Occupation Summary

Occupational Health and Safety Technicians

O*NET 19-5012.00

Description:

Collect data on work environments for analysis by occupational health and safety specialists. Implement and conduct evaluation of programs designed to limit chemical, physical, biological, and ergonomic risks to workers.

Annual Wages:
$56,429.00
Employment Rate:
Employment is expected to increase by 28.55%.
Education Level:
Bachelor's Degree. According to O*Net, the majority of people employed in this occupation have this level of education.
Endorsement:
Public Service

  1. Maintain all required environmental records and documentation.
  2. Supply, operate, or maintain personal protective equipment.
  3. Prepare or calibrate equipment used to collect or analyze samples.
  4. Test workplaces for environmental hazards, such as exposure to radiation, chemical or biological hazards, or excessive noise.
  5. Prepare or review specifications or orders for the purchase of safety equipment, ensuring that proper features are present and that items conform to health and safety standards.
  6. Examine credentials, licenses, or permits to ensure compliance with licensing requirements.
  7. Educate the public about health issues or enforce health legislation to prevent disease, to promote health, or to help people understand health protection procedures and regulations.
  8. Conduct interviews to obtain information or evidence regarding communicable diseases or violations of health or sanitation regulations.
  9. Review records or reports concerning laboratory results, staffing, floor plans, fire inspections, or sanitation to gather information for the development or enforcement of safety activities.
  10. Prepare documents to be used in legal proceedings, testifying in such proceedings when necessary.
  11. Plan emergency response drills.
  12. Maintain logbooks of daily activities, including areas visited or activities performed.
  13. Help direct rescue or firefighting operations in the event of a fire or an explosion.
  14. Confer with schools, state authorities, or community groups to develop health standards or programs.
  15. Collect data regarding potential hazards from new equipment or products linked to green practices.
  16. Collect data related to ecological or human health risks at brownfield sites.
  17. Examine practices at green building sites to determine whether adherence to green building standards alters risks to workers.
  18. Perform tests to identify any potential hazards related to recycled products used at green building sites.
  19. Test or balance newly installed HVAC systems to determine whether indoor air quality standards are met.
  20. Train workers in safety procedures related to green jobs, such as the use of fall protection devices or maintenance of proper ventilation during wind turbine construction.
  21. Verify availability or monitor use of safety equipment, such as hearing protection or respirators.
  22. Evaluate situations or make determinations when a worker has refused to work on the grounds that danger or potential harm exists.
  23. Recommend corrective measures to be applied based on results of environmental contaminant analyses.
  24. Conduct worker studies to determine whether specific instances of disease or illness are job-related.
  25. Inspect fire suppression systems or portable fire systems to ensure proper working order.
  26. Provide consultation to organizations or agencies on the workplace application of safety principles, practices, or techniques.


National Industry Employment Patterns


Industry % of Occupational Health and Safety Technicians employed Annual Growth Rate
Management, scientific, and technical consulting services 8.9 1.29
Colleges, universities, and professional schools 4.1 0.96
Ship and boat building 3.7 0.00
Nonresidential building construction 2.6 1.55
Architectural, engineering, and related services 2.5 1.55
General medical and surgical hospitals 2.2 1.84
Employment services 2 0.00


Labor Market Information


2024 Statewide average hourly wage $27.13
2024 National average hourly wage $30.67
2022 National employment 24,700
2022 Texas employment 3,275
Texas projected employment by 2032 4,210
Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2032 486




TEXAS COUNTY MAP BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA
* Due to confidentiality rules, not all regions may have the data displayed. The sum of all the regions may not be equal to the state total.


Top 10 Relevant Knowledge Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
82.80%
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
82.00%
Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
76.00%
Law and Government
Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
74.20%
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
74.00%
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
74.00%
Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
71.40%
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
67.60%
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
66.00%
Mechanical
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
66.00%


Top 10 Relevant Skill Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
80.00%
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
77.60%
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
77.60%
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
77.60%
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
75.00%
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
65.00%
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
65.00%
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
65.00%
Systems Analysis
Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
62.40%
Persuasion
Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
62.40%


Top 10 Relevant Abilities Relevant Importance Levels
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
77.60%
Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
77.60%
Inductive Reasoning
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
77.60%
Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
77.60%
Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
77.60%
Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
77.60%
Written Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
75.00%
Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
72.40%
Speech Clarity
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
70.00%
Speech Recognition
The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
67.60%


  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
    -- Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    -- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    -- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Getting Information
    -- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
    -- Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Other Activities


  • Relationships
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
  • Support
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.



