A safety consultant is someone who works to ensure that safety standards are in place to protect people’s health and well-being in a given situation. The vast majority of safety consultants work full-time for organizations that contract with businesses to provide workplace safety strategies. Other consultants may offer safety advice in fields such as engineering, aviation, water activities, and a variety of others.
Few businesses have the resources, or the need, to hire a full-time safety consultant. As a result, the majority of the work is contracted out to a private firm. However, there are times when an individual is hired on a full-time basis a company. A traveling safety consultant may find that a company with multiple manufacturing plants or bases of operation is kept busy reviewing a variety of facilities and suggesting process improvements.
A workplace safety consultant is primarily responsible for ensuring that the workplace is as safe as it possibly can be, as well as identifying issues that make it unsafe. Some are experts in specific fields, such as transportation, advanced manufacturing, or construction. This equips them with the knowledge required to examine the many different aspects of those industries. A safety consultant may be able to save a company money identifying problems that can be fixed before a government inspector, such as those employed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, conducts an inspection. If violations are deemed severe enough, these inspectors have the authority to levy fines.
An aviation safety consultant, or one who works with ocean-going vessels, will likely be able to provide advice on how to make these modes of transportation safer. This could entail recommending a specific maintenance schedule, arranging additional staff training, and reviewing other administrative functions. While large commercial transportation companies are likely to be doing these things already, smaller businesses may require the information. When it comes to dealing with some of these issues, those who provide private charter or shipping services, for example, may require additional expertise.
An engineering safety consultant may be hired to review plans and make recommendations, especially during difficult construction projects. This could include suggestions for reinforcing joints, using specific materials, or a variety of other options. In some cases, hiring a safety consultant can help you save money on your building’s insurance. This is especially true in areas prone to earthquakes or hurricanes, where the building’s structural safety can determine how well it survives the disaster.