Occupation · SOC 19-5012
Occupational Health and Safety Technicians
Collect data on work environments for analysis by occupational health and safety specialists. Implement and conduct evaluation of programs designed to limit chemical, physical, biological, and ergonomic risks to workers.
Median wage
$58,440
$40,550–$94,670
Projected growth
+8.5%
Faster than average
Annual openings
270
per year
Employed (US)
31,450
Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
204 mapped
Core skills
Active ListeningReading ComprehensionSpeakingCritical ThinkingWritingMonitoringComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision Making
Knowledge areas
Education and TrainingEnglish LanguagePublic Safety and SecurityLaw and GovernmentMathematics
Technology & tools
Data base user interface and query softwareElectronic mail softwareGraphics or photo imaging softwareIndustrial control softwareSpreadsheet software
Representative tasks
Evaluate situations or make determinations when a worker has refused to work on the grounds that danger or potential harm exists.Supply, operate, or maintain personal protective equipment.Maintain all required environmental records and documentation.Provide consultation to organizations or agencies on the workplace application of safety principles, practices, or techniques.Test workplaces for environmental hazards, such as exposure to radiation, chemical or biological hazards, or excessive noise.Train workers in safety procedures related to green jobs, such as the use of fall protection devices or maintenance of proper ventilation during wind turbine construction.Inspect fire suppression systems or portable fire systems to ensure proper working order.Verify availability or monitor use of safety equipment, such as hearing protection or respirators.Prepare or review specifications or orders for the purchase of safety equipment, ensuring that proper features are present and that items conform to health and safety standards.Recommend corrective measures to be applied based on results of environmental contaminant analyses.Prepare or calibrate equipment used to collect or analyze samples.Conduct worker studies to determine whether specific instances of disease or illness are job-related.Plan emergency response drills.Examine credentials, licenses, or permits to ensure compliance with licensing requirements.Review records or reports concerning laboratory results, staffing, floor plans, fire inspections, or sanitation to gather information for the development or enforcement of safety activities.Educate the public about health issues or enforce health legislation to prevent disease, to promote health, or to help people understand health protection procedures and regulations.Prepare documents to be used in legal proceedings, testifying in such proceedings when necessary.Collect data regarding potential hazards from new equipment or products linked to green practices.Maintain logbooks of daily activities, including areas visited or activities performed.Help direct rescue or firefighting operations in the event of a fire or an explosion.Test or balance newly installed HVAC systems to determine whether indoor air quality standards are met.Confer with schools, state authorities, or community groups to develop health standards or programs.Collect data related to ecological or human health risks at brownfield sites.Conduct interviews to obtain information or evidence regarding communicable diseases or violations of health or sanitation regulations.Perform tests to identify any potential hazards related to recycled products used at green building sites.Examine practices at green building sites to determine whether adherence to green building standards alters risks to workers.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Personal protective equipment inventory — locate, distribute, and inspect under direct supervision at an industrial or construction worksite.Workplace hazard recognition — identify common chemical, biological, noise, and radiation exposure risks by following established checklists in a supervised field setting.Environmental records and documentation — enter inspection data into spreadsheet or document management software under the guidance of a senior technician.Fire suppression system components — perform visual checks and report deficiencies to a supervisor during routine facility walkthroughs.Safety procedure manuals — read and summarize written protocols using active reading strategies to prepare for on-the-job task assignments.Basic monitoring instruments — operate noise meters and air-sampling devices under direct supervision to collect preliminary exposure data in a warehouse or plant environment.Worker safety communications — listen actively and relay worker concerns about potential hazards to supervising safety personnel without independent judgment.Safety training support — assist senior staff in setting up and delivering green-job safety orientation sessions, such as fall protection basics at a wind energy construction site.Incident documentation software — input near-miss and injury records into a database or ERP system following prescribed data entry protocols.Hearing protection and respirator availability — conduct an inventory count and flag shortages using a provided tracking form in a manufacturing facility.
developing
Air and noise sampling programs — conduct routine environmental hazard tests for chemical exposures and excessive noise levels with reduced oversight at manufacturing or construction sites.Personal protective equipment maintenance — inspect, fit-test, and replace respirators and hearing protection devices in accordance with OSHA standards across multiple work areas.Environmental compliance records — compile, organize, and submit required documentation using document management and spreadsheet software within regulatory deadlines.Worker refusal investigations — gather preliminary facts about a work refusal, assess surface-level danger indicators, and escalate findings to a safety professional with a written summary.Fire suppression system inspections — evaluate portable and fixed fire systems for operational readiness, record findings, and schedule corrective maintenance as needed.Green-job safety training delivery — facilitate hands-on training sessions on fall protection and ventilation practices for wind turbine or solar installation crews with moderate supervision.Safety equipment usage monitoring — track and verify daily use of required PPE across work crews using industrial control or ERP software dashboards.Written safety reports — draft clear, accurate inspection reports and corrective-action memos using word processing software for review by safety managers.Workplace hazard sampling data analysis — apply basic statistical and spreadsheet methods to interpret exposure monitoring results against regulatory threshold limits.Internal safety consultations — respond to frontline supervisor inquiries about safe work practices by applying knowledge of public safety regulations and engineering controls.
