Today, we report on recent NIOSH study that suggests a future shortage of safety and health professionals.
Last October, NIOSH published research that suggests the demand for OSH services may soon exceed the number of people available to provide it.
According to the National Assessment of the Occupational Safety and Health Workforce, employers plan to hire about 25,000 safety and health professionals over the next 5 years. But academic programs expect to product only about half that number.
NIOSH director Dr. John Howard called the shortfall "troubling" at a time when these services are most needed. He added, "Robust businesses are essential for U.S. economic recovery and growth, and in turn, safe and healthy workplace are a vital ingredient of any successful business plan."
Howard said that NIOSH will continue to pursue ways to meet the training need. That’s especially important as large numbers of older safety professionals retire over the next decade and as new workplace technologies emerge.
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Facts and Figures
The survey revealed that:
- Degree programs in occupational safety and health have experienced declines in funding from university, college, and other sources. This is particularly true for programs that do not receive NIOSH funding.
- Obstacles cited by students who may wish to pursue an OSH degree include financial aid and lack of knowledge about programs.
- While employers are generally satisfied with safety and health professionals’ level of preparation, they would like to see training in areas like leadership and communication.
According to the NIOSH survey, there are currently about 48,000 OSH professionals in the United States. Nearly 60 percent of these are safety specialists, and 15 percent are industrial hygienists. The research found that about 10 percent of the safety personnel are expected to retire within the next year. The "graying" trend is especially pronounced among occupational physicians and occupational health nurses.
For more information about the study, go to www.cdc.gov/niosh/oshworkforce.
OSHA As Trainer
OSHA has been in the education business for most of its existence. The OSHA Training Institute (OTI) was created in 1972 chiefly to prepare compliance officers, but now serves state consultants, other federal agency employees, and the private sector as well.
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The OTI Education Center how has 25 cites. In the past 2 years, OSHA says that over a million students have been trained through OTI. Among topics covered are hazardous materials, machine guarding ergonomics, confined spaces, excavation, electrical standards, and fall arrest systems.
For more information about OTI plus a list of current Education Centers, go to www.osha.gov/dte/edcenters/background.html.
Tomorrow, we’ll look at what two universities considered leaders in OSH training and education are doing to promote workplace safety and health.