Workplace Safety Expert plays a key role in resolving legal disputes over accidents and determining liability. They analyze safety structures and protocols and evaluate whether negligence or unsafe practices contributed to the accident.
They also offer consultancy services in the areas of hazard identification, risk assessment, workplace accident investigation, power industrial truck operations, warehouse safety and logistics. Their extensive experience, education and training in DOL OSHA compliance allows them to provide deposition and trial expert support for both plaintiff and defense attorneys.
Occupational Health and Safety Expert
Occupational health and safety professionals are often called upon to assess the physical and chemical conditions of work environments. They design processes to ensure that workplaces are safe and that employees are not exposed to health hazards.
The duties of an occupational health and safety specialist vary depending on the industry in which they operate. However, all occupational health and safety experts must be able to communicate effectively, perform technical analysis and research and work with laboratory testing equipment. They also need to understand and comply with governmental regulations regarding workplace safety.
Some common duties of an occupational health and safety expert include conducting regular inspections of workplace equipment, facilities and procedures. These inspections ensure that the company follows all governing regulations. Additionally, they may identify any potential dangers that are not currently being addressed and provide recommendations for improving safety conditions.
In addition to regular inspections, occupational health and safety specialists are often responsible for creating and implementing employee wellness programs. These programs can range from smoking cessation and fitness challenges to mental health support. Furthermore, they must be able to build strong relationships with management, human resources and safety personnel to effectively address any concerns or issues.
While the job description varies from industry to industry, occupational health and safety experts generally need at least a bachelor’s degree in industrial hygiene, occupational health or a related field. In some cases, on-the-job training is sufficient to obtain the necessary skills and knowledge for this position.
An experienced occupational health and safety expert can be a valuable asset for any legal team handling cases involving workplace injuries or deaths. Accident Solution’s OHS experts have a deep understanding of government regulations and are able to offer unbiased opinions. Our network of OHS experts can be searched by specialty area, litigation history, education, certifications, location and more. Our personalized approach means that we can help you find the perfect safety expert for your case. Contact us today to get started.
Safety Consultant
Safety consultants provide the expertise workplaces need to create a healthy environment for their employees. Their responsibilities revolve around understanding the company’s operations, compiling guidelines that align with specific industry rules, and staying current with new trends and regulations so they can advise their employer or client appropriately. They also conduct risk assessments, oversee safety training, and create information programs for workers to use in their daily work.
Safety professionals often have an educational background in occupational health and safety, engineering, or a related field. While some choose to earn a bachelor’s degree, others opt for a safety certificate program that helps them develop the skills and credentials required to adhere to strict workplace safety protocols. Additionally, they may have completed an OSHA trainer course that certifies them to deliver workplace safety education and training.
In addition to identifying potential hazards and areas of concern, safety consultants are responsible for conducting thorough inspections and audits. They also complete injury logs and submit them to OSHA, ensuring that the organization complies with all relevant laws and regulations. They may also review and implement plans that help to improve safety procedures, including establishing training initiatives and performing regular inspections and audits.
While some safety experts are employed by a single company, most offer their services to multiple organizations on an ongoing basis. This enables them to keep their skills up-to-date, as well as allow clients to tap into their vast knowledge of the latest OSHA regulations and other standards.
The best part about working with a third-party safety consultant is that they are independent of company hierarchy and completely unaffected by internal happenings or expectations. Unlike in-house team members, they are focused on strict compliance to ensure the health and wellbeing of your crew, avoid costly fines, and protect the reputation of your brand.
If you’re thinking about pursuing a career as a safety professional, getting hands-on experience through internships or volunteering can give you the opportunity to explore different industries and decide whether this is the right path for you. Additionally, partnering with an EHS consulting firm that offers flexible software and training can provide the support you need to achieve your goals.
Safety Expert Witness
A safety expert witness is a specialist who has extensive experience in occupational health and safety, safety management, and safety engineering. They also have knowledge of hazardous materials, safety inspections, accident investigations, and risk assessment. They are often Professional Engineers (PE) and may have additional certifications such as Certified Safety Professionals (CSP) or Certified Industrial Hygienists (CIH).
These experts serve as valuable resources to legal cases involving workplace injuries, accidents, and negligence. They help determine whether a company followed proper safety protocols and if unsafe working conditions contributed to an incident. They can also assess the extent of any damages that may be owed.
Workplace safety experts are available to advise on topics such as hazard communication, workplace standards, crane inspection reviews, and construction training. They can also provide information on personal protective equipment, chemical hazards, and power tools. Some of these professionals have extensive experience managing safety and environmental health in various industries, including petrochemicals, construction, and manufacturing.
One such workplace safety expert is a former Director of Safety and Security for a large energy corporation with responsibility for the oversight of corporate security, contractor compliance, physical security, emergency preparedness, and loss control/incident investigation. In this role, she led a team of 30 safety and security personnel, overseeing more than 200 projects involving pipelines, plants, and other facilities. She also conducted initial investigation and root cause analysis of more than 150 incidents, including serious worker injuries, chemical spills, and equipment and facility damage.
Another expert specializes in the analysis of drilling equipment failures, particularly drill bits, downhole tools, and tubulars. They have performed numerous analyses, evaluating the mechanical design of the overall drilling systems and assemblies, as well as individual components, to determine the causes of failures. They have also worked on electrical design, software programming, installation, electrical contractor supervision, machine control, industrial automation, quality assurance and testing, and project management.
Other safety specialists can provide opinions on the design and implementation of workplace ergonomics, including the use of computer-based simulations for assessing ergonomic risk factors and developing interventions. This can be an important tool for improving worker productivity and satisfaction, as well as reducing injury risk.
Occupational Hygienist
Occupational Hygienists are experts in identifying, evaluating and controlling workplace environmental stressors that can affect workers’ health. They focus on preventing illnesses and injuries that can be caused by exposure to chemicals, biological, physical or ergonomic hazards in the workplace. They work with other professionals to identify and control these issues, for example, toxicologists (who understand chemical hazards), physicists (who can assess air quality) and physicians (for the effects of bacterial exposure or malaria-carrying mosquitos).
They use scientific methodology and technical knowledge to anticipate, recognise and evaluate workplace exposures to biological, chemical, physical or ergonomic hazards. They provide advice on risk reduction strategies including eliminating hazardous substances or replacing them with less harmful ones, modifying workplace processes, enclosure and ventilation and the use of personal protective equipment. They work in a variety of locations, including offices and building sites, and are often employed by consulting firms, working on a project basis for clients. They may also work within organisations, such as construction, manufacturing, mining, energy and petrochemicals or healthcare facilities, or with regulatory bodies setting national policy and assuring compliance.
The first task of an occupational hygienist is to survey the workplace or environment for any hazards that can harm people. This is typically a full walk-through survey to look at the physical environment as well as any chemical or biological elements that can be absorbed through the skin, inhaled or ingested. They are also concerned with any noise, vibration or temperature extremes that may be harmful.
After assessing the risks and developing appropriate control measures, they will communicate their findings to those responsible for managing the worksite. This is likely to be either management or workers, depending on the nature of the business and the organisational culture.
They can play an important role in educating others about the importance of good workplace health and safety and how it is essential to the success of a business. Those working in the field can be particularly empathetic to the impact of workplace illness and injury as they have seen first-hand the effects on individuals and families.