Leadership, loyalty, teamwork, strong communications skills, and technical expertise are characteristics of military veterans. They’re also, according to the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), characteristics of occupational safety and health professionals. ASSE is encouraging military members leaving the service to consider workplace safety as a second career.
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“We need to bolster the pipeline of qualified candidates for occupational safety and health positions in order to improve safety management programs and further reduce work-related injuries and illnesses,” said ASSE board member Brad Giles. He says the OSH profession presents a great opportunity for ex-military personnel to leverage skills acquired during their service.
ASSE points to surveys suggesting that job satisfaction in the safety field is high, with 90 percent of respondents being “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with their positions.
According to ASSE there are several paths that can lead to a career in safety. Many start with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in safety. Others get involved because they are assigned safety responsibilities, and some are motivated by an incident in which people were injured or killed.
The ASSE Foundation helps veterans get the education they need to transition into the safety field. The Foundation will award more than $350,000 in scholarships and professional grants this year. About $90,000 is earmarked for students who have served in the military. ASSE advises active or former military members who want to learn more about a career in the field to visit http://www.asse.org/military-resources.