The Ultimate Guide to Launching Your EHS Career

Table of Contents (TOC):

• Introduction
• What are the 5 Roles of a Safety Officer?
• How to Become a Health and Safety Officer?
  • Step 1: Get a Bachelor’s Degree
  • Step 2: Get an EHS Certification
  • Step 3: Get Working Experience
  • Step 4: Keep Learning
• What’s New in EHS: Trends and Challenges
• Conclusion
• Bonus Points

Introduction

Have you ever wondered what it takes to ensure that workplaces are safe, compliant, and environmentally friendly? The answer lies in the expertise of Environmental Health and Safety Officers, also known as EHS Officers. These professionals play a crucial role in minimizing workplace hazards, ensuring compliance, and enhancing a culture of safety. As businesses worldwide highlight sustainable and safe work environments, the demand for qualified EHS professionals is rising.

Whether you’re just starting your career or looking to make a change, this article will walk you through the essential steps to become an EHS Officer.

What are the 5 Roles of a Safety Officer?

Before we learn about the steps one must take to pursue an EHS Officer career, let’s have a look at the 5 main EHS professionals' roles and responsibilities:

• Developing Safety Policies: Depending on the industry laws and regulations for safety, EHS professionals are expected to create safety policies and procedures.
• Conducting Inspections: From working conditions to safety equipment, all of it needs to be inspected on a regular basis.
• Investigating Accidents: EHS professionals need to investigate accidents, help the injured, and enhance safety in the area. They also need to ensure that the accidents are not repeated again. 
• Monitoring Compliance: Once the safety regulations are in place, the Environmental Health and Safety Officers need to monitor people’s compliance with these regulations.
• Promote Safety Culture: EHS professionals must promote a safety-first culture in the workplace by raising awareness and rewarding safety-promoting behaviours.

How to Become a Health and Safety Officer?

Step 1: Get a Bachelor’s Degree

First things first, you must earn a relevant Bachelor’s degree. Having a background in science will help you pursue an EHS career. You can pick a major that is closely related to EHS. Subjects like Health and Safety, Chemistry, Psychology, Engineering, Biology, and Physics are helpful.

Step 2: Get an EHS Certification

Your next step is to get an EHS Certification. You can opt for free EHS courses online, like UniAthena’s Short Courses, and earn your certification in 2-3 weeks.

The Diploma in Environment Health and Safety Management program covers all the fundamental topics you need to know to start your career in EHS. Learn about accident causation, ways to investigate and report, product safety and liability, EHS legislation, and more.

Step 3: Get Working Experience

Once you have gained the relevant theoretical knowledge, it’s time to start building your practical knowledge. You can apply for internships and entry-level positions in the EHS industry to gain experience. Hands-on experience can help you truly understand an EHS Officer's roles and responsibilities. It can also strengthen your resume for future job hunts.

Step 4: Keep Learning

To become an Environmental Health and Safety Officer, you must be a quick and intuitive learner. You should stay updated on the latest technologies and advancements in the industry. So it is important that you keep finding new learning opportunities, be it in terms of further education, working in various industries, or attending seminars and workshops.

What’s New in EHS: Trends and Challenges

• AI & Technology in Safety Management: AI and IoT-driven EHS solutions are revolutionizing workplace safety. Smart sensors, predictive analytics, and automated reporting are enhancing compliance and risk prevention.
• Strict Global Regulations: With increasing climate concerns, governments worldwide are strengthening workplace safety and environmental protection regulations. Organizations now need EHS Officers more than ever to navigate complex compliance landscapes.
• Sustainable Practices: With a focus on environmental responsibility, organizations are adopting green initiatives, thus making EHS Officers key players in corporate sustainability strategies.

Conclusion

Becoming an EHS officer is a rewarding career choice. As an environmental health and safety officer, you get a chance to work towards the betterment of the environment while also ensuring the health and safety of employees. So if you think this career is right for you, then you can follow the steps mentioned above to become an Environmental Health and Safety Officer.

UniAthena’s free EHS course will help you gain the basic knowledge needed to enter this workspace. Explore our programs today and get one step closer to becoming an EHS Officer.

Bonus Points:

• According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of Occupational Health and Safety Specialists is projected to grow by 4% in the next 5 years.
• The average salary for an EHS Manager in the United States is around $117,935 per year.
• EHS professionals help organizations reduce their environmental footprint and contribute to broader sustainability goals.