What is Safety Profession?

According to American Society of Safety Engineers, the primary focus for the safety professional is prevention of harm to people, property and the environment. Safety professionals apply principles drawn from such disciplines as engineering, education, psychology, physiology, enforcement, hygiene, health, physics, and management. They use appropriate methods and techniques of loss prevention and loss control. Read more about the career at http://www.asse.org/foundation/publications/careerguide.php

What Safety Professionals do?

Wherever people run the risk of personal injury or illness, they are likely to find safety professionals at work. Safety professionals are people who use a wide variety of management, engineering and scientific skills to prevent human suffering and related losses.

Where safety professionals work?

No matter what a company business is, its employees can encounter some type of hazard, either at work, getting to and from work or at home or play. Whether a company does manufacturing, mining, transportation, agriculture, chemicals, fuels production, construction or provides services; it will always face hazards in some or all of its operations. It is likely that the company would employ or contract with one or more safety professionals.

How to become safety professional?

There are two common ways to become a safety professional: (a) experience or (b) education. Most employers require safety professionals to have a bachelor’s degree in occupational health, safety, or a related field, such as engineering, biology, or chemistry.

Where do I get a four year degree in safety?

Welcome to Central!

1. Employment
   1. A recent report from the national institute of occupational safety and health (NIOSH) predicts that the national demand for occupational safety and health services will far exceed the number of professionals available. The reports states that in the next five years employers will look to hire at least 25,000 occupational safety and health professionals, but only about 12,000 new graduates’ area expected from the academic programs that fill the need.
   2. According to Bureau of Labor’s 2011-12 Occupational Outlook Handbook employment of occupational health and safety specialists is expected to increase 11 percent during the 2008-18 decade, about as fast as the average for all occupations, reflecting a balance of continuing public demand for a safe and healthy work environment against the desire for fewer government regulations.
   3. In addition to job openings from growth, job opening will arise from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations, retire, or leave for other reasons.
2. Compensation
   1. According to the Bureau of Labor’s 2011-12 Occupational Outlook Handbook median annual wages of occupational safety and health specialists was $65,250 in May 2008 with the top ten percent earned more than $93,620.
   2. The Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) salary survey reports an average salary of $74,630 for people with a four year safety and health management degree.
   3. The National Safety Council (NSC) reports that more safety professionals with either a four-year or advanced degree received or expected to receive bonuses in 2011.
3. Job Satisfaction
   1. The primary focus of safety professionals is to help workers go home safe every day to their family. This knowledge that their efforts are geared towards protecting human lives, gives safety professionals a tremendous job satisfaction
   2. BCSP reports that job satisfaction in the safety field is high with typically 90% of respondents say that they are satisfied or very satisfied with their careers in safety. The reasons often include work differing each day and being able to contribute to the welfare of others.
4. Uniqueness
   1. Central’s SHM program is unique in the region. The SHM program is one of the only two undergraduate degree programs offered in occupational safety area in the whole western USA.
   2. Our graduates are in high demand in the region and in the profession. Industry hiring officials prize SHM graduates for their attitude, effort, and real world preparation.
5. Diversity
   1. The number of women, minorities and people with disabilities entering the safety profession is growing. Careers in safety are available and open to men and women of every racial and ethnic background.
   2. The SHM program has placed women and minorities in the industry and recognizes the need for increased recruitment of Spanish speakers and first-in-the-family students of migrant workers to meet the safety and  health needs of regional industries with diverse workforce.
6. Leadership – CWU ASSE Student Club

1. Founded in 1911, the ASSE is the oldest professional safety society and is committed to protecting people, property and the environment. ASSE has more than 32,000 occupational safety, health and environmental (SH&E) professional members who manage, supervise, research and consult on safety, health, transportation and the environment in all industries, government, labor and education. ASSE has over 32,000 members located in 151 Chapters, 31 Sections and 38 Student Sections across the globe.
2. The ASSE student section is designed for students who are pursuing a career in safety. The CWU student section is one of the 38 ASSE student sections and will provide tools to help SHM students connect with local and national SH&E professionals, access to scholarships, career guidance, professional development and more. Major membership benefits include:

• Internships and full time job opportunities
• Career advancement
• Enhance your skills by attending safety and leadership conferences
• Online certifications
• Discounts on product and services
• Poly Communication conferences

3. The CWU ASSE student club has helped SHM students increased their value and understanding of the safety and health field and developed their leadership skills

7. Facility
   1. The SHM program is located in Hogue Hall in Ellensburg Campus. It is one of the nation’s most advanced facilities for IET with over 60,000 SF of new and 30,000 SF of renovated space.
   2. The SHM will have a lab space of 2000 SF with various safety stations such as lock out/tag out station, electrical station, etc., to provide hands on experience to students.
   3. In addition, the new Fluke Corporation interdisciplinary lab will be used for various safety training.
   4. The hands-on experience will help SHM students to hit the ground running when they enter the industry
8. Experienced Faculty/Industry Leadership
   1. You can look forward to the SHM courses to be taught by experience faculty with breadth and depth of professional safety experience. The SHM faculty possesses a combined industrial experience of over 50 years. Courses are assigned to faculty based on their industry experience in that particular area Together they have advised and coached hundreds of SHM students who are successfully practicing the safety profession.
   2. A top notch industry advisory council will be in place by early 2012. The council will consist of a group of safety professionals who represent all facets of the industry with a major objective of supporting the needs of the SHM program and provide opportunities for summer internships and full time employment.
9. Scholarships/Financial Aid
   1. ASSE Scholarships: Apply for over $170,000 in available grants and scholarships through ASSE Foundation. Scholarships are available to students pursuing occupational safety, health, and environment and closely related degrees both at undergraduate and graduate level.
   2. CWU Funding: CWU has several funding opportunities for students in the form of financial aid, scholarships, and student employment.
10. Industry Oriented Curriculum
    1. The SHM curriculum incorporates a wide range of subjects important to the successful performance of duties typically expected of professionals employed in this field, and will provide the student with an array of skills and knowledge to offer future employers.

If you would like more information on safety and health management as a career to determine if it is the right choice for you, please visit the Career Guide to the Safety Profession available from the American Society of Safety Engineers Foundation.