How to Become a Safety Inspector: A Step-by-Step Guide

Are you interested in a career that allows you to help ensure safe work environments and prevent injuries? Becoming a safety inspector may be an excellent option.

Safety inspectors work across various industries, identifying hazards and evaluating compliance with safety regulations. They play a key role in protecting workers, workplaces, and the public

If you want to make an impact on safety, read on to learn more about how to become a safety inspector and launch a rewarding career.

What is a Safety Inspector?

Safety inspectors are responsible for conducting inspections to identify risks and dangers in facilities, equipment, processes, and practices. They inspect for compliance with occupational health and safety regulations, industry standards, and organizational policies.

Inspectors evaluate areas like

• Factories and manufacturing facilities
• Construction sites
• Maritime operations
• Food processing plants
• Mines
• Oil and gas facilities
• Amusement parks and rides
• Hotels and restaurants

After performing thorough assessments, inspectors recommend corrective actions to help minimize hazards and ensure safer work environments. They often need to enforce safety standards and may issue warnings, citations, or fines for violations.

Safety inspectors typically specialize in particular fields like construction, industrial sites, or healthcare facilities. Some specialize in areas like fire safety, ergonomics, or environmental compliance as well.

Responsibilities of a Safety Inspector

Daily work activities of safety inspectors may involve:

• Conducting scheduled and random inspections of work environments, machinery, and processes
• Identifying potential hazards like slippery floors, unguarded machines, toxic exposures, fall risks, fire risks, etc.
• Testing equipment and measuring noise, air quality, lighting, radiation, and other safety factors
• Interviewing management and employees about safety practices and concerns
• Reviewing documentation like safety manuals, training records, incident reports, and maintenance logs
• Ensuring compliance with occupational safety regulations and standards
• Determining causes of workplace accidents and how to prevent recurrence
• Recommending approaches to control, eliminate or minimize hazards
• Issuing citations or fines when violations are found
• Training staff and management on safety principles and procedures
• Preparing inspection reports to document findings and corrective actions needed

Why Become a Safety Inspector?

Pursuing this career allows you to:

• Play a vital role in protecting workers, workplaces, and the public
• Apply your technical skills and expertise to identify hazards and solve problems
• Continuously learn about diverse industries and safety best practices
• Earn a good living while making an important impact
• Use your background in areas like science, engineering, construction, or industrial processes
• Collaborate with professionals across many disciplines
• Enjoy a high level of autonomy with daily work activities and scheduling
• Find employment across multiple sectors in government agencies or private companies

If you’re detail-oriented, passionate about safety, and love solving problems, a career as an inspector may be very rewarding.

Education and Training Requirements

While some entry-level inspector roles may only require a high school diploma along with on-the-job training, most inspector positions require more extensive education and experience:

Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

Complete a bachelor’s degree program in a field like occupational health and safety, environmental science, engineering, or construction management. Coursework in areas like industrial processes, building codes, hazards analysis, and risk management provides useful foundational knowledge.

Consider Earning a Master’s Degree

Pursuing a master’s degree in a related technical field can enhance employment opportunities, especially for advancing to senior inspector or leadership roles. Programs in industrial hygiene, safety engineering, public health, or environmental management are applicable options.

Gain Relevant Work Experience

Most inspector roles require 1-5 years of experience related to the specialty area before you can advance to inspector positions. Seek entry-level roles that allow you to build knowledge of industry processes and hazards. Prior experience as a construction worker, machine operator, project engineer, industrial hygienist, or in a similar technically skilled position provides a strong foundation.

Obtain Professional Certifications

Voluntary professional certifications demonstrate your specialized inspector expertise. Examples of recognized certifications include:

• Certified Safety Professional (CSP)
• Occupational Health and Safety Technologist (OHST)
• Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH)
• Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM)
• Certified Fire Inspector I (CFI)

Eligibility for certifications requires your degree, coursework, and years of experience to be approved. You’ll also need to pass exams testing your technical knowledge.

Finding Safety Inspector Jobs

Once qualified, you can start your job search. Construction firms, manufacturing plants, government agencies, private safety consulting agencies, insurance companies, and healthcare facilities all potentially employ safety inspectors.

Follow these tips to find openings:

• Search job boards like Indeed, Monster, and LinkedIn using titles like “safety inspector,” “OSHA inspector,” “compliance officer,” etc.
• Look for postings on industry association websites that focus on your specialty.
• Identify safety consulting firms and contact them about opportunities.
• Check government agency sites for inspector job listings.
• Attend industry conferences and network with inspectors and safety managers.
• Set up alerts to receive notifications about new relevant postings.
• Consider relocating to access more job opportunities, if possible.

Entry-level inspectors often work under the supervision of senior inspectors or safety managers while building their skills and experience. With proven expertise and leadership capabilities, experienced inspectors can advance into management roles.

Safety Inspector Salary and Job Outlook

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median annual salary for occupational health and safety specialists, including inspectors, was $77,030 as of 2020. Those in more senior or managerial roles earn upwards of $100,000 per year.

Employment for health and safety specialists is projected to grow by 25% between 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average across all occupations. Growth will be driven by increasing emphasis on workplace safety practices and compliance.

With the appropriate degree, certifications, and experience, you can launch your career improving safety and making a real impact through an in-demand profession.

Becoming a knowledgeable, certified safety inspector allows you to combine your technical skills with an important mission—protecting the health, safety and lives of workers nationwide. It’s a truly rewarding career path.