Safety Engineers

Career summary

Industrial safety and health engineers make sure work places are safe. They inspect buildings and machines for hazards and safety violations. Engineers also monitor the general work environment. They test the air and water quality, noise levels, and temperature.

Safety engineers investigate accidents and write reports of their findings. They plan and implement programs for preventing or correcting unsafe conditions. They may train workers to use safety equipment and clothing. They may install the safety devices themselves. Safety engineers in some companies design special safety clothing or safety devices for machinery.

Safety engineers may specialize in fire prevention. They study buildings to evaluate how quickly fires would spread through them. They determine where to place:

• Fire extinguishers
• Sprinklers
• Smoke detectors
• Emergency exits

Safety engineers may train staff how to fight fires in their buildings. They also analyze the causes of fires so they can determine how to prevent future fires. Fire safety engineers must know their city's fire protection laws.

Some safety engineers specialize in product safety. They make sure companies design products that are safe. They investigate accidents and write reports about their findings. Engineers recommend how companies can change their product designs.

Related careers

This career is part of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Civil Engineers
• Compliance Officers and Inspectors
• Construction Managers
• Emergency Management Directors
• Fire Investigators
• Mining Engineers
• Occupational Health and Safety Specialists

Military careers

• Environmental Health and Safety Specialists

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to safety engineers.

• Inspect buildings and machines for safety hazards.
• Test air and water quality, noise levels, and temperature.
• Investigate accidents and determine what caused them.
• Write reports about their investigations, using statistics. Suggest ways to fix problems.
• Train workers to use safety equipment.
• Analyze how buildings will withstand fires.
• Recommend where to place fire extinguishers, sprinklers, and detectors.
• Investigate fires and determine their causes.
• Research products to make sure they are safe for the public to use.
• Suggest ways to redesign products so they are safer.
• Write and revise safety codes and regulations.

Common work activities

Safety engineers perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Evaluate information against standards
• Get information needed to do the job
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
• Document and record information
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Analyze data or information
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Use computers
• Provide advice and consultation to others
• Process information
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Teach others
• Think creatively
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Schedule work and activities
• Coach others
• Estimate sizes, quantities, time, cost, or materials needed
• Guide, direct, and motivate others
• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others
• Develop goals and strategies
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Develop and build teams
• Coordinate the work and activities of others
• Perform administrative tasks
• Convince others to buy goods or change their minds or actions
• Provide information or drawings about devices, equipment, or structures

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, safety engineers:

Interpersonal relationships

• Are responsible for the health and safety of others.
• Have a medium to high level of social contact.
• Sometimes are placed in conflict situations in which others may become rude or angry.
• Are somewhat responsible for the work done by assistants and other engineers.
• Communicate to others by telephone, e-mail, letters, and face-to-face discussions. Occasionally they must speak in front of large groups.
• Usually work as part of a team.

Physical work conditions

• Usually work indoors. However, they may occasionally work outdoors while inspecting buildings.
• Sometimes wear safety attire or gear when visiting work sites.
• Sometimes travel to and from work sites in a truck or van.
• May work physically near others.

Work performance

• Must fully complete and be exact in their work. Errors could seriously endanger the health of others.
• Regularly make decisions that greatly affect others, including coworkers, the public, and their company's reputation. Occasionally they may seek input before making important decisions.
• Set most of their daily tasks and goals without talking to a supervisor first.
• Must meet weekly and monthly deadlines.

Hours/travel

• Usually work full time.
• Travel to different buildings to inspect them.

Physical demands

Safety engineers frequently:

• Sit for long periods of time.

It is important for safety engineers to be able to:

• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for safety engineers to be able to:

• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.

Skills and abilities

Safety engineers need to:

Communicate

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Read and understand work-related materials.
• Understand written information.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Understand spoken information.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.

Reason and problem solve

• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.
• Recognize when important changes happen or are likely to happen in a system.
• Identify what must be changed to reach goals.
• Think of new ideas about a topic.
• Think of original, unusual, or creative ways to solve problems.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.

Use math and science

• Use scientific methods to solve problems.
• Choose a mathematical method or formula to solve problems.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Manage the time of self and others.

Work with people

• Use several methods to learn or teach new things.
• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Teach others how to do something.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
• Persuade others to approach things differently.

Work with things

• Inspect and evaluate the quality of products.
• Analyze needs and requirements when designing products.

Perceive and visualize

• Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.
• Imagine how something will look if it is moved around or its parts are rearranged.
• Quickly and accurately compare letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Environmental Engineering
• Industrial and Systems Engineering

Other programs of study to consider

• Engineering, General
• Occupational Safety and Health
• Pre-Engineering

Training

To work as a safety engineer, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent; and
• have a bachelor's degree in engineering.