Tools

Air compressors: Air compressors;

Air pollutant samplers: Particle sensors; Particulate monitors;

Air samplers or collectors: Impingers; Dry-gas meters; Cyclone samplers; Diffusive air samplers; Aerosol meters; Air quality dataloggers; Cascade impactors; Microbial samplers; Thermal desorption tubes;

Air sampling pumps: Personal sampling pumps; Gilibrators;

Air velocity and temperature monitors: Air flow calibrators;

Anemometers: Anemometers; Thermoanemometers;

Chemical absorption gas analyzers: Passive samplers;

Chromatographic detectors: Photodetectors;

Digital camcorders or video cameras: Digital video cameras;

Digital cameras: Digital cameras;

Dosimeters: Passive dosimeters;

Dust collectors: Dust collectors;

Electronic counters: Particle counters;

Flame ionization analyzers: Flame ionization detectors FID;

Flow sensors: Airflow indicators;

Flowmeters: Mass flow meters; Electronic bubble meters; Electronic pump calibrators;

Fume hoods or cupboards: Flow hoods;

Gas chromatographs: Gas chromatographs GC;

Gas detector tubes: Sorbent tubes; Gas detector tubes;

Gas detectors: Combustible gas detectors;

Goggles: Safety goggles;

Heat stress monitors: Heat stress monitors;

Heat tracing equipment: Infrared thermometers;

Inductively coupled plasma ICP spectrometers: Portable infrared spectrophotometers;

Infrared imagers: Infrared analyzers;

Ion analyzers: Photoionization detectors PID;

Laboratory balances: Electrobalances;

Laboratory separators: Electrostatic precipitators;

Lux or light meter: Light meters;

Manometers: Manometers;

Medical tape measures: Medical measuring tapes;

Moisture meters: Moisture meters;

Multi gas monitors: Electrochemical gas monitors;

Multimeters: Multimeters;

Personal computers: Personal computers;

Photometer: Aerosol photometers;

Pocket calculator: Handheld calculators;

Portable data input terminals: Data acquisition equipment; Data loggers;

Power blowers: Power blowers;

Protective gloves: Protective gloves;

Radiation detectors: Radiation detectors;

Radon detectors: Radon monitors;

Respiration air supplying self contained breathing apparatus or accessories: Self-contained breathing apparatus;

Respirators: Respirator hose masks; Half-face respirators;

Respiratory monitoring kit accessories: Oxygen monitors;

Rotameters: Rotameters;

Single gas monitors: Carbon monoxide sensors; Single gas monitors; Mercury vapor analyzers;

Soil core sampling apparatus: Grab samplers;

Sound measuring apparatus or decibel meter: Octave band analyzers; Sound level meters;

Spectrofluorimeters or fluorimeters: X ray fluorescence XRF analyzers;

Spectrometers: Spectroscopes;

Spirometers: Spirometers;

Two way radios: Two way radios;

Ultraviolet UV lamps: Inspection lamps;

Vibration testers: Vibration monitors;

Wet scrubbers: Wet scrubbers;


Technology

Analytical or scientific software: Statistical analysis software; TapRooT;

Cloud-based data access and sharing software: Microsoft SharePoint;

Data base user interface and query software: Remedy Interactive iMitigate; Brady Lockout Pro; Database software; Microsoft Access;

Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook; Email software;

Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software;

Graphics or photo imaging software: Graphics software;

Industrial control software: Industrial Scientific iNET; QuestSuite Professional;

Internet browser software: Web browser software;

Office suite software: Microsoft Office software;

Presentation software: Presentation software; Microsoft PowerPoint;

Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel; Spreadsheet software;

Video conferencing software: Teleconferencing software;

Word processing software: Microsoft Word; Word processing software;


Related O*NET occupational titles for Occupational Health and Safety Technicians include:
  • 47-4011.00 Construction and Building Inspectors
  • 13-1041.01 Environmental Compliance Inspectors
  • 17-3025.00 Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians
  • 17-2081.00 Environmental Engineers
  • 19-4042.00 Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
  • 19-2041.00 Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
  • 13-1041.04 Government Property Inspectors and Investigators
  • 17-2111.00 Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
  • 19-5011.00 Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
  • 29-2043.00 Paramedics


Sources of Additional Information
  • For more information about credentialing in industrial hygiene, visit: Board for Global EHS Credentialing (BGC)
  • For more information about occupations in safety, a list of safety and related academic programs, and credentialing, visit: Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP)
  • National Association of Safety Professionals (NASP)
  • For more information about occupational health and safety, visit: U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
  • To find job openings for occupational health and safety positions in the federal government, visit: USAJOBS
  • CareerOneStop

  • For a career video on occupational health and safety specialists and technicians, visit: Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
  • Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
  • Occupational Health and Safety Technicians

  • Contact Texas Workforce Commission
    Labor Market and Career Information  |  101 E. 15th Street, Annex Room 0252  |  Austin, Texas 78778
    Official Website  |  1-800-822-PLAN (7526)  |  512.936.3200

    ** The information in this report may be derived from many sources like O*NET, BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), OOH (Occupational Outlook Handbook), and Career One Stop.