Employment of occupational health and safety technicians is expected to grow by 13 percent from 2010 to 2020, about as fast as the average for all occupations. New environmental regulations and laws will require new or revised procedures in the workplace. The increased adoption of nuclear power as a source of energy is expected to be a major factor for job growth in that field as new regulations and precautions need to be enforced. These technicians will be needed to collect and test the data to maintain the safety of both the workers and the environment.
Insurance and worker's compensation costs have become a concern for many employers and insurance companies, especially with an aging population remaining in the workforce longer. Older workers usually have a greater incidence of workers’ compensation claims. Occupational health and safety technicians will be needed to work with specialists in maintaining safety for all workers.
Although most occupational health and safety technicians work under the supervision of specialists, technicians can complete many routine tasks with little or no supervision. As a result, to contain costs, some employers operate with more technicians and fewer specialists. For more information, see the profile on occupational health and safety specialists.
Occupational health and safety technicians with a wide breadth of knowledge in more than one area of health and safety along with general business functions will have the best prospects.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition