Inspectors from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigate workplaces to ensure that they are in compliance with workplace health and safety laws. To become an OSHA inspector, a person must first attend college, then pass examinations and background checks before receiving training from OSHA. On OSHA’s website, current job openings are listed, and you can start an application that can be used to apply for multiple positions, not just at OSHA but at other related government agencies.
OSHA inspectors are always in need of people like biologists and engineers, so anyone interested in becoming one should get a college degree in the sciences. People can gain relevant work experience with a college degree, which is required for some OSHA inspector positions. For example, if someone wants to inspect oil rigs, they should get a degree in chemistry and work on them for several years to become familiar with them.
OSHA inspector jobs can be applied for with a degree and some work experience. Depending on the position, OSHA may require people to pass an exam, and applicants will also have to pass a background check. Candidates may be provided with OSHA training once they have been accepted. This familiarizes them with the law while also providing information on how to conduct inspections and enforce it.
After becoming an OSHA inspector, there are usually requirements for continuing education. The law changes on a regular basis, and inspectors must stay up to date in order to perform accurate inspections and provide relevant information. People who participate in continuing education are more likely to be promoted because they are seen as being more dedicated to their work with OSHA.
A prospective OSHA inspector should anticipate a significant amount of travel and field work. OSHA inspections take place in workplaces that are dispersed across the country, and the inspections are random, requiring inspectors to visit multiple locations in a short period of time. OSHA jobs typically come with a slew of perks, including ones designed to compensate for long hours on the road and in the field. If a person wants to work as an OSHA inspector, he or she can expect a long career if they are willing to put in the time to keep up with changes in the field.