Overview
All Safety Inspectors
-
$1,876 Weekly Pay
-
Strong Future Growth
-
4,300 workers Employment Size
-
High skill Skill level rating
-
84% Full-Time Full-Time Share
-
46 hours Average full-time
-
48 years Average age
-
20% female Gender Share
Safety Inspectors inspect machines, equipment, working conditions and public places to ensure compliance with government and industry standards and regulations, in relation to occupational health and safety.
Specialisations: Boilers and Pressure Vessels Inspector, Gas Examiner, Lifts and Cranes Inspector, Mines Inspector, Occupational Health and Safety Inspector.
You usually need a certificate III, IV or diploma in occupational health and safety to work as a Safety Inspector. Some workers have university qualifications.
Tasks
- examining equipment specifications, and inspecting and testing machines, equipment and clothing to ensure compliance with safety standards and serviceability
- inspecting factories and other work sites to ensure compliance with government and industry standards and regulations
- observing workers to ensure protective devices are being utilised according to regulations and that combustible and other hazardous materials are used and stored in accordance with approved procedures
- conducting tests in work areas to detect toxic fumes, explosive gas-air mixtures and other work hazards
- ensuring fire prevention equipment and other safety supplies, such as first aid kits, stretchers and blankets, conform to standards
- assisting in conducting safety meetings and campaigns, and organising training in general safety principles in keeping with regulations
- advising organisations on ways to comply with occupational health and safety legislative requirements
- investigating incidents and fatalities, to determine causes and to collect evidence of non-compliance with occupational health and safety legislation
Prospects
The number of people working as Safety Inspectors (in their main job) grew strongly over 5 years:
from 4,000 in 2014 to 4,300 in 2019.
Caution: The Australian jobs market is changing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These estimates do not take account of the impact of COVID-19. They may not reflect the current jobs market and should be used and interpreted with extreme caution.
- Size: This is a very small occupation.
- Location: Safety Inspectors work in many parts of Australia. Western Australia has a large share of workers.
- Industries: Most work in Public Administration and Safety; Professional, Scientific and Technical Services; and Construction.
- Earnings: Full-time workers on an adult wage earn around $1,876 per week (higher than the average of $1,460). Earnings tend to be lower when starting out and higher as experience grows.
- Full-time: Most work full-time (84%, much higher than the average of 66%).
- Hours: Full-time workers spend around 46 hours per week at work (compared to the average of 44 hours).
- Age: The average age is 48 years (compared to the average of 40 years). Many workers are 45 years or older (61%).
- Gender: 20% of workers are female (compared to the average of 48%).
Employment Outlook
Caution: The 2019 employment projections do not take account of any impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and are therefore no longer reflective of current labour market conditions. As such, they should be used, and interpreted, with extreme caution. Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, National Skills Commission trend data to May 2019 and projections to 2024.
Weekly Earnings
Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), May 2018, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.
Main Industries
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Industries are based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC 06).
States and Territories
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian States and Territories, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Education Level
Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Pathways
You usually need a certificate III, IV or diploma in occupational health and safety to work as a Safety Inspector. Some workers have university qualifications.
Before starting a course, check it will provide you with the skills and qualifications you need. Visit
- Course Seeker to search and compare higher education courses.
- ComparED to compare undergraduate and postgraduate student experiences and outcomes.
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Public Sector and Public Safety VET training pathways.
Skills & Knowledge
Employers look for Safety Inspectors who are reliable, trustworthy, responsible and organised.
Filter Skills & Knowledge
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
-
Education and training
Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
-
Customer and personal service
Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
-
Mathematics
Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
-
English language
English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
-
Chemistry
Chemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
-
Public safety and security
Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
-
Engineering and technology
Use engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
-
Computers and electronics
Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
-
Biology
Plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.
-
Clerical
Word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
-
Law and government
How our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
-
Psychology
Human behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
-
Administration and management
Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
-
Mechanical
Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
-
Physics
The physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
-
Personnel and human resources
Recruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
-
Technical design
Design techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
-
Building and construction
Materials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.
