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Safety engineer vs project safety manager

The differences between safety engineers and project safety managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a safety engineer and a project safety manager. Additionally, a project safety manager has an average salary of $100,955, which is higher than the $74,228 average annual salary of a safety engineer.

The top three skills for a safety engineer include OSHA, safety standards and safety program. The most important skills for a project safety manager are OSHA, safety program, and project safety.

Safety engineer vs project safety manager overview

Safety EngineerProject Safety Manager
Yearly salary$74,228$100,955
Hourly rate$35.69$48.54
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs16,617111,653
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4242
Years of experience22

What does a safety engineer do?

The duties of a safety engineer depend on one's industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around overseeing the implementation of the safety policies and regulations in a company by conducting regular inspections and maintenance checks, coordinating with department personnel to gather data, assessing risks, and arranging precautionary measures. A safety engineer must also address issues and concerns, responding to them in a timely and efficient manner. Furthermore, there are instances when they have to lead safety orientations and seminars to maintain a safe and productive environment for everyone.

What does a project safety manager do?

Project Safety Managers are responsible for ensuring the project workplace environment adheres to health and safety standards. Their duties include coordinating safety meetings, conducting audits, performing site inspections, implementing corrective action, and coordinating compliance training sessions. They are responsible for creating an emergency action plan, becoming primary contact for any site injuries and case management, and maintains an inspection log. Project Safety Managers also administer project budgeting, coordinate invoices, reporting project status, and attends team meetings.

Safety engineer vs project safety manager salary

Safety engineers and project safety managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Safety EngineerProject Safety Manager
Average salary$74,228$100,955
Salary rangeBetween $49,000 And $110,000Between $72,000 And $140,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CA-
Highest paying stateNorth Dakota-
Best paying companyApple-
Best paying industryTechnology-

Differences between safety engineer and project safety manager education

There are a few differences between a safety engineer and a project safety manager in terms of educational background:

Safety EngineerProject Safety Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorMechanical EngineeringBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of Connecticut-

Safety engineer vs project safety manager demographics

Here are the differences between safety engineers' and project safety managers' demographics:

Safety EngineerProject Safety Manager
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 81.6% Female, 18.4%Male, 87.8% Female, 12.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 9.7% White, 69.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.8% Asian, 9.7% White, 69.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage4%4%

Differences between safety engineer and project safety manager duties and responsibilities

Safety engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage hazardous and special waste programs and profiles including audits/inspections, vendor compliance, documentation and recordkeeping.
  • Develop SWPPP and SPCC programs.
  • Design new Lockout/Tag-out (LOTO) system for production floor and facilities.
  • Direct subcontractors in safely deploying spill response equipment to enforce EPA / TDEQ regulations.
  • Provide safety support for construction projects -Conduct audits for LOTO, environmental, IH surveys, safe work practices etc.
  • Create site-specific EHS orientations for contractors.
  • Show more

Project safety manager example responsibilities.

  • Achieve EPA approve closure of the chemical waste treatment plant through manufacturing process restructuring.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional team to successfully achieve initial ISO 14001certification.
  • Conduct weekly focuse inspections and audits on safety elements with different contractors to confirm compliance with project and GE EHS requirements.
  • Coordinate compliance visits by environmental agencies, OSHA inspections and utility inspections.
  • Ensure timely and proper implementation recommendations or corrective actions following OSHA plant inspections.
  • Conduct incident investigations and EHS audits and track resulting action items to completion.
  • Show more

Safety engineer vs project safety manager skills

Common safety engineer skills
  • OSHA, 10%
  • Safety Standards, 6%
  • Safety Program, 5%
  • Safety Regulations, 4%
  • ISO, 4%
  • Corrective Action, 4%
Common project safety manager skills
  • OSHA, 9%
  • Safety Program, 8%
  • Project Safety, 7%
  • Safety Standards, 6%
  • Site Safety, 5%
  • Safety Reports, 5%

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