Safety Technician Job Description

Steps to take to start your career as a Safety Technician and other jobs like it

• 1. Explore Your Interests and Build Relevant Skills: Regardless of how you came to your journey for a career in safety, prior work experience, a personal experience with unsafe conditions or just a general passion for making the workplace safer, the safety profession spans many industries which come with their own expertise required. Think about what area of safety matches best with your skill sets and interests. Spend some time researching what your specific area of safety role involves and chart your path forward from there.
• 2. Earn a Degree or Certifications: You’ll need to invest in education. Most safety specialists earn a degree in occupational health and safety, environmental science, or a related field. If a full degree feels overwhelming at first, consider starting with certifications like OSHA training or a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) credential. These qualifications show potential employers you’re serious about your career and give you the technical knowledge to back it up. Also, a significant amount of work experience in an area you want to be a safety professional is a potential way to move into being a safety professional in a specific field.
• 3. Gain Experience and Start Small: If you’ve gone the education or certification route, experience is key in this field, so don’t be afraid to start with entry-level roles. Look for internships, apprenticeships, or assistant positions where you can learn the ropes and get hands-on experience in the field. These roles might not feel glamorous at first, but they’ll give you the opportunity to shadow seasoned safety specialists and understand how safety protocols are developed and enforced in real-world scenarios.
• 4. Transitioning Into the Role From Your Current Field: If you’re already working in a field like science, manufacturing, construction, or labs, you might be closer to a career as a safety specialist than you think. Many industries need safety experts who understand their unique environments. For example, if you’ve been working in a lab, you already know about hazardous materials and lab protocols, which can translate directly into workplace safety practices. Similarly, if you’re in construction, your firsthand knowledge of job site risks is incredibly valuable when developing safety plans. Start by identifying safety-related tasks in your current role, like monitoring compliance, conducting risk assessments, or training colleagues on safety procedures. Highlight these on your resume to show your experience in maintaining a safe workplace. While you’re at it, consider earning a relevant safety certification, like OSHA 30 or Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER), to boost your qualifications.