What the work is
An occupational safety engineer makes sure people go home from work healthy. They assess workplace risks, write instructions and protective measures, run briefings and training, check compliance, provide protective equipment, investigate accidents and propose how to prevent them happening again.
A typical day
An induction briefing for new staff. A walk round the shop: are the guards working, is everyone wearing protective gear, are the walkways clear? A risk assessment for a new area with the technologist. A talk with a team leader about a breach noticed yesterday. Preparing safety reports and plans.
How to start
- Study occupational safety law, risk assessment and the hierarchy of controls.
- Gain basic knowledge of the employer’s technical field: construction, manufacturing, energy.
- Do an internship in a safety department.
- Build your powers of persuasion: rules work when people understand and accept them.
Related professions
Civil engineer, production technologist, mining engineer, quality engineer.