The current job market can be very daunting to many professionals who are seeking a career track that is stable and lucrative. Many industries have only temporary openings, but the public health sector is experiencing a considerable demand for qualified applicants. This includes such positions as injury prevention specialist, and employment may be at an entry level or advanced placement.
Public health careers are not only experiencing a large employment rise, but they are also service positions that benefit general welfare. This means that you can both make a steady living and give back to the community. If you are interested in a career path that can provide many benefits, then the position of injury prevention specialist could be a good job to look into.
What Is An Injury Prevention Specialist?
Injury prevention specialists help to inspect workplaces and evaluate employee practices to ensure that safety regulations are met and that workplace accidents are minimized. This position requires the ability to identify possible hazards and implement suggestions to ameliorate them. This may include conducting training sessions with management and staff, as well as going over structural designs to exact changes within the work environment.
Injury prevention specialists would have the following expectations as a part of their work:
- Observe safety practices in the workplace and in industries.
- Inspect structures, machinery, and the environment for possible hazards.
- Record and report your findings.
- Confer with industry management about safe practices and suggestions for change.
- Inspect public structures and environments for possible dangers to the community.
- Educate the public about environmental and structural hazards to avoid.
Characteristics
These professional skills can also help injury prevention specialists perform their job:
- Observation: You will need to have an eye for detail in the practices and environments that you are observing so that you can identify dangers.
- Problem solving: You will need to be able to come up with viable solutions to dangers to the public and in the workplace.
- Communication: You will also need to be able to express your findings, concerns, and suggestions in a written and verbal format, with clarity and accuracy.
- Critical thinking: You will be required to evaluate your observations and extrapolate possible outcomes from the information you have gathered.
Nature Of The Work
Injury prevention specialists will spend much of their time in the field. This will include inspecting industrial sites, businesses, and construction areas. Along with observing function and inspecting equipment and structure, you will also review management files on histories of injury on site.
In an office environment, you will be responsible for drafting reports on your findings and officially citing any violations. You will also need to outline suggestions that may be implemented for safer practices, and create instructional manuals and protocols for the workplaces you have inspected.
Education And Training
Injury prevention specialists will require a four year undergraduate degree in order to gain employment. The course of study should include subjects such as industrial safety, engineering, and occupational health. You will also need to complete six months to a year of training. This may be offered by the employer, but you may also need to enroll in an internship program to gain this knowledge.
This position will require specialist certification, which is granted through examination by the state. In order to maintain your certification, you will need to take continuing education courses, and demonstrate that you are current on safety regulations and laws.
Injury prevention specialists have a competitive salary range that makes even entry level positions quite attractive. The median wage for this position is around $67,000, and starting pay for new hires is as high as $45,000 per year. Some positions may make close to $90,000 per year, but this is generally through higher education, experience, and advancement.
This line of work is also seeing a steady increase in the creation of new jobs. It is projected that between 2012 and 2022, injury prevention specialists will see a 13% rise in openings, especially at the entry level. This makes for a good employment opportunity that has a highly attractive salary, but can also allow you aid the community in promoting safety on the job.