-
Production and processing
Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
-
Communications and media
Media production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
-
Critical thinking
Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
-
Judgment and decision making
Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
-
Active learning
Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
-
Active listening
Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
-
Speaking
Talking to others.
-
Writing
Writing things for co-workers or customers.
-
Monitoring
Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
-
Persuasion
Talking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
-
Complex problem solving
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
-
Reading comprehension
Reading work related information.
-
Operation monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
-
Social perceptiveness
Understanding why people react the way they do.
-
Systems evaluation
Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
-
Quality control analysis
Doing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
-
Systems analysis
Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
-
Coordination with others
Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
-
Operations analysis
Understanding needs and product requirements to create a design.
-
Instructing
Teaching people how to do something.
-
Learning strategies
Figuring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
-
Time management
Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities.
-
Problem spotting
Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
-
Oral expression
Communicate by speaking.
-
Oral comprehension
Listen to and understand what people say.
-
Deductive reasoning
Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
-
Inductive reasoning
Use lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
-
Written comprehension
Read and understand written information.
-
Written expression
Write in a way that people can understand.
-
Near vision
See details that are up-close (within a few feet).
-
Speech clarity
Speak clearly so others can understand you.
-
Far vision
See details that are far away.
-
Sorting or ordering
Order or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
-
Flexibility of closure
See a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
-
Speech recognition
Identify and understand the speech of another person.
-
Categorising
Come up with different ways of grouping things.
-
Brainstorming
Come up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
-
Perceptual speed
Use your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
-
Originality
Come up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
-
Selective attention
Pay attention to something without being distracted.
-
Mathematics
Choose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.
-
Working with numbers
Add, subtract, multiply, or divide.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
Communicating within a team
Giving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
Keeping your knowledge up-to-date
Keeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
-
Monitoring people, processes and things
Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
-
Planning and prioritising work
Deciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
-
Giving expert advice
Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups.
-
Looking for changes over time
Comparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
-
Researching and investigating
Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
-
Collecting and organising information
Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
-
Checking compliance with standards
Deciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
-
Making decisions and solving problems
Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
-
Building good relationships
Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.
-
Communicating with the public
Giving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
Training and teaching others
Understanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
-
Making sense of information and ideas
Looking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
-
Influencing people
Convincing people to buy something or to change their minds or actions.
-
Checking for errors or defects
Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
-
Documenting or recording information
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
-
Explaining things to people
Helping people to understand and use information.
-
Estimating amounts, costs and resources
Working out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
-
Working with computers
Using computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 29-9011.00 - Occupational Health and Safety Specialists.
Work Environment
Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.
Filter Work Environment
Demands
The physical and social demands workers face most often are shown below.
-
Electronic mail
Use electronic mail.
-
Face-to-face discussions
Talk with people face-to-face.
-
Telephone
Talk on the telephone.
-
Health and safety of others
Take responsibility for the health and safety of others.
-
Wear common protective or safety equipment
Wear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
-
Contact with people
Have contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
Teamwork
Work with people in a group or team.
-
Indoors, heat controlled
Work indoors with access to heating or cooling.
-
Being exact or accurate
Be very exact or highly accurate.
-
Freedom to make decisions
Have freedom to make decision on your own.
-
Impact of decisions
Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.
-
Unstructured work
Have freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
-
Letters and memos
Write letters and memos.
-
Indoors, not heat controlled
Work indoors without heating or cooling (e.g., warehouse without heat).
-
Lead or coordinate a team
Lead others to do work activities.
-
Frequent decision making
Frequently make decisions that impact other people.
-
Time pressure
Work to strict deadlines.
-
Exposure to contaminants
Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.
-
Loud or uncomfortable sounds
Be exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.
-
Outdoors, exposed to weather
Work outdoors, exposed to the weather.
Values
Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
-
Support
Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
-
Working conditions
Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
-
Achievement
Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
Independence
Work alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
-
Recognition
Advancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
-
Relationships
Serve and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
-
Analytical
Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
-
Administrative
Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
-
Helping
Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.
-
Practical
Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
-
Enterprising
Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
-
Creative
Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.

