Safety Engineers use their knowledge of industrial processes and occupational health and safety laws to prevent or correct unsafe working conditions.  They also recommend safety features in new processes and products.  Safety Engineering is a branch of industrial engineering.

NATURE OF THE OCCUPATION

Safety Engineers may:

Evaluate plans for new equipment or machines to assure they are safe to operate or tend

Check the floors of the plant to make sure they are strong enough to support heavy machines

Inspect machines already in use to see if they might cause injury

Design and build guards, shields, and other devices to protect workers from injury when operating machines, conveyors, etc.

Investigate accidents to determine the cause and decide how to keep them from happening again

Inspect buildings for safety and health hazards including the placement of fire extinguishers and sprinkler

systems, the proper handling of potentially hazardous chemicals, solvents or explosives and the proper venting of dust, fumes, and vapor in work areas

Educate workers through safety campaigns or classes on first aid, special hazards of their industry, and the proper use of protective clothing and accessories

Maintain relationships with local fire departments and rescue units to assure information exchange and mutual assistance

Research the causes and ways to prevent fires

Analyze statistical data on exposure to particular hazards relating to occupational illnesses and accidents

Recommend the purchase of safety equipment or the implementation of safety procedures

Assure the compliance to federal and state occupational and safety standards and regulations

Click to see Safety Engineers at work!

Equipment, tools, and work aids used may include:

OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES

Safety Engineers may specialize in these areas:

012.061-014 SAFETY ENGINEERS use their knowledge of industrial processes and occupational and safety laws to prevent or correct unsafe working conditions. They also recommend safety features in new processes and products.

012.061-010 PRODUCT-SAFETY ENGINEERS conduct tests to determine product safety levels and recommend procedures to reduce or eliminate hazards while using a product. They may assist in the development of product usage and precautionary label instructions.

012.167-026 FIRE-PROTECTION ENGINEERS conduct tests to determine the cause of and methods to prevent fires. Many are employed by insurance companies to prepare educational materials on fire prevention.

012.167-022 FIRE PREVENTION RESEARCH ENGINEERS advise and assist organizations and the military services on ways to prevent loss of life and property from fires, explosions, and related disasters. They examine building supplies, usage of the building, the water supply, and the number of exits from the building so that any potential fire hazards are eliminated. They may also evaluate fire departments or teach fire prevention at schools and colleges.

012.167-034 INDUSTRIAL-HEALTH ENGINEERS plan and coordinate private or government industrial health programs requiring the application of engineering principles and technology to analyze and control conditions which contribute to occupational hazards and diseases.

012.167-058 SAFETY MANAGERS plan, implement, and coordinate programs to reduce or eliminate occupational injuries, illnesses, deaths, and financial losses. Safety Managers see that safety programs and systems are part of company policy and included in the budget.

In addition to learning about these specialties, you may also find it helpful to explore the following Career Exploration scripts:

WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Safety Engineers usually work with others and may work as part of a team. Depending on their positions, they may supervise other engineers or technicians.

Working conditions vary with the job. In addition, the same job may have variable working conditions depending on whether a particular task is performed in the plant or in the office. Some Safety Engineers work primarily in well-lighted and air-conditioned offices. Others spend most of their time in production areas where they may be exposed to fumes, noise, extreme temperatures, dust, and other plant conditions.

Safety Engineers usually work a 5-day, 40-hour week. They may work longer hours when a job deadline must be met. Some Safety Engineers work for companies that operate around the clock. They may have to observe workers and operations on evening and night shifts. Safety Engineers that work for consulting firms may travel extensively. Some may have to travel to attend conferences. Safety Engineers may join professional organizations such as The American Society of Safety Engineers , The Society of Fire Protection Engineers , or The System Safety Society . Members must pay periodic dues.

You Should Prefer:

• Activities of a scientific and technical nature

• Activities which involve business contact with people

• Activities involving machines, processes, and techniques

You Should Be Able To:

• Picture objects from drawings or diagrams

• Work within precise limits or standards of accuracy

• Rate information using standards that can be measured or checked

• Rate information using personal judgment

• Use mathematics quickly and accurately

• Present your ideas effectively in speech and writing

• Think logically in a clear and organized manner

• Deal effectively with people beyond giving/receiving instructions

• Direct and plan an entire activity or the activities of others

• Perform a variety of duties which may change often

Math Problem You Should Be Able To Solve:

A 1 kilogram sign hangs over a drill press stating "use with caution". What is the minimum tensile strength needed to hold the sign?

