Environmental health and safety jobs can earn near $100,000 per year. Environmental health and safety managers are essential pillars in the top management of organizations. Organizations are under an obligation to ensure that their systems are eco-friendly and comply with government regulations, and environmental health and safety managers are charged with this compliance. Environmental health engineers must be licensed by the regulatory authorities.
The environmental health and safety engineer is an executive officer as well as a manager, and is charged with giving safety directions when the company acquires new equipment. The engineer’s guidance is also required on several other issues directly and indirectly related to environmental health and safety.
Chemicals on site can be a dangerous hazard if proper care is not exercised. Therefore, the environmental health and safety engineer ensures that chemicals are properly packaged and stored. In addition, the engineer notes incidents, manages recommendations and coordinates implementation. The engineer is also responsible for conducting internal safety audits and designing and implementing internal safety programs.
To succeed in environmental health and safety jobs, an academic background in engineering or science-related courses provides the ideal foundation. A minimum of five years’ work experience is a mandatory requirement. Professional certificates in safety, management of hazardous materials and industrial hygiene are considered assets.
Those in environmental health and safety jobs earn between $64,000 and $108,000 per year. Fifty percent of those environmental health and safety jobs earn $86,000 and above. The most senior environmental health and safety engineer in an organization can rank as high as vice president. There are several other ranks below the chief engineer; the most junior employee in this sector is the environmental engineer.
There are over 50,000 environmental specialists. Most of these specialists work in different organizations. The environmental health and safety jobs are mandatory positions for most organizations.
Environmental health and safety regulations are strictly enforced. Noncompliance is grounds for closure of or hefty fines against an organization whose operations are hazardous to the environment or to persons living around the area.
Each state has an agency charged with monitoring environmental health. For persons who would like to serve as environmental health specialists in the public sector, there are several environmental health and safety jobs in public service.
Environmental health and safety jobs serve a crucial sector of the society. Employees in this profession are therefore required to constantly update their skills by attending seminars and continuing education. The continued training ensures up-to-date knowledge in methods and provides opportunities for professional growth.
