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Occupational health and safety specialist vs safety trainer

The differences between occupational health and safety specialists and safety trainers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an occupational health and safety specialist and a safety trainer. Additionally, an occupational health and safety specialist has an average salary of $59,335, which is higher than the $45,097 average annual salary of a safety trainer.

The top three skills for an occupational health and safety specialist include occupational safety, safety issues and trend analysis. The most important skills for a safety trainer are OSHA, CDL, and safety training.

Occupational health and safety specialist vs safety trainer overview

Occupational Health And Safety SpecialistSafety Trainer
Yearly salary$59,335$45,097
Hourly rate$28.53$21.68
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs84,20435,032
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Average age4545
Years of experience66

What does an occupational health and safety specialist do?

An occupational health and safety specialist's role is to inspect and analyze work environments and procedures, ensuring compliance with the company's safety rules and regulations. Their responsibilities revolve around devising strategies and programs that prioritize employees' safety and welfare, inspect machines and equipment, conduct safety demonstrations and training programs, investigate workforce accidents, and implement precautionary measures. There are also instances when an occupational health and safety specialist must produce progress reports and presentations, suggest improvements in the system, and collect samples for laboratory testing and analysis.

What does a safety trainer do?

The Safety Trainer ensures that all employees are safe from dangers and are educated well on handling threats and problems. Alongside this, the Safety Trainer properly educates and informs all company employees on the company's safety protocols and procedures. It is the safety trainer's discretion on how they will be able to conduct workshops and seminars for all employees. The safety trainer is an administrative task, and the position is open for people with relevant skills concerning office works.

Occupational health and safety specialist vs safety trainer salary

Occupational health and safety specialists and safety trainers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Occupational Health And Safety SpecialistSafety Trainer
Average salary$59,335$45,097
Salary rangeBetween $40,000 And $87,000Between $31,000 And $64,000
Highest paying CitySilver Spring, MDPerth Amboy, NJ
Highest paying stateMarylandAlaska
Best paying companyGenentechTransdev Services, Inc.
Best paying industryGovernmentEnergy

Differences between occupational health and safety specialist and safety trainer education

There are a few differences between an occupational health and safety specialist and a safety trainer in terms of educational background:

Occupational Health And Safety SpecialistSafety Trainer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Most common majorOccupational Safety And HealthBusiness
Most common collegeSan Diego State UniversityStanford University

Occupational health and safety specialist vs safety trainer demographics

Here are the differences between occupational health and safety specialists' and safety trainers' demographics:

Occupational Health And Safety SpecialistSafety Trainer
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 72.8% Female, 27.2%Male, 74.7% Female, 25.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.1% Asian, 5.6% White, 62.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 5.8% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between occupational health and safety specialist and safety trainer duties and responsibilities

Occupational health and safety specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage the facility respirator protection program, including proper selection and use, respiratory fit testing and regulatory compliance
  • Conduct training classes for MSHA personnel and for various mine operators in Oregon.
  • Maintain thorough working knowledge of OSHA, NFPA, ANSI standards and special policy changes from AFRC.
  • Verse and complies with OSHA, NFPA, CFR, ANSI, EPA, civilian and military safety regulatory requirements.
  • Attend MSHA training as needed and maintain current knowledge on policy and procedures.
  • Communicate with OSHA and EPA regulatory officials with regard to contractor safety and HW/HM compliance.
  • Show more

Safety trainer example responsibilities.

  • Manage and facilitate extensive Safety/Security and HAZMAT training for all personnel.
  • Certify CPR instructor, H2s awareness instructor and fit tester.
  • Provide training in OSHA require and other pertinent safety topics and various aspects of lean operations to local and regional industries.
  • Create and improve upon existing PowerPoint presentations.
  • Conduct routine audits ensuring both OSHA and company-mandate directive compliance.
  • Assist in putting together PowerPoint training presentations and handout materials for center specific safety problems.
  • Show more

Occupational health and safety specialist vs safety trainer skills

Common occupational health and safety specialist skills
  • Occupational Safety, 16%
  • Safety Issues, 15%
  • Trend Analysis, 11%
  • CFR, 11%
  • Occupational Health, 8%
  • Identify Hazards, 5%
Common safety trainer skills
  • OSHA, 13%
  • CDL, 10%
  • Safety Training, 8%
  • Fall Protection, 5%
  • Safety Procedures, 5%
  • Safety Audits, 4%

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