Workplace Safety Expert help companies understand government regulations and ensure their businesses comply. They also conduct inspections and accident investigations and serve as expert witnesses in legal cases involving workplace safety protocol violations, accidents, and employee negligence.
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An occupational health and safety expert creates, implements, and enforces important workplace policies. Their job is to ensure that all working environments are safe and in compliance with governmental laws. They may also conduct inspections and investigate accidents to determine what caused them and how such accidents can be prevented in the future.
An OH&S professional may work in many different industries. They are dedicated to creating a safer and more supportive work environment for employees. Some of the most common duties are assessing risks and hazards, accident investigation, reporting, and safety protocol development. They are also involved in implementing wellness programs, promoting safe practices in different industries, and providing training to employees.
This is an excellent career for someone who has a strong sense of duty and impeccable attention to detail. The work of an OH&S professional is often very technical, and they may need to operate specialized equipment or collect samples for testing. They must be able to communicate with people of all backgrounds and expertise levels, and be able to convey safety instructions clearly.
Some of the duties of an OH&S specialist are inspecting equipment, examining workplace environments and ensuring that all workers have the proper protective gear for their work. They also need to ensure that all safety standards are adhered to, and that all workers are properly trained to use the equipment and environments they are in.
These professionals also need to be able to detect any signs of chemical exposure, physical injuries and other potential hazards. They must be able to assess whether or not the safety measures employed are effective, and should work closely with other professionals to find sustainable solutions.
Those who wish to become an OH&S expert need to obtain a degree in occupational health and safety, or a related field such as engineering, biology, chemistry or physics. They need to complete a number of rigorous courses, including health and safety standards, risk assessment and identification, industrial hygiene, accident investigation and prevention and hazardous materials and waste management. In addition, they need to pass the required certification exams.
Safety Consultant
A Safety Consultant or Safety Expert Witness is a highly trained professional who specialises in workplace health and safety. They are able to take a deep look at an organisation and interrogate its safety systems, providing the expert advice and guidance that can ensure compliance with Occupational Health & Safety legislations, regulations and standards.
Many businesses have internal safety teams, however a Safety Consultant can provide an objective outside perspective that may be more effective in identifying issues that might have been overlooked by staff. Safety Consultants are also unaffected by any internal office politics or employee expectations and are able to focus solely on creating a safe workplace.
During an initial inspection/audit, the safety consultant examines the workplace to identify any potential hazards or violations of Occupational Health & Safety legislations and regulations. They will review health & safety protocols and implement plans to ensure compliance. This includes completing injury logs, updating emergency procedures and ensuring that all records are properly maintained.
Safety consultants also work with employees to train them on safety procedures, such as hazard recognition and accident reporting. This training helps to reduce the number of accidents and injuries, as well as the amount of time lost due to workplace disruptions. A good Safety Consultant can also help to improve employee morale by demonstrating how the business values worker health and wellbeing.
A Safety Consultant also looks for weaknesses and inefficiencies within an organisation’s processes. They might make recommendations for forming safety committees, changing accident investigation protocols or installing new EHS software, for example. They can save a business money by catching these issues before they become serious problems and avoiding costly fines from Occupational Health & Safety authorities.
The qualifications that a Safety Consultant needs to have vary depending on the industry, but a degree in occupational health and safety management, risk assessment or environmental science is usually required. Additional qualifications include certification as a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) or Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH). Experience working in different industries is also helpful to gain an in-depth knowledge of the specific regulations that apply in each.
Safety Expert Witness
Safety expert witnesses are professionals who possess specialized knowledge and experience regarding occupational safety regulations, standards and protocols. They often work in fields such as safety engineers, industrial hygienists, and/or safety consultants. These experts provide unbiased opinions in legal cases, assisting clients with the evaluation and understanding of complex industrial health and safety matters.
The safety expert witness provides an assessment of the adherence to industry standards and/or OSHA compliance, and assesses workplace safety practices and protocols. They also conduct investigations into workplace incidents, accidents and injuries, determining their causes, whether the accident or injury occurred due to a violation of occupational safety regulations, and/or the adequacy of workplace policies or procedures.
This seasoned professional offers more than thirty years of engineering, manufacturing and management experience. He has guided multi-billion dollar companies to some of the lowest injury and illness rates in the United States, saving millions of dollars in operating costs. He has performed countless accident investigations, root cause analysis and other forensic engineering studies.
He has extensive knowledge of the physics of impact biomechanics and injury causation, automobile, motorcycle, railroad and aircraft accident investigation and reconstruction; vehicle, seat and airbag performance; and automotive, mechanical and manufacturing design. He has also analyzed and interpreted forensic anthropological, medical and physical data and provided expert opinions on various aspects of human factors, ergonomics, safety, and loss control.
This skilled professional has over 30 years of engineering, industrial hygiene and occupational safety experience in the oil & gas, chemical, manufacturing, mining, transportation and utilities industries. He has performed dozens of incident investigations, root cause analysis and other forensic analysis studies and provided expert opinions in litigation, arbitration and mediation. He has also conducted numerous training courses on industrial hygiene, occupational safety, and risk management topics. He has worked with many of the nation’s leading law firms, insurance companies, and government agencies. He has testified in both depositions and courtroom trials. He has been certified as a Professional Engineer in over 20 states and is a member of the National Academy of Forensic Engineering and the American Society of Safety Engineers.
OSHA Compliance Expert
A compliance expert works to ensure that a workplace follows all required safety standards and regulations. They often have significant experience working with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines, as well as industry standards and protocols. They may also provide expert testimony in legal cases involving workplace accidents or violations. They can assess risk management procedures, determine adherence to regulatory standards and help courts understand underlying issues.
A good compliance expert should be knowledgeable and up-to-date on current OSHA regulations and best practices. They should also have extensive professional experience and relevant certifications to show their expertise. They should also be able to effectively communicate complicated topics and concepts during a screening call or deposition.
If a death, severe injury or illness, or other serious incident occurs in your workplace, you must report it to OSHA within 8 hours for fatalities and 24 hours for injuries, illnesses, and losses of an eye. These incidents can trigger an inspection by OSHA’s compliance officers, who will interview employees and examine your company’s worksite. You must also create a written hazard communication program and keep copies of the relevant safety data sheets on hand for each chemical your company uses.
When selecting a compliance expert, look for one who is certified as a professional safety engineer or occupational health and safety manager, and has extensive experience in workplace safety, especially if they specialize in the area of your interest. You should also review their credentials and prior experience, as well as ask for references from past clients.
In some cases, the compliance officer may point out apparent violations that you could correct immediately. It is in your best interests to do so, as it will show the compliance officer that you are taking steps to improve the safety of your workers. However, if you refuse to remedy obvious violations, the compliance officer will likely cite you for them.
If you agree to an inspection, you have the right to choose a representative and a reasonable number of employees who can accompany the compliance officer on the walk-around portion of the inspection. You can also opt to provide partial consent, allowing the compliance officer access only to specific areas of your worksite.