What is a Hazard Management Job?

Hazard Management-A Brief Overview

Hazard management is basically a field that involves identifying, analyzing, and eliminating potential hazards. An example of a hazard would be things such as hazardous construction materials that could endanger the lives of workers. However, the world of hazard management is broad in scope, including any chemical, biological, environmental, physical, or mechanical agent which would likely cause damage or harm to humans, the environment, or other organisms. Some potentially hazardous elements include electricity, motor vehicles, microbial pathogens, asbestos, vaccines, nuclear power plants, X-rays, and pesticides. Hazard management is a very important field as a result of the fact that hazard identification constitutes the first step in actualizing risk assessment procedures.

Jobs in the Hazard Management Sector

There are a variety of jobs that individuals who wish to work within the hazard management sector can pursue. Some of them include:

1. Occupational Health and Safety Technicians

Individuals who work as occupational health and safety technicians are responsible for collecting data regarding the safety and health conditions of a specific work environment. These technicians work with occupational health and safety specialists by measuring hazards and conducting tests to prevent harm to property, the general public, the environment, and workers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupational health and safety technicians can expect to earn about $47,440 annually. Typically, occupational health and safety technicians will learn how to perform their job duties through on-the-job training. Another path they can take would be the attainment of a postsecondary education in the form of certification or an associate’s degree.

2. Emergency Management Directors

Emergency management directors are individuals who prepare the procedures and plans that will help individuals appropriately respond to emergencies and/or natural disasters. Individuals who hold this position may also be responsible for leading responses during and after the emergency. To facilitate this objective, emergency management directors may work with law and fire enforcement officials, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and elected officials. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, emergency management directors can expect to earn about $59,770 annually. Generally, emergency management directors earn a bachelor’s degree in order to work within their chosen field. Additionally, they tend to obtain multiple years of experience within the fields of public administration, disaster planning, and emergency response.

3. Hazardous Materials Removal Workers

Hazardous materials removal workers work by identifying and disposing radioactive and nuclear waste, asbestos, lead, arsenic, and other types of hazardous materials. They can also clean up or neutralize flammable, reactive, toxic, and/or corrosive materials. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a hazardous materials removal worker can expect to earn about $37,590 per year. Positions in this sector generally require a high school diploma and involve on-the-job training.

Conclusion

If you have ever given consideration to working within the field of hazard management, you should know that doing so can lead to personal fulfillment and professional success. In recognizing that a hazard management job can be the precursor to helping you accomplish your objectives, you may decide that pursuing a career in this field would be advantageous for you.

For more information on Emergency Management degrees, please see Top 10 Best Online Emergency Management Degree Programs.