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Occupational Safety and Health Workers

Employment Prospects

Employers

Occupational health and safety specialists held approximately 98,000 and technicians held about 19,900 in 2019. Federal, state, and local government agencies employed about 35 percent of health and safety specialists and technicians. The remainder worked for schools, hospitals, public utilities, consulting firms, and manufacturing firms.

Occupational safety and health workers are employed throughout the country, but they are generally concentrated in urban and industrial centers. According to the BCSP, the fields of manufacturing, insurance, petrochemicals, consulting, and government are the largest employers of workers with the CSP designation. Many of those employed in the safety and health field are safety engineers, fire protection engineers, industrial hygienists, or workers who combine two or more areas. A small number work as engineering or industrial hygiene technicians. Insurance consultants usually have their offices in one city and travel to and from various sites.

Starting Out

College guidance counselors and career services offices are one source of job leads. People intent on entering the occupational safety and health field may contact the ASSE or other professional societies, talk to company recruiters, or apply directly to the personnel or employment offices of appropriate industrial or insurance companies. Safety-industry trade journals and society Web sites are also excellent sources to check for listings of job openings.

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