While it may be the CEO of a company who typically gets the most recognition, few corporate positions are as integral to efficient businesses and have as great an impact on employee satisfaction as a safety manager.
A safety manager’s role is to ensure workplace safety in order to reduce work-related injuries and mitigate the legal issues associated with accidents. They will also help design and implement guidelines to prioritize employee health and safety. Good managers also need to understand the laws and government policies that may affect their specific organizations’ workplaces, and they must always be aware of new legislation. Above all, safety managers must confirm that their organization is taking care of its OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Association) mandated duties.
Who Needs Safety Managers?
A wide range of industries require safety managers. In almost any manufacturing company, a safety manager helps maximize profitability by ensuring that employee health and safety are a top priority because illness and accidents can lead to decreased productivity. Developing ways to control loss and promote safety standards and employee performance are also key parts of the job.
The aviation industry can offer interesting employment opportunities for safety managers. An aviation safety manager is responsible for overseeing safety issues and educating staff. The position also involves investigating accidents and developing ways to improve health and safety in the workplace.
For those interested in public service, working for a government inspection agency as a building or restaurant inspector can be a fulfilling career path.
Construction and mining sites also often require safety managers and can be a solid option for someone who prefers to spend time working away from a desk in an outdoor setting.
Attractive Earning Potential
Because the role of safety manager is so vital to employee satisfaction and welfare, as well as a company’s profitability, the job can be quite lucrative. Compensation ranges from $41,000 up to $98,000, with an average salary of approximately $66,000. Safety managers who eventually get promoted into the position of Environmental Health & Safety Director can expect to earn over six figures. Incentives, such as bonuses and profit sharing, can also increase overall compensation.
Perhaps even more important than the attractive earning potential, is the high job satisfaction rate of safety managers. In a study of the position by Payscale.com, 590 people voted the job five out of five stars in terms of job satisfaction. Furthermore, the demand for occupational health and safety specialists will likely increase approximately 4 percent from 2014 to 2024 as the government and companies continue to prioritize employee safety.
The Right Educational Foundation
If being a safety manager appeals to you, it is vital to get the right training to be sure that not only do you have a solid skill set but also that you appear as attractive to hiring managers as possible. There are various educational opportunities that can lead to a job as a safety manager, but one of the most beneficial is an online MBA program with a specialty in industrial safety.
Southeastern Oklahoma State University offers one such program. The online MBA program with a concentration in safety at SOSU highlights how to create, supervise and manage a company’s safety guidelines. Degree coursework offers an overview of safety liability, regulatory policies and Workers Compensation. Additionally, because SOSU offers these courses via its online MBA program, people who are currently employed or would find it difficult to attend school full time can work their studies into their individual schedules.
Being a safety manager can be a fulfilling career for someone who wants to take on a crucial role safeguarding employee health and, by extension, be a key player in a company’s success.
Learn more about the SOSU online MBA in Safety program.
Sources:
http://cerasis.com/2013/07/29/safety-in-manufacturing/
http://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/Safety_Manager
http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Safety_Manager/Salary
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/occupational-health-and-safety-specialists.htm