health-and-safety-engineer/references/tasks.md

Tasks & work activities — health and safety engineer

Source: O*NET 30.3, occupation 17-2111.00 (Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors).

Task statements

• [Core] Investigate industrial accidents, injuries, or occupational diseases to determine causes and preventive measures.
• [Core] Conduct research to evaluate safety levels for products.
• [Core] Evaluate product designs for safety.
• [Core] Conduct or coordinate worker training in areas such as safety laws and regulations, hazardous condition monitoring, and use of safety equipment.
• [Core] Maintain and apply knowledge of current policies, regulations, and industrial processes.
• [Core] Recommend procedures for detection, prevention, and elimination of physical, chemical, or other product hazards.
• [Core] Report or review findings from accident investigations, facilities inspections, or environmental testing.
• [Core] Evaluate potential health hazards or damage that could occur from product misuse.
• [Core] Evaluate adequacy of actions taken to correct health inspection violations.
• [Core] Interpret safety regulations for others interested in industrial safety, such as safety engineers, labor representatives, and safety inspectors.
• [Core] Review plans and specifications for construction of new machinery or equipment to determine whether all safety requirements have been met.
• [Core] Participate in preparation of product usage and precautionary label instructions.
• [Core] Interview employers and employees to obtain information about work environments and workplace incidents.
• [Core] Provide expert testimony in litigation cases.
• [Core] Review employee safety programs to determine their adequacy.
• [Core] Conduct or direct testing of air quality, noise, temperature, or radiation levels to verify compliance with health and safety regulations.
• [Core] Provide technical advice and guidance to organizations on how to handle health-related problems and make needed changes.
• [Core] Develop industry standards of product safety.
• [Core] Maintain liaisons with outside organizations, such as fire departments, mutual aid societies, and rescue teams, so that emergency responses can be facilitated.
• [Core] Plan and conduct industrial hygiene research.
• [Core] Compile, analyze, and interpret statistical data related to occupational illnesses and accidents.
• [Core] Write and revise safety regulations and codes.
• [Core] Confer with medical professionals to assess health risks and to develop ways to manage health issues and concerns.
• [Supplemental] Design and build safety equipment.
• [Supplemental] Check floors of plants to ensure that they are strong enough to support heavy machinery.
• [nan] Inspect facilities, machinery, or safety equipment to identify and correct potential hazards, and to ensure safety regulation compliance.
• [nan] Install safety devices on machinery or direct device installation.

Detailed work activities

• Advise others on health and safety issues.
• Confer with other personnel to resolve design or operational problems.
• Confer with technical personnel to prepare designs or operational plans.
• Design industrial equipment.
• Develop safety standards, policies, or procedures.
• Direct installation activities.
• Document design or operational test results.
• Evaluate designs or specifications to ensure quality.
• Explain engineering drawings, specifications, or other technical information.
• Fabricate devices or components.
• Inspect equipment to ensure safety or proper functioning.
• Inspect facilities or sites to determine if they meet specifications or standards.
• Inspect safety equipment to ensure proper functioning.
• Install safety or support equipment.
• Investigate safety of work environment.
• Investigate the environmental impact of projects.
• Maintain operational records or records systems.
• Monitor work environment to ensure safety or adherence to specifications.
• Prepare procedural documents.
• Research human performance or health factors related to engineering or design activities.
• Research product safety.
• Teach safety standards or environmental compliance methods.
• Test facilities for environmental hazards.
• Testify at legal or legislative proceedings.
• Update technical knowledge.