O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 29-9011.00 - Occupational Health and Safety Specialists.
All Safety Inspectors
-
$1,876 Weekly Pay
-
Strong Future Growth
-
4,300 workers Employment Size
-
High skill Skill level rating
-
84% Full-Time Full-Time Share
-
46 hours Average full-time
-
48 years Average age
-
20% female Gender Share
Safety Inspectors inspect machines, equipment, working conditions and public places to ensure compliance with government and industry standards and regulations, in relation to occupational health and safety.
Specialisations: Boilers and Pressure Vessels Inspector, Gas Examiner, Lifts and Cranes Inspector, Mines Inspector, Occupational Health and Safety Inspector.
You usually need a certificate III, IV or diploma in occupational health and safety to work as a Safety Inspector. Some workers have university qualifications.
Tasks
- examining equipment specifications, and inspecting and testing machines, equipment and clothing to ensure compliance with safety standards and serviceability
- inspecting factories and other work sites to ensure compliance with government and industry standards and regulations
- observing workers to ensure protective devices are being utilised according to regulations and that combustible and other hazardous materials are used and stored in accordance with approved procedures
- conducting tests in work areas to detect toxic fumes, explosive gas-air mixtures and other work hazards
- ensuring fire prevention equipment and other safety supplies, such as first aid kits, stretchers and blankets, conform to standards
- assisting in conducting safety meetings and campaigns, and organising training in general safety principles in keeping with regulations
- advising organisations on ways to comply with occupational health and safety legislative requirements
- investigating incidents and fatalities, to determine causes and to collect evidence of non-compliance with occupational health and safety legislation
The number of people working as Safety Inspectors (in their main job) grew strongly over 5 years:
from 4,000 in 2014 to 4,300 in 2019.
Caution: The Australian jobs market is changing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These estimates do not take account of the impact of COVID-19. They may not reflect the current jobs market and should be used and interpreted with extreme caution.
- Size: This is a very small occupation.
- Location: Safety Inspectors work in many parts of Australia. Western Australia has a large share of workers.
- Industries: Most work in Public Administration and Safety; Professional, Scientific and Technical Services; and Construction.
- Earnings: Full-time workers on an adult wage earn around $1,876 per week (higher than the average of $1,460). Earnings tend to be lower when starting out and higher as experience grows.
- Full-time: Most work full-time (84%, much higher than the average of 66%).
- Hours: Full-time workers spend around 46 hours per week at work (compared to the average of 44 hours).
- Age: The average age is 48 years (compared to the average of 40 years). Many workers are 45 years or older (61%).
- Gender: 20% of workers are female (compared to the average of 48%).
Employment Outlook
Caution: The 2019 employment projections do not take account of any impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and are therefore no longer reflective of current labour market conditions. As such, they should be used, and interpreted, with extreme caution. Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, National Skills Commission trend data to May 2019 and projections to 2024.
Weekly Earnings
Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), May 2018, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.
Main Industries
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Industries are based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC 06).
States and Territories
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian States and Territories, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Education Level
Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
You usually need a certificate III, IV or diploma in occupational health and safety to work as a Safety Inspector. Some workers have university qualifications.
Before starting a course, check it will provide you with the skills and qualifications you need. Visit
- Course Seeker to search and compare higher education courses.
- ComparED to compare undergraduate and postgraduate student experiences and outcomes.
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Public Sector and Public Safety VET training pathways.
Employers look for Safety Inspectors who are reliable, trustworthy, responsible and organised.
Filter Skills & Knowledge
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
-
Education and training
Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
-
Customer and personal service
Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
-
Mathematics
Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
-
English language
English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
-
Chemistry
Chemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
-
Public safety and security
Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
-
Engineering and technology
Use engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
-
Computers and electronics
Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
-
Biology
Plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.
-
Clerical
Word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
-
Law and government
How our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
-
Psychology
Human behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
-
Administration and management
Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
-
Mechanical
Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
-
Physics
The physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
-
Personnel and human resources
Recruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
-
Technical design
Design techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
-
Building and construction
Materials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.
