How can I come professional in safety major - Essay Example

How can I come professional in safety major? Occupational safety entails the process of observing and analyzing work environment in order to ensure that workers are not exposed to hazards. Based on the need to curb accidents in work places, majority of firms have taken the initiative to train their employees on safety measures. Similarly, the increased opportunities in the sector of safety have forced many young people to undertake various course related to safety. The major role of safety specialists is to anticipate and identify hazards and take the necessary steps before the occurrence of an accident. Additionally, safety personnel are responsible for implementing safety regulations as well as working with other agencies on how to improve working conditions in their environment. This paper discusses how one can become a professional in safety. Many educational institutions offer various avenues that one can emulate in order to be a professional in safety. One such opportunity is an online degree in occupational safety and health. You can take a distance learning program that is designed for individual who are focused at enhancing their safety skills that are related to prevention of accidents and evaluation of safety in companies. Due to time and geographic constraints, not all students can enroll for on-campus programs. In this regard, some colleges and universities conduct their coursework on line. It is also possible for one to be a safety professional by taking a certificate course in occupational safety. A certificate program in most cases lasts for few months. Within that period, practitioners are prepared to undertake national certification exams for example the Board of Certified Safety Professionals. Even though a certificate in safety is limited in terms of courses, it gives basic safety skills such as regulations, prevention of accidents, safety policies among others (Jeroen et al 17). An individual who want to be a safety personnel can also undertake an associate degree in occupational safety. This course gives imperative training that prepares students to enter well paying job. Being focused at developing students on communication skills, handling safety equipments and detection of hazards, associate degree in occupational safety prepares the graduates to work as junior safety practitioners or pre-service. By working for some time in any of these posts, an individual is able to acquire relevant skills that make him or her to be promoted to senior position in the safety department. Taking a minimum of 65 credit hours, associate degree in occupational safety takes a minimum of 2 years to complete. An individual who aims at attaining appropriate qualification in safety should undertake a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety. Key aspects that are covered by this program includes fundamental course in safety, upper-division specialists and an internship at the end of training. As compared to an associate degree, coursework undertaken by students in Bachelor degree is usually extensive and more involving. Consequently, individuals with a bachelor’s degree in occupational safety have extensive knowledge that exposes them to more job opportunities. Being a course that is offered by majority of universities in the world, Bachelors degree in safety provides relevant skills to individuals. Some of the major areas that are covered by bachelor's degrees in occupational safety includes writing skills, health and social theory, oral presentations, management and leadership skills among others. Employees or individuals who are focused at improving their skills in safety but have no access to on-campus program can take online Bachelor’s degrees in occupational safety. It is vital to note that based on their flexibility, on line courses have turned to be major opportunity that employees can take to improve their safety skills thus becoming eligible for promotion (Charles and Mortimer 36). Through OSHA Outreach Training Program is also a major avenue trough which an individual can become a professional in safety. OSHA Outreach Training Program is undertaken by government agency to ensure that workers attain relevant and adequate skills on occupational safety and health. Based on its wide coverage of safety measures, over 1.3 million have taken the online course thus enabling them to get employment opportunities in reputable organization. The table blow indicates some of the major course offered by OSHA Outreach Training Program and the areas of training. NFPA 70e Training Introduction to OSHA & the OSH Act Safety orientation Building security Ergonomics for workers HACCP Food Safety Means of Egress and Fire Protection Personal Response to Trauma Explosives in the Workplace CSA 2010 Compliance Bobtailing and Jackknifing Driver’s Daily Log Loading and Unloading Trailers Safe Operations Pre-Trip Inspection Mold Inspector Inspect area of a building or house Explanations protective equipment used in inspections Mold sampling and testing methods Environmental Training Certification environmental specialists Mold inspector