Education after high school

Most students prepare for this field by earning a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering. Many four-year colleges and universities offer this program of study. However, fewer schools offer programs specifically in safety engineering. Some engineering schools do not offer a bachelor's degree in safety engineering, but do offer it as a master's program.

Some jobs require a master's or doctoral degree. For instance, if you are interested in teaching industrial engineering you need a doctoral degree (PhD).

Work experience

You should consider participating in an internship while in college. An internship is usually part of a four-year degree program. It offers you a chance to apply what you have learned in the classroom to a work situation. It also allows you to build skills and make contacts with people in the field.

On-the-job training

New graduates work under the guidance of experienced engineers. In large companies, you may also receive formal classroom training. This usually lasts about a month.

Military training

Some branches of the military train people to be environmental health and safety officers. You need a bachelor's degree to enter this military occupation. Some training is provided on the job.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum may be different from your state's graduation requirements.

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Blueprint Reading
• Drafting
• Manufacturing Systems
• Safety and First Aid

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

A few states require safety engineers to be licensed. Most employers in these states require engineers to have their licenses.

Employers prefer to hire applicants who know something about each of the three major categories in occupational safety and health: safety, industrial hygiene, and environmental management. Employers look for applicants who have good communication skills. They also look for applicants who can work with a variety of people.

Costs to workers

Some workers join a professional association, which may have annual dues.

Licensing/certification

Engineers employed in responsible positions in government or in firms offering services to the public, or who stamp their work as being done by an engineer, must be licensed by the Washington State Department of Licensing.

Getting a license as an engineer-in-training requires:

• an engineering degree from a school approved by the Accrediting Board for Engineering Technology, or four years of practice in engineering working under a licensed engineer, or a combination of education and work experience; and
• passing a written exam

Professional engineer licensing requirements include:

• completion of the engineer-in-training requirements;
• four additional years of active practice in engineering working under a licensed engineer or a combination of work experience and education; and
• passing a written exam

Engineers who wish to be licensed as professional engineers must pay $65 to the State for an initial national exam application. After State approval, engineers must pay for the registration examination from the National Council of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors. The license renewal fee is $116 every two years. Not all engineers in Washington must be licensed.

For licensing information, contact:

Washington State Department of Licensing
Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and
Land Surveyors Licensing Program 
PO Box 9025
Olympia, WA 98507-9025
360.664.1575

For information on testing, contact:

National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying 
PO Box 1686
Clemson, SC 29633-1686
800.250.3196

#2/11/20

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers 
• Industrial Safety and Health Engineers 
• Product Safety Engineers 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Wages vary by employer and area of the country. The engineer's specialty, experience, and level of responsibility also affect wages.

Safety engineers who work full time usually receive benefits. Typical benefits include health and life insurance, paid vacation, and sick leave. Some employers also provide a retirement plan.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Major employers:

• Industrial construction companies
• Consulting companies
• Engineering firms
• State and local government agencies

National outlook

Demand for this occupation is growing steadily. The public is concerned about safety in manufacturing, health care, and engineering. There is also growing demand for software safety engineers. Many machines are now controlled by software and it is important that safety standards are followed and monitored.

Other resources

American Industrial Hygiene Association 
3141 Fairview Park Drive, Suite 777
Falls Church, VA 22042
703.849.8888

American Society of Safety Professionals 
520 North Northwest Highway
Park Ridge, IL 60068
847.699.2929

Board of Certified Safety Professionals 

Discover Engineering 

Engineer Girl! 
National Academy of Engineering

Health Physics Society (HPS) 
950 Herndon Parkway, Suite 450
Herndon, VA 20170

Institute of Makers of Explosives 
1120 - 19th Street NW, Suite 310
Washington, DC 20036
202.429.9280

National Academy of Engineering 
500 Fifth Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
202.334.3200

National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering 

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 

Society of Fire Protection Engineers 
9711 Washington Boulevard, Suite 380
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
301.718.2910

Society of Women Engineers 
130 East Randolph Street, Suite 3500
Chicago, IL 60601
877.793.4636

Technology Student Association 
1904 Association Drive
Reston, VA 20191-1540
888.860.9010

Washington State Science & Engineering Fair 

References

Career cluster

• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

Career path

• Investigative (Science)

O*Net  occupations

• Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers (17-2111.02) 
• Industrial Safety and Health Engineers (17-2111.01) 
• Product Safety Engineers (17-2111.03) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed. A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.

DOT occupations

• Fire-prevention Research Engineer (012.167-022) 
• Fire-protection Engineer (012.167-026) 
• Industrial-health Engineer (012.167-034) 
• Product-safety Engineer (012.061-010) 
• Safety Engineer (012.061-014) 
• Safety Manager (012.167-058) 

Holland occupational clusters

• Investigative/Conventional/Realistic
• Investigative/Realistic/Conventional
• Investigative/Realistic/Enterprising

COPSystem

• Technology Professional