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Fire safety director vs health & safety officer

The differences between fire safety directors and health & safety officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a fire safety director, becoming a health & safety officer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a fire safety director has an average salary of $67,324, which is higher than the $56,507 average annual salary of a health & safety officer.

The top three skills for a fire safety director include customer service, emergency situations and NYC. The most important skills for a health & safety officer are OSHA, site safety, and em-385.

Fire safety director vs health & safety officer overview

Fire Safety DirectorHealth & Safety Officer
Yearly salary$67,324$56,507
Hourly rate$32.37$27.17
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs22,193115,573
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 30%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age4945
Years of experience46

What does a fire safety director do?

A fire safety director is an executive professional who is responsible for developing and implementing fire safety plans that address fire safety systems to protect lives and properties. This director is required to conduct fire safety inspections of facilities and implement emergency evacuation strategies that are following the rules and regulations of the local fire department. The director must train fire wardens, fire brigade, and employees about the proper use of fire equipment and evacuation safety precautions. This fire safety director must also inspect fire extinguishers and provide instructions on the proper use of these extinguishers.

What does a health & safety officer do?

A Health and Safety Officer is responsible for ensuring the workplace's safety and security to provide smooth operations and implement safety practices within the premises. They inspect the facilities and equipment's condition and report any failures and defects for immediate resolution. They also facilitate safety training and programs for the employees to reiterate safety protocols and policies for strict compliance. A health and safety officer reviews incident reports, recommend safety and security resolutions and develop safety initiatives.

Fire safety director vs health & safety officer salary

Fire safety directors and health & safety officers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Fire Safety DirectorHealth & Safety Officer
Average salary$67,324$56,507
Salary rangeBetween $46,000 And $98,000Between $37,000 And $85,000
Highest paying CityFresno, CABerkeley, CA
Highest paying stateAlaskaAlaska
Best paying companyThe Durst Organization24M Technologies
Best paying industryHospitalityConstruction

Differences between fire safety director and health & safety officer education

There are a few differences between a fire safety director and a health & safety officer in terms of educational background:

Fire Safety DirectorHealth & Safety Officer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 30%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common majorCriminal JusticeBusiness
Most common college--

Fire safety director vs health & safety officer demographics

Here are the differences between fire safety directors' and health & safety officers' demographics:

Fire Safety DirectorHealth & Safety Officer
Average age4945
Gender ratioMale, 89.2% Female, 10.8%Male, 79.7% Female, 20.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.8% Unknown, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 1.2% White, 72.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.1%Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% Asian, 5.8% White, 62.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage18%7%

Differences between fire safety director and health & safety officer duties and responsibilities

Fire safety director example responsibilities.

  • Develop and manage statistical and trending analysis in alignment with SMS principles.
  • Manage a new a program for the emergency response team plant wide.
  • Manage CCTV video surveillance operations and elevator controls.
  • Manage and implementation of safety/security systems to include CCTV.
  • Manage HSE programs for a national corporation specializing in concrete product manufacturing.
  • Follow basic FSD responsibilities including training fire wardens and fire brigade members.
  • Show more

Health & safety officer example responsibilities.

  • Lead cross functional team on FMEA analysis, root cause analysis to improve the existing process.
  • Provide regulatory guidance of OSHA health and safety regulations and establish site interpretations of those regulations.
  • Organize students' information for CPR certification and parking registration.
  • Plan, organize, and host training sessions for CPR certification.
  • Develop metrics showing departmental and site EHS performances and present monthly findings to executive management.
  • Conduct internal audits of EHS programs and provide recommendations regarding the effectiveness of internal controls and processes.
  • Show more

Fire safety director vs health & safety officer skills

Common fire safety director skills
  • Customer Service, 16%
  • Emergency Situations, 13%
  • NYC, 11%
  • Life Safety Systems, 9%
  • Building Evacuation, 6%
  • Fire Safety Plan, 4%
Common health & safety officer skills
  • OSHA, 12%
  • Site Safety, 5%
  • Em-385, 5%
  • Safety Program, 5%
  • Fall Protection, 5%
  • SSHO, 4%

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