Safety Trainer Job Description

Safety trainers, or occupational health and safety specialists, provide an important support role in various work environments. They assess workplace processes and recognize hazards that may lead to injury, then communicate to other employees how to lessen risk. Reducing injuries caused by chemicals, physical or biological substances or ergonomics is their primary goal. Safety trainers can have a significant impact on the reduction of workplace injury.

Function

• Safety trainers audit the workplace for hazards, develop solutions to eliminate those hazards, communicate the solution to other employees and evaluate progress as the solution is implemented. They also may demonstrate new processes or equipment. Safety trainers may ensure adherence to company health and safety rules and rules set forth by government entities such as the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). They also may be responsible for training documentation and the development of emergency response plans.

Employment

• Safety trainers commonly work for construction companies, railroads, manufacturing plants and other industries that have risks to employees from heavy equipment, tools or chemicals. Safety trainers also are employed by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration to ensure adherence to safety standards and rules in key industries. Some companies that specialize in health and safety additionally employ safety trainers who are contracted to provide educational or safety certification to employees.

Education

• Safety trainers often receive on-the-job training due to the intricate and varied processes or equipment used by the specific industry in which they work. Certification programs, such as those offered by the National Association of Safety Professionals (NASP), provide additional educational opportunities for safety trainers. The NASP certification program offers attendees the opportunity to learn effective training methods, interpreting OSHA regulations and reducing costs related to OSHA fines and workplace injuries. Some safety trainers also earn bachelor's or associate degrees in occupational safety.

Qualifications

• Communication skills are critical for safety trainers. They must be able to convey information effectively in writing and in presentations or speeches to other employees. Listening to other employees also can be crucial in identifying hazards. Critical thinking skills help the trainer reason effectively to weigh possible solutions or approaches to problems.

Considerations

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects safety trainer jobs to grow by 11 percent through 2018. The growth will primarily draw from the public and the government's increasing pressure for workplace safety. According to the BLS, median annual earnings of occupational health and safety specialists, a group that includes safety trainers, were $62,250 in May 2008.