Reading Example You Should Be Able to Read and Comprehend:

In checking a block's speed, you might notice that 26 m/s is about 94 km/h (or 58 mi/h), which is a bit unrealistic for a block on a surface.

Writing Example You Should Be Able to Demonstrate:

Write an accident report, detailing in full what happened and correction that can be taken so it does not happen again.

Thinking Skill You Should Be Able to Demonstrate:

You should be knowledgeable enough in the workings of machinery so that you can anticipate potential accidents and help to prevent them.

Engineers performing work that affects public health, life, or property must be licensed by the Michigan State Board of Professional Engineers   of the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth.  The State of Michigan requires a license for this occupation.  Click here for "Michigan Licensed Occupations," see Engineer, Licensed Professional for specific licensing information.  Although not required for employment, certification of Safety Engineers may be obtained from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals. The designation CSP signifies professional competence.

EDUCATION AND PREPARATION OP PORT UNITIES

NOTE: An Associate Degree (two years of study beyond high school) or a Bachelor's Degree (four years of study beyond high school) or a Master's Degree (five to six years of study beyond high school) may qualify a person for this occupation.

The following education and preparation opportunities are helpful in preparing for occupations in this Career Exploration script:

***SCHOOL SUBJECTS***

0300 AUTOMOTIVE , 0700 CAREERS , 0900 COMMUNICATIONS , 1000 COMPUTERS , 1100 ECONOMICS , 1300 ENGLISH , 1600 FOREIGN LANGUAGE , 2200 MATH , 2800 PUBLIC SPEAKING , 2900 SCIENCE , 3100 STUDY & WORK OPTIONS , 3200 TECHNICAL DRAWING , 3300 TECHNOLOGY

***VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM***

There are no Vocational Education Programs related to this Career Exploration script.

***POSTSECONDARY PROGRAM***

058 ENGINEERING (PRE-PROFESSIONAL)

Pre-Engineering Programs provide opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills required for admission to professional engineering colleges. Many Michigan colleges and universities offer programs which may satisfy the prerequisites for admission to engineering schools. Students should contact the engineering schools of their choice for admission requirements and consult their school's pre-professional adviser to ensure that admission pre-requisites will be met.

Courses vary from school to school but may include:

The most common requirements for entering a community college are a high school diploma, or GED, or being at least 18 years old and completing application forms. In addition, entering a college or university may require graduation from high school in a college preparatory program, a grade point average acceptable to the school to which you apply, and passing entrance examinations.

374 INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST

Programs in Occupational Safety and Health provide opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills necessary for employment conducting programs designed to anticipate, recognize, evaluate, and control occupational safety and health hazards and diseases. Industrial Hygienists may work in industrial plants or in governmental agencies.

Courses vary from school to school but may include:

Search for a College and/or Instructional Program

***APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES***

There are no Apprenticeships related to this Career Exploration script.

***MILITARY TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES***

Please check the Military website at http://www.myfuture.com .

INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERS

Because the military is so large, small savings in personnel or equipment costs can result in savings of millions of dollars. Industrial engineers design ways to improve how the military uses its people and equipment.

What They Do

Industrial engineers in the military perform some or all of the following duties:

• Study how workers and tasks are organized

• Measure work load and calculate how many people are needed to perform work tasks

• Study and improve the way work is done and equipment is used

• Plan and oversee the purchase of equipment and services

• Plan and direct quality control and production control programs

Special Requirements

A 4-year college degree in industrial engineering, industrial management, or a related field is required to enter this occupation.

Helpful Attributes

Helpful attributes include:

• Interest in technical work

• Ability to plan and organize studies

• Interest in working with mathematical models and formulas

• Interest in working closely with people

Work Environment

Industrial engineers usually work in offices. They may work outdoors while performing field studies or overseeing the installation of equipment and systems.

Training Provided

Job training is offered for some specialties. Training length varies from 8 to 16 weeks of classroom instruction, depending on the specialty. Course content typically includes:

• Management standards, principles, and policies

• Problem analysis and decision making

• Production and purchasing methods

Civilian Counterparts

Civilian industrial engineers work primarily in manufacturing and consulting firms. They also work in other industries and businesses, including insurance companies, retail stores, banks, public utilities, and hospitals. Civilian industrial engineers perform duties similar to those performed in the military. Depending on the specialty, they may also be called production engineers, safety engineers, production planners, or quality control engineers.