-
Production and processing
Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
-
Communications and media
Media production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
-
Critical thinking
Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
-
Judgment and decision making
Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
-
Active learning
Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
-
Active listening
Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
-
Speaking
Talking to others.
-
Writing
Writing things for co-workers or customers.
-
Monitoring
Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
-
Persuasion
Talking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
-
Complex problem solving
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
-
Reading comprehension
Reading work related information.
-
Operation monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
-
Social perceptiveness
Understanding why people react the way they do.
-
Systems evaluation
Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
-
Quality control analysis
Doing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
-
Systems analysis
Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
-
Coordination with others
Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
-
Operations analysis
Understanding needs and product requirements to create a design.
-
Instructing
Teaching people how to do something.
-
Learning strategies
Figuring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
-
Time management
Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities.
-
Problem spotting
Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
-
Oral expression
Communicate by speaking.
-
Oral comprehension
Listen to and understand what people say.
-
Deductive reasoning
Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
-
Inductive reasoning
Use lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
-
Written comprehension
Read and understand written information.
-
Written expression
Write in a way that people can understand.
-
Near vision
See details that are up-close (within a few feet).
-
Speech clarity
Speak clearly so others can understand you.
-
Far vision
See details that are far away.
-
Sorting or ordering
Order or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
-
Flexibility of closure
See a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
-
Speech recognition
Identify and understand the speech of another person.
-
Categorising
Come up with different ways of grouping things.
-
Brainstorming
Come up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
-
Perceptual speed
Use your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
-
Originality
Come up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
-
Selective attention
Pay attention to something without being distracted.
-
Mathematics
Choose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.
-
Working with numbers
Add, subtract, multiply, or divide.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
Communicating within a team
Giving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
Keeping your knowledge up-to-date
Keeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
-
Monitoring people, processes and things
Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
-
Planning and prioritising work
Deciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
-
Giving expert advice
Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups.
-
Looking for changes over time
Comparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
-
Researching and investigating
Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
-
Collecting and organising information
Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
-
Checking compliance with standards
Deciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
-
Making decisions and solving problems
Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
-
Building good relationships
Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.
-
Communicating with the public
Giving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
Training and teaching others
Understanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
-
Making sense of information and ideas
Looking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
-
Influencing people
Convincing people to buy something or to change their minds or actions.
-
Checking for errors or defects
Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
-
Documenting or recording information
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
-
Explaining things to people
Helping people to understand and use information.
-
Estimating amounts, costs and resources
Working out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
-
Working with computers
Using computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 29-9011.00 - Occupational Health and Safety Specialists.
Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.
Filter Work Environment
Demands
The physical and social demands workers face most often are shown below.
-
Electronic mail
Use electronic mail.
-
Face-to-face discussions
Talk with people face-to-face.
-
Telephone
Talk on the telephone.
-
Health and safety of others
Take responsibility for the health and safety of others.
-
Wear common protective or safety equipment
Wear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
-
Contact with people
Have contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
Teamwork
Work with people in a group or team.
-
Indoors, heat controlled
Work indoors with access to heating or cooling.
-
Being exact or accurate
Be very exact or highly accurate.
-
Freedom to make decisions
Have freedom to make decision on your own.
-
Impact of decisions
Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.
-
Unstructured work
Have freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
-
Letters and memos
Write letters and memos.
-
Indoors, not heat controlled
Work indoors without heating or cooling (e.g., warehouse without heat).
-
Lead or coordinate a team
Lead others to do work activities.
-
Frequent decision making
Frequently make decisions that impact other people.
-
Time pressure
Work to strict deadlines.
-
Exposure to contaminants
Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.
-
Loud or uncomfortable sounds
Be exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.
-
Outdoors, exposed to weather
Work outdoors, exposed to the weather.
Values
Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
-
Support
Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
-
Working conditions
Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
-
Achievement
Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
Independence
Work alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
-
Recognition
Advancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
-
Relationships
Serve and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
-
Analytical
Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
-
Administrative
Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
-
Helping
Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.
-
Practical
Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
-
Enterprising
Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
-
Creative
Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.

O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 29-9011.00 - Occupational Health and Safety Specialists.