Certified Occupational Safety
While occupational safety falls on every employee's shoulders, a certified occupational safety specialist provides the instruction necessary to help keep everyone safe on the job whether it's in an industrial setting or an office environment. The safety specialist must be knowledgeable of safety rules and regulations that affect their particular work place. He must implement those rules as well as enforce them to protect each employee's safety.
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COSS Model
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One recognized way of learning to identify occupational safety issues is to follow the Certified Occupational Safety Specialist (COSS) model. The first step identifies the hazards in the workplace. Once the safety specialist identifies hazards, he then instructs the employees in ways to avoid the hazards. In some cases the third step can come into play. That is the elimination of the hazard altogether. If the hazard remains an integral part of the job, then the safety specialist puts the appropriate safety measures into place as the fourth step. This might involve using personal protective equipment (PPE) as well as employee training in the proper handling of the hazard.
Training
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Certified occupational safety specialist training gives the safety officer a clear understanding of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Typically the class last 40 hours and gives the student a complete introduction to the processes involved with occupational safety. Depending on the course, there may be expert discussion panels as well as hands-on lab work and classroom lectures.
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Safety Specialist Skills
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Good verbal and written communications skills are a must. The occupational safety specialist is not only knowledgeable of safety hazards in the workplace, but they must be able to communicate effectively to workers so the workers can comprehend any dangers they may face. The safety specialist is also responsible for creating and implementing a safety plan.
Safety Specialist Essentials
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Regardless of the work situation, the occupational safety specialist must be knowledgeable in fall prevention, personal protective equipment usage, hearing conservation and how to supply first aid to employees in an emergency. The safety specialist may also be in charge of CPR training of employees.
Job Description
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In addition to providing safety education to staff members, the certified occupational safety specialist has administrative duties as well. These include investigating accidents and keeping track of accident rates. They must determine true costs of accidents to the employer. The safety officer must also set up periodic inspections that meet OSHA guidelines.
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References
- Photo Credit safety first image by Greg Pickens from Fotolia.com
