Occupational Health and Safety Specialist
People who work in this occupation look at workplaces to ensure they're run according to applicable rules and regulations, and in ways that are safe for people. They may take materials samples, evaluate workflow and processes, and look into workplace accidents. Occupational health and safety specialists may also develop workplace safety training programs for employees. The BLS reports that roughly one-third of occupational health and safety specialists worked for local, state or federal agencies in 2012.
Employment typically requires a bachelor's degree in occupational health or a field like engineering or chemistry, followed by on-the-job training; some employers give priority to candidates with voluntary professional certification. The BLS reports that jobs in this field are predicted to increase 7% from 2012-2022, a rate that's slower than average for all jobs during that same decade. The agency reported that occupational health and safety specialists earned median pay of $66,790 in 2012.
Quality Control Inspector
A quality control inspector looks at items to see if they've been manufactured according to the product blueprints, recommending changes to the manufacturing process to make corrections, if necessary. In addition to visual inspection, quality control inspectors may also conduct tests on items. Quality control inspectors may also keep records and prepare reports related to inspected products.