors:

Aspiring safety engineers can pursue majors in health and environmental safety engineering, chemical, mechanical, electrical engineering, and other related fields, which equip them with the skills to solve safety-related problems.

Career Promotion Path

Source: Petrochemical Thriving Gulf Coast Industry

Specialties and Similar Career Paths

Advice from Brian

Job hunt tips to set yourself apart:

Aspiring safety engineers can stand out by gaining hands-on experience in their industry and actively participating in safety aspects in their current roles. Continuous education, obtaining safety certifications, and networking can further enhance their chances of landing a job.

Fastest way to get your foot in the door:

The fastest route to becoming a safety engineer often involves obtaining a relevant four-year degree, preferably in engineering, and acquiring professional certifications.

Recommended resources:

For aspiring safety engineers, Brian suggests looking into the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP). It’s a great organization with a vast network and resources available, including technical guidelines, training, and job opportunities.

What Brian would tell his younger self if he was just getting started:

“I would listen more. I’ve been accused of being arrogant sometimes because I think I know everything. But just understanding that there’s a lot to learn from people and learning to be more willing to rely on other people to help you solve a problem and not trying to do it all yourself, that is probably what I would change.”

Watch the full interview with Brian:

---

Data on job profiles is based on information supplied by the Occupational Outlook Handbook from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, My Next Move from the National Center for O*NET Development, and the O*NET Program, sponsored by U.S. Department of Labor, Employment, and Training Administration. Accessed 18 June 2024.

Favorite