Careers: occupational safety specialist, safety technician, hazardous materials technician, safety engineer, and construction and building inspector. Majors: Occupational Safety and Health, Fire Science, and Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
College majors for workplace safety and health
Occupational Safety and Health
Teaches you to identify workplace hazards and protect workers from injury and illness.
Fire Science
Studies fire behavior, prevention, firefighting and emergency response.
Emergency Management and Homeland Security
Prepares you to plan for, respond to and recover from disasters and emergencies.
Careers in workplace safety and health
Occupational Safety Specialist
Find workplace hazards, train workers and keep companies compliant with OSHA.
- Typical training: 2–4 years
Safety Technician
Inspect workplaces, collect hazard data and help keep workers from getting hurt.
- Typical training: 6–12 months
Hazardous Materials Technician
Safely remove and clean up asbestos, lead, chemicals and other hazardous materials.
- Typical training: 1–4 weeks of required training
Safety Engineer
Design systems, processes and products that prevent injuries, illness and damage.
- Typical training: 4 years
Construction and Building Inspector
Inspect buildings and construction to make sure they meet codes and approved plans.
- Typical training: Several years of trade experience + certification
Fire Inspector
Inspect buildings for fire hazards and investigate the cause of fires.
- Typical training: 1–2 years plus experience
Refuse Collector
Collect trash, recycling and yard waste to keep communities clean and healthy.
- Typical training: 1–8 weeks
Pest Control Technician
Inspect for and control insects, rodents and other pests in homes and businesses.
- Typical training: 1–3 months
Water Treatment Plant Operator
Run the plants and systems that clean drinking water and treat wastewater.
- Typical training: Months to years (on the job + certification)
Skills these careers use
- OSHA standards (29 CFR 1910 and 1926)
- Hazard recognition and job hazard analysis
- Incident investigation and root cause analysis
- Safety training delivery
- Hazard recognition
- OSHA standards
Minors that fit this interest
- Occupational Safety: Adds knowledge of workplace hazards, OSHA rules and safety programs.
Start building skills now
A self-paced online course on what occupational safety specialists do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: OSHA standards (29 CFR 1910 and 1926), hazard recognition and job hazard analysis, and incident investigation and root cause analysis
Why it fits: Fits your interest in Workplace Safety and Health
A self-paced online course on what safety technicians do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: hazard recognition, OSHA standards, and exposure monitoring
Why it fits: Fits your interest in Workplace Safety and Health
A self-paced online course on what hazardous materials technicians do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: HAZWOPER procedures, respirator use and maintenance, and containment and negative-air setup
Why it fits: Fits your interest in Workplace Safety and Health
A self-paced online course on what safety engineers do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: hazard analysis (HAZOP, FMEA), engineering design review, and process safety management
Why it fits: Fits your interest in Workplace Safety and Health
Workplace Safety and Health: frequently asked questions
What careers are there in workplace safety and health?
Careers connected to workplace safety and health include occupational safety specialist, safety technician, hazardous materials technician, safety engineer, construction and building inspector, fire inspector, refuse collector, and pest control technician.
What should I major in if I am interested in workplace safety and health?
Majors connected to workplace safety and health include Occupational Safety and Health, Fire Science, and Emergency Management and Homeland Security. Compare what each includes, the skills it builds and where it leads.
What workplace safety and health careers do not require a four-year degree?
Examples include safety technician, hazardous materials technician, construction and building inspector, fire inspector, refuse collector, and pest control technician. They typically start with a high school diploma, a certificate, an associate degree, an apprenticeship or on-the-job training.
Which workplace safety and health careers usually require a bachelor’s degree or more?
Examples include occupational safety specialist, safety engineer, and environmental health specialist. Some also need a license or certification.
What skills do you need for a career in workplace safety and health?
Skills that come up often in these careers include OSHA standards (29 CFR 1910 and 1926), hazard recognition and job hazard analysis, incident investigation and root cause analysis, safety training delivery, hazard recognition, and OSHA standards, along with communication and problem solving.
What minors fit an interest in workplace safety and health?
Minors connected to workplace safety and health include Occupational Safety.
How do I start a career in workplace safety and health?
Learn about the careers in the field, choose one or two that fit you, check the education or training each requires, and build practical knowledge early through classes, part-time work, volunteering or short career training.
Can I explore workplace safety and health careers before choosing a college major?
Yes. Career profiles, job shadowing and short online career training let you learn what jobs in workplace safety and health involve before you commit to a major or program.
Does Career Education Institute offer training related to workplace safety and health?
Yes. Related online trainings include Occupational Safety Specialist Training, Safety Technician Training, Hazardous Materials Technician Training, and Safety Engineer Training. They are general, non-credit courses that teach what a job involves; they do not grant a degree or license.
Which colleges offer programs related to workplace safety and health?
Use the college search to find U.S. colleges that report awarding degrees in related majors, filtered by state, city, ZIP code, online programs and type of school.