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Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) Engineer

EHS specialists are responsible for planning, implementing, and enforcing an organization’s Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) policies and procedures.

Their primary objective is to create a workplace that is safe and healthy for people and the planet. They take ownership of workplace safety programs and may train staff on proper procedures to avoid accidents or injuries. They often take a lead role in overseeing the organization’s Environmental Management System, and would also establish the protocol for how to handle natural disasters that may have an environmental impact.

EHS Engineer

What does an EHS Engineer do?

EHS Engineer
EHS Engineer

Environmental health and safety engineers are responsible for facilitating environmental safety, health and strategy in an organization and also ensure compliance with all Federal, State, and Local SHE policies and standards relevant to the organization.

They also function as a technical resource in developing/revising training programs and providing expertise on all SHE-related issues within the operations. They also offer guidance to site team on risk assessment and risk prediction to mitigate risk of task-based activities as well as facilitate safety team meetings, problem solving teams/meetings and EHS planning meetings within the organization.

EHS engineers actively contribute to establishing company-wide best practices and standards for EHS and help champion a culture that promote environmental health and safety focusing on leading indicators that can deliver world class EHS culture.

They also entails providing support in the identification, analysis, and control of occupational hazards requiring the application of engineering knowledge, skill, and abilities. They seek to identify pre-injury trends during audits, verify compliance with established safety/health procedures, and recommend appropriate actions.

After performing audits, EHS engineer’s are also responsible for a follow-up on suggested corrective actions, and must also use injury exposure and incidents as parameters to measure progress toward the attainment of factory safety goals. 

  • Develop Procedures

    Oversee and coordinate projects including new start-up, upgrading existing processes and looking for more cost effective and efficient procedures. Develop and manage EHS programs, procedures and work instructions.

  • Reporting

    Manage compliance data, reporting and permit application processes. Maintain records and logs and prepare periodic reports for review.

  • Oversee Safety Protocols

    Create, maintain, and oversee the compliance calendar for all regulatory requirements. Observe safety and security procedures. Use equipment and materials properly.

  • Risk Management

    Support development of job hazard analysis and risk assessments. Responsibilities include the reporting of all accidents, near misses and safety concerns. Report any property and/or equipment damage to immediate supervisor.

Industrial Engineer

Industrial engineers devise efficient systems that integrate workers, machines, materials, information, and energy to make a product or provide a service.

 

Bachelor’s Degree Required

Mining and Geological Engineers

Mining and geological engineers design mines to safely and efficiently remove minerals for use in manufacturing and utilities.

 

Bachelor’s Degree Required

Occupational Health and Safety Specialists and Technicians

Occupational health and safety specialists and technicians collect data on and analyze many types of work environments and work procedures.

 

Bachelor’s Degree Required

Salary

Salary

The estimated total pay for a EHS engineer is $96,142 per year.

0 - 1 Years

EHS engineers with 0 - 1 years experience earn on average:

 
$94,723 per year
7 - 9 Years

EHS engineers with 7 - 9 years experience earn on average:

 
$111,261 per year
4 - 6 Years

EHS engineers with 4 - 6 years experience earn on average:

 
$105,954 per year
10+ Years

EHS engineers with 10+ years experience earn on average:

 
$113,063 - $119,843 per year
1 - 3 Years

EHS engineers with 1 - 3 years experience earn on average:

 
$99,845 per year

These are 2021 national salary averages and may fluctuate based on location.

What does the workplace for an EHS Engineer look like?

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Where EHS engineers work depends on their background. They may be employed working to develop chemicals, technology or health and safety equipment.

The majority of EHS engineers work in manufacturing. Here, their roles are varied. They could work in the actual environment, ensuring that the factory is as safe a place as possible for the employees. They could work in research and development to ensure that the product(s) are safe for use.

21% work in construction, fulfilling much the same roles. They may work on site ensuring that the processes, systems and technology are safe for those who work there. They may also be tasked with acquiring equipment, overseeing installation and maintaining it.

10% of qualified health & safety engineers work in government roles - state and government. They will design and implement systems and technology for public buildings, ensuring they are safe for employees and visitors. 8% will work for engineering services and the remaining 4% work for management and scientific services.

Regardless of their work environment, they spend most of their time in an office but will be required to do site visits too.

How to Become an EHS Engineer?

EHS Engineer
EHS Engineer

To begin your EHS engineer career path, a bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences or a related field is usually necessary in order to remain a competitive option for employers. Focus on industry-specific skill development during your education in order to be properly equipped when applying for entry-level positions and entering the job force. An EHS engineer internship may be required to earn your bachelor’s degree and acquire necessary on-the-job skills before entering the workforce.

Typical Qualifications

  • Employers seek engineers with at least 2-5 years of experience in a manufacturing plant EHS coordination level Safety; familiarity with accident investigation and prevention; applied ergonomics expertise, and in-depth understanding of EPA and OSHA regulations. 
  • An environmental health and safety engineer must have people skills to establish relationships with people at all levels in the organization. It is important that they can stimulate others to take action and work towards the EHS goals of the organization.
  • One of the responsibilities of an EHS engineer is to conduct audits and incidents investigations. But it is not enough to identify the root cause of problems; they must so have a sense of urgency to follow-up on corrective measures to implementation and drives on the right issues.
  • EHS engineers also need exceptional verbal and written communication skills to successfully conduct trainings, facilitate team meetings, update people on safety-related issues, and provide relevant reports.
  • They also require proficient computer skills, especially in applications such as Excel, databases, Word, Lotus Notes, and web-based systems.

Similar Careers

Sources:
BLS.gov, 2022 | Canva.com, 2022 | Career Explorer, 2022 | EnvironmentalScience.org, 2022

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