certification Leed Green building EPA & Environmental Safety Cal/OSHA Intro to Cal/OSHA Concrete & Masonry Electrical Safety Fall Protection Hand & Power Tools Scaffolding Stairways & Ladders Apart from the above training programs, OSHA recommends that through the assistance of the employers, employees should attend Outreach Training Programs in order to get basic skills on occupational safety and health. This is a requirement that is covered by OSHA 29 CFR 1910. Consequently, employees are in a better position to maintain safety as well as be in a position to undertake first aid in cases of accidents. General Industry Outreach course provides is usually especially fit for foremen, job supervisor and workers in the major industries. The course, that takes 30 hours has 24 modules that are began by an orientation and ends by an exam. Some of the major topic covered by this course includes Introduction to OSHA and the OSH Act, Emergency Action Plan, Materials Handling & Storage, Welding, Cutting, and Brazing, Workplace Violence, Formaldehyde Awareness and Bloodborne Pathogens among others. As a safety professional, it is imperative to undertake refresher course in order to be aware of changes that may occur in safety regulation or in any other area. In this regard, OSHA recommends that workers in the safety department undertake a HAZWOPER 8-hour Annual Refresher Course. This course is especially vital for workers in hazardous waste sites even though all employees should take it. Some of the key areas that an individual benefits from after taking this course includes understanding of OSHA regulations and requirements, use of Personal Protective Equipment, understanding the principle of toxicology and decontamination, identification of hazards and action to take during emergencies. Based on the increased demand for safety professionals by many organizations, it is imperative for individuals aiming at becoming skilled and experienced safety personnel to have adequate information regarding Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act. Having been implemented and by US Department of Labor, the Act aims at creating safe working condition for all emp0loyees. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is responsible for enforcement and administration of OSH Act (United States Department of Labor 6). Based on the large area covered by the Act, it is imperative for individual to read the basic information that is contained in the Act website and acquire relevant skills are quite helpful in the work places. Some of the basic information that is provided by the Act includes Employment Law Guide: Occupational Safety and Health, Safety and Health Topics , Cooperative Programs and how to comply with OSHA. Joining of safety organizations is an important aspect that improves the skills and experience of individual in the safety professional. This is based on the fact that it is through sharing of during seminars and forum that one can get the skills to curb future challenges in his or her work place. As mentioned earlier, attaining an advanced training on safety is key in getting appointment in various safety organizations such as Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food Safety Promotion , International Food Safety Network, Medical Products Agency and Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products among others. Conclusion Based on the above discussion, it is clear that to become a safety professional with ability to deal with various challenges, it is vital to acquire a Bachelors degree in Occupational Safety. Through such a degree one is able to attain extensive skills that expose him or her to competitive job opportunities. Based on the need to improve safety in small and big companies, OSHA through the coordination by US Department of Labor has established a number of on line courses through the OSHA Outreach Training Program. As some of the courses take few hours others require individual to invest significant amount of money. However, this should not deter anyone to become a safety professional. This is based on the fact that the future benefits in terms of high pay and wide range of benefits will offset the costs. It is also paramount for individuals to deeply study the OSH Act in order to improve their skills in matter relating to safety. Works Cited Charles, Oakes, Safety versus Security in Fire Protection Planning, The American Institute of Architects: Knowledge Communities. Retrieved 22nd April, 2013. Cofer, Charles and Appley, Mortimer. Motivation: Theory and Research, New York, London, Sydney: John Wiley & Sons, 1967. Print. Jeroen Johan de Hartog, Hanna Boogaard, Hans Nijland, Gerard Hoek. Do the Health Benefits of Cycling Outweigh the Risks?" Environmental Health Persepctives. Retrieved 22nd April, 2013. United States Department of Labor. ASSE Career Guide to the Safety Profession. Web. Feb. 23, 2013. http://www.asse.org/foundation/publications/docs/2007CareerGuide9-16-08-cropped.pdf. Retrieved 22nd April, 2013. United States Department of Labor. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. http://www.osha.gov/ Retrieved 22nd April, 2013. Read More