proficient
Complex hazard evaluations — independently assess situations where workers have refused assignments due to danger, applying deductive and inductive reasoning to determine risk validity and recommend corrective action.Full-scope environmental hazard testing — plan and execute radiation, chemical, biological, and noise exposure sampling programs across multiple facility areas, interpreting results against applicable standards.Regulatory compliance documentation — manage all required environmental and safety records systems, ensuring accuracy, retention, and audit-readiness using ERP and document management platforms.Non-routine PPE program management — evaluate, select, and oversee organization-wide deployment of specialized protective equipment for novel or complex hazard scenarios.Advanced green-job safety training — design and lead comprehensive safety training curricula for renewable energy construction crews, integrating systems analysis of site-specific hazards.Fire protection system audits — conduct thorough inspections of integrated fire suppression and portable systems, producing detailed compliance reports and directing corrective maintenance.Organizational safety consultations — advise business units or external agencies on the application of engineering controls, administrative safeguards, and behavioral safety principles to workplace hazards.Worker refusal determinations — exercise independent judgment to evaluate the legitimacy of danger claims, document findings, and communicate binding determinations to management and workers.Safety data presentation — develop and deliver professional presentations using graphics and presentation software to communicate risk findings and corrective strategies to management audiences.Systems-level monitoring programs — design ongoing workplace monitoring protocols that integrate multiple data streams, identifying trends and triggering proactive interventions before incidents occur.
advanced
Occupational health and safety strategy — lead the development and implementation of organization-wide safety management systems aligned with regulatory requirements and industry best practices across all facilities.Safety culture leadership — model and champion a proactive safety culture by influencing executive decision-making, integrating safety principles into organizational values and operational planning.Program evaluation and continuous improvement — apply systems evaluation methods to assess the effectiveness of safety programs, identify systemic gaps, and direct evidence-based improvements at organizational scale.Cross-functional consultation and negotiation — represent the safety function in negotiations with regulatory agencies, labor representatives, and senior leadership to resolve complex compliance and policy disputes.Workforce development and mentorship — design learning strategies and mentor developing technicians and safety professionals, building organizational capability and succession pipelines.Enterprise risk governance — oversee organization-wide environmental hazard monitoring programs, ensuring data integrity, regulatory reporting, and integration with enterprise risk management frameworks.Emergency preparedness leadership — direct the development and testing of facility-wide emergency response plans integrating fire suppression, hazardous materials, and worker evacuation protocols.Safety technology architecture — evaluate, select, and champion adoption of industrial control, ERP, and monitoring technologies that advance the organization's hazard detection and compliance capabilities.Green and emerging-industry safety standards — lead the organization's adaptation to safety requirements for renewable energy and emerging technology sectors, shaping internal policies and external advocacy positions.Regulatory and legal compliance oversight — provide authoritative guidance on the intersection of occupational safety law, government regulations, and organizational liability, advising senior leadership on risk exposure and strategic compliance posture.
Also known as
417 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Weapons Safety Officer (Navy 6990)Environmental Specialist (Navy 003757)Aerospace Medicine Physician Specialist, Trainer (Air Force 48A4Q)General Medicine Officer (GMO) Flight Surgeon, Bomber (Air Force 48G3R)Residency Trained Flight Surgeon, Airlift (Air Force 48R4T)Aircraft Loadmaster Craftsman, C-130J (Air Force 1A271C)In-Flight Refueling Specialist Craftsman, KC-10 (Air Force 1A071F)Weapons Repair Officer (Marine Corps 2120)Public Health Officer, Medical Entomologist (Air Force 43H4E)Mobility Force Aviator, C-130J Loadmaster (Air Force 1A1X2D)Mobility Force Aviator, KC-135 Boom Operator (Air Force 1A1X2H)Undersea Medical Officer (Navy 0107)Pilot-Physician, General (Air Force 48V1W)General Medicine Officer (GMO) Flight Surgeon, Bomber (Air Force 48G4R)Veterinary Corps Officer (Army 64)Residency Trained Flight Surgeon, Tanker (Air Force 48R4S)Pilot-Physician, Tanker (Air Force 48V4S)Pilot-Physician, C2ISREW (Air Force 48V3Z)Bioenvironmental Engineer, Health Physics (Air Force 43E4G)Aerospace Medicine Physician Specialist, Space Medical Operations Experienced (Air Force 48A1X)Aerospace Medicine Physician Specialist, Tanker (Air Force 48A3S)Aerospace Medical Service Apprentice, Independent Duty Medical Technician (Air Force 4N031C)Aerospace Medicine Physician Specialist, Bomber (Air Force 48A3R)Aircraft Loadmaster Apprentice, C-130H (Air Force 1A231E)Aerospace Medical Service Helper, Neurodiagnostic Medical Technician (Air Force 4N011B)General Medicine Officer (GMO) Flight Surgeon, C2ISREW (Air Force 48G3Z)Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Defense Specialist (Marine Corps 5711)Aircraft Loadmaster Apprentice, C-146 (Air Force 1A231R)Aerospace Physiology (Air Force 1H0X1)Aerospace Medicine Physician Specialist, Airlift (Air Force 48A3T)Aircraft Loadmaster Journeyman, EC-130J (Air Force 1A251H)Explosive Ordnance Disposal Helper (Air Force 3E811)Bioenvironmental Engineer, Medical Physics (Air Force 43E3M)Patient Safety CoordinatorIn-Flight Refueling Specialist Apprentice, KC-10 (Air Force 1A031F)Bioenvironmental Engineer, Environmental Engineering and Science (Air Force 43E4D)Torpedoman's Mate (Navy TM)Safety Engineer (Navy 2740)Residency Trained Flight Surgeon, Board eligible in emergency medicine (Air Force 48R4E)Pilot-Physician (Air Force 48VX)