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What Is a Safety Inspector and How to Become One

Safety Inspector

What Is a Safety Inspector?

A safety inspector works to locate potential hazards and ensure that a business, its employees, and its contractors comply with health and safety laws and industry regulations. In addition to inspection duties, your responsibilities could include making a report to the company or relevant regulatory body. You may also work to train staff about correct safety procedures. In addition to focusing on specific hazards at a job site, you may also inspect the workplace environment for air quality and other factors that may affect the general wellness of employees or customers.

How Do I Become a Safety Inspector?

The qualifications for becoming a safety inspector vary depending on the industry in which you choose to work. An occupational health and safety inspector needs to learn the regulations governing workplace safety, while an aviation safety inspector needs to have skills in the fields of avionics and aircraft systems. Employers may seek applicants with a bachelor’s degree in health sciences or significant experience in their specific field. Regardless of your industry, you need to earn the relevant certification from your industry’s safety inspection governing body.

What Industries Hire Safety Inspectors?

Safety inspectors work to protect the health of customers and employees in many different industries. You can work in the construction industry, in which you assess compliance with worker safety regulations at active construction sites. Food safety inspectors test the quality and toxicity of edible products, while health inspectors evaluate the compliance of restaurants, food businesses, and direct service businesses. As an aviation safety inspector, you look at the airworthiness of commercial airliners. As a workplace health and safety professional, you inspect office spaces and manufacturing warehouses.

Safety Inspector Job Description Sample

With this Safety Inspector job description sample, you can get a good idea of what employers are looking for when hiring for this position. Remember, every employer is different and each will have unique qualifications when they hire for a Safety Inspector role.

Job Summary

Our organization is seeking a Safety Inspector to audit our facilities and limit the health or injury risks to our employees. We are looking for candidates who are willing to travel within a broad territory, conducting inspections and documenting any potential issues. During these visits, you may also lead training seminars and review procedures with our employees. This role is not only essential to our compliance with federal and state safety regulations, but also to the health and efficiency of our workforce. We will provide a company vehicle and gas reimbursement, but applicants must have a valid driver's license and a clean driving record.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Conduct safety inspections
  • Document issues or damages
  • Lead training seminars
  • Review safety procedures
  • Ensure compliance with all health and safety regulations

Requirements and Qualifications

  • A bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
  • Construction experience strongly preferred
  • OSHA 10 or 30 certification a plus
  • A valid driver's license
  • Bilingual ability (English and Spanish preferred)
  • Attention to detail