Health and safety engineer
Also known as: health and safety expert, occupational health and safety engineer, industrial health and safety engineer, safety case expert, safety case lead author, health and safety engineering consultant
About this occupation
Health and safety engineers design objects and programs by combining engineering principles and health and safety requirements. They envision the protection and well-being of the people using designed objects or performing work under designed health and safety programs. They assess facilities and the risks that they might pose (e.g. contaminant materials, ergonomics, handling of dangerous substances, etc.) in order to design and improve health and safety measures.
Essential skills and knowledge
- advise on safety improvements
- perform scientific research
- draw up risk assessment
- approve engineering design
- assessment of risks and threats
- adjust engineering designs
- safety engineering
- engineering principles
- technical drawings
- health and safety regulations
- engineering processes
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Engineers, All Other (O*NET 17-2199.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
US median pay: US$122,930 a year (2025), 154,070 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.