Opportunities

Each year new industrial engineers are needed due to changes in personnel and demands in the field. After job training, industrial engineers are usually signed to an engineering, management evaluation, or procurement unit. With experience, the may advance to command or policy-making positions in engineering, administration, or other fields.    

E-Learning Courses and Programs

OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPERIENCE AND METHODS OF ENTRY

Opportunities for experience and exploration may be available through summer, part-time work, or cooperative education programs with research laboratories, manufacturing plants, utility companies, or government agencies. Postsecondary education programs in engineering and occupational safety and health, and related military service may also offer opportunities.

School-to-Work opportunities include:

informal apprenticeships

job shadowing experiences

touring a local Safety Engineer employer

internships

volunteer work with a Safety Engineer employer community service work with an agency

Methods of entering the field include applying directly to employers and taking civil service examinations. Since most employers require at least a Bachelor's Degree, college placement offices and faculty may be helpful in locating a position. Assistance may also be available by consulting professional journals and newspaper want ads. The American Society of Safety Engineers publishes a monthly journal, "Professional Safety," that lists job openings. In addition, you should access and search the Internet's on-line employment services sites such as:

American Society of Safety Engineers/Nextsteps

EngineerJobs

NSPE Job Board

EHSCareers.com

Engineering Classifieds

USA Jobs

Michigan Jobs & Career Portal

Monster Jobs

Simply Hired

Indeed | one search. all jobs.

Yahoo! HotJobs

Career Builder

You should also enter an electronic resume on these on-line services.

EARNINGS AND ADVANCEMENT

The earnings of Safety Engineers depend on their level of education and job experience. Nationally, college graduates with Bachelor's degrees in industrial engineering, which includes Safety Engineering, were offered average annual starting salaries (2009) of $58,358. Those with a Master's Degree were offered $68,318. The median annual salary for all industrial engineers was $68,172 (2009). The median yearly earnings of "all" workers in the U.S. were $38,428 in 2009.

In mid 2009, national wages earned in the Safety Engineering industry looked like this:

The federal government paid Safety Engineers with a Bachelor's Degree annual starting salaries of $35,135 or $43,521 and those with a Master's Degree $43,521 or $53,234 depending on their college records (2009). Those having PhD's received a minimum salary of $56,148. The salaries of these federal government workers may be higher in some urban areas.

The State of Michigan (mid 2009) paid industrial-health engineers annual salaries ranging from $38,816 to $87,341. In the Detroit area, Safety Engineers earned average annual salaries of $66,540 in mid 2009. Their salaries averaged from $50,544 to $96,301.

Safety Engineers may earn additional income by working as consultants.Depending on the employer, fringe benefits received by Safety Engineers generally included paid vacations and holidays, retirement plans, group health and life insurance, paid sick leave, and reimbursement for additional education.

Most Safety Engineers begin as trainees. With experience, they are assigned to engineering positions in safety, industrial-health, fire protection, or product safety. Some may become independent consultants or teach in higher education. Many Safety Engineers advance to supervisory and administrative positions. Initial advancement depends mainly on education. Top-level positions require proven ability in the particular work.

EMPLOYMENT AND OUTLOOK

Nationally, approximately 14,000 Health and Safety Engineers were employed in 2008.  Employment of Health and Safety Engineer is expected to increase about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2018. The industry distribution for Health and Safety Engineers looked like this:

To find employers, click Employer/Business Locator.

The occupational safety and health act along with other safety legislation have caused companies to be much more concerned about providing their employees with a safe working environment. At the same time, labor unions and insurance costs will encourage businesses to employ Safety Engineers to control losses and injuries.

There are about 1,100 Safety Engineers employed in Michigan. Employment of Safety Engineers in Michigan is expected to grow more slowly than the average for all occupations through the year 2016. An average of 40 annual openings is expected, with 10 due to growth and 30 due to replacement of those who retire, die or leave the labor force for other reasons. Most worked in urban areas for manufacturing companies. Many worked in heavy industries such as construction and utilities. Others worked for hotels, hospitals, colleges, consulting firms, and insurance companies.

The demand for Safety Engineers in Michigan is dependent on economic activity, particularly in the automotive industry. However, the increased recognition of the importance of occupational health management and Safety Engineering in reducing costs and job related accidents while increasing productivity in both industrial and non-industrial settings will create employment opportunities for Safety Engineers.

SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFO RMATION

Printed occupational information is available upon written request from the sources below:

 Copyright © 2010 Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth