Construction work is essential to modern life and is needed to build everything, from the homes we live in to the roads we drive on. Unfortunately, construction is a notoriously risky job. According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 1 in 5 worker fatalities in a single year are in the construction field.
Given this statistic, it’s no surprise that construction safety jobs are in demand. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that employment in the construction sector is expected to grow 11% from 2018 to 2028, faster than average. Construction is also a largely recession-proof field. If you pursue this career, you will enjoy excellent job prospects.
This guide explains what construction safety jobs entail, the personal and professional skills you need to work in the field, and what positions will be available to you once you have the credentials you need.
Construction safety encompasses all the protocols and procedures put in place to promote safety on a construction site. The aim is to ensure that these workplaces are not a source of danger to workers or the public nearby. The need is so pressing because construction sites carry inherent risks with them, like heights, chemicals, and heavy-duty machinery.
A safety expert identifies potential causes of harm and mitigates risk with preventive measures. This is a boots-on-the-ground role and a job that requires strenuous physical activity. You will be working on construction sites, where you can identify dangers and implement solutions firsthand. It’s a great option if you’re into non-corporate jobs outside of the office.
Below are some examples of what a construction safety expert might pinpoint.
- Falls from heights. OSHA reports that falls are responsible for the majority of fatalities in construction. Reasons include shaky work surfaces, failure to use fall protection tools, and human error. A safety specialist might propose using aerial lifts for more stable working surfaces, installing guardrails with toe boards to keep workers away from dangerous edges, and equipping workers with body harnesses.
- Scaffolding collapse. If not properly erected, scaffolds may collapse. A safety expert might create a checklist to ensure the scaffolding is put up correctly. This could include checking each piece (braces, brackets, etc.) for defects, ensuring no part of the scaffolding is placed on unstable objects like barrels, and inspecting the scaffolding after installation.
- Hazardous chemicals. If not properly handled, chemicals used on a construction site can lead to fires or explosions, and could also potentially cause health issues like respiratory distress. A safety expert might ensure workers have access to Safety Data Sheets (SDS) explaining how to handle these harmful substances, equip workers with the right protective gear, and create a spill control checklist in case of accidents.
This is just a sampling of some of the problems you may solve in construction safety jobs — and it’s just one part of the job. Other tasks include keeping a log of workplace accidents, conducting interviews with injured workers, and providing senior management with preventive guidelines on how to prevent future incidents.
Read on to find out how to qualify for this multifaceted, exciting, and important role.
To land a construction safety job, you will need to be qualified as an occupational health and safety technician. You can enter the field with an associate or bachelor’s degree in occupational safety and health from an accredited college or university. From there, you can advance your career by gaining experience and getting additional certifications.
Certifications you need to qualify for construction safety jobs include:
- OSHA. OSHA offers various certifications. For example, the OSHA 501 program is geared toward private construction, while OSHA 510 addresses federal health and safety standards. You must complete coursework at an authorized OSHA training center and pass an application-based final assessment.
- Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH). The American Board of Industrial Hygiene is responsible for awarding the Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) certification. To get this certification, you must have a bachelor’s degree in an approved program, have completed specified IH coursework, have four years of on-the-job experience, and present two professional references. You can then do the application to get certified.
- Certified Safety Professional (CSP). CSP certification is issued by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals. To become a CSP, you must have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, four years of safety experience, and a preliminary BCSP qualified credential, such as the CIH. You must then pass the CSP examination.
In addition to the educational credentials needed, some skills will help you thrive as a construction safety professional.
- Attention to detail. There’s no room for mistakes when lives are at stake. Construction safety professionals must be highly detail-oriented when inspecting job sites, creating security documentation, and developing prevention protocols. By catching the “little” things — like a loose screw — you can prevent major consequences.
- Organization. Construction safety professionals manage many projects at one time. For instance, on a single worksite, you won’t just focus on fall prevention but also on how to minimize chemical hazards or keep scaffolding secure. You need to be organized as you manage the different facets of each focus area.
- Problem solving. A big part of a construction safety specialist’s job is identifying problems — and then finding ways to solve them. Some examples of the types of problems you may be asked to solve include the risk of falls, shaky scaffolding, or chemicals. Strong research skills and a bit of creativity will help you find answers to such issues.
- Excellent communication. Coming up with effective safety protocols is just half the battle. Construction safety professionals must also be able to communicate these measures to workers and management. Strong spoken and written communication allows you to share valuable insights and inspire actionable change. Multilingual communication may be useful (such as knowing English and Spanish) in multilingual work areas.
- Strong interpersonal skills. Working on a construction site means dealing with all kinds of people, from engineers to architects and construction workers. One day, you might be interviewing a worker about their on-the-job accident, and the next, you might be presenting new proposals for worker safety to the C-suite at an engineering firm. You should be able to empathize and communicate with people from all walks of life. If you’re outgoing, this extrovert-friendly gig is for you!
With the above educational credentials and skills, you are sure to find promising prospects in the construction safety field. Most individuals get their start as industrial hygiene technicians or occupational safety technicians, subsequently advancing to more senior roles with greater responsibility.
With added experience, technicians may go on to higher-ranking jobs, such as occupational health and safety specialists. This brings a noticeable pay jump with it. According to the BLS, the median annual wage for technicians was $51,550 in May of 2019 compared to $74,100 for specialists. You might also become a construction site safety manager, which is a lucrative and in-demand role as well.
Construction safety is important. When you enter this field, you are taking on the task of protecting human lives. It’s a big responsibility but also makes for a rewarding career. With the right training, you will find many exciting job prospects in the public or private sector that span all kinds of environments, from oil rigs to airports and urban development sites.
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