Safety consultants are tasked with inspecting workplaces to make sure they comply with the federal, state, and local safety codes. Worker safety is of the utmost importance to these workers, to make sure these meet environmental guidelines.Today we’re going to be learning about the duties of a safety consultant.
Education and Preparation
The first main requirement of this safety officer is to earn a bachelor’s degree in occupational health and safety. Classes you could take include environmental technology, legal guidelines for health and safety, fire prevention, and theft, coding, and construction safety. Depending on the state you live in may require additional certifications, or you can become nationally certified by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals. If you want to gain experience and make connections, you could serve as an intern with an occupational safety expert.
Evaluate Workplace Safety
Assessing workplace safety is one of the most important responsibilities that a safety consultant can have. As a safety consultant, you’re going to have to perform period inspections of the workplace. Looking for the proper placements of warning signs throughout the workplace and checking the personal protective equipment (PPE) that’s provided for employees. Knowing the safety issues is important, so you can provide the list to the management so they can remedy the problems.
Provide Safety Training
A vital part of the safety consultant’s job description is to be able to teach employees how to keep themselves safe. Some may be teaching them how to use a fire extinguisher properly. If they work in a warehouse, you may want to teach someone how to use a forklift properly. The ability to walk through a space and notice what to teach in a safety training session is vital for a consultant. You may want to pull a manager aside to give additional lessons so they can teach new hires.
Develop Safety Manuals
Creating a workplace safety manual can help workers understand how to maintain a safe environment. You could include specific plans, like fire escape routes in the manual. This could also show the types of training that each employee needs. This manual should be given to human resources so they know proper safety procedures to keep them safe.
