OSHA schools help students develop a firm grasp of occupational health and safety issues. Those specialized in this field ensure that working conditions are safe for workers. These professionals try to develop workplaces that are safe and ergonomic for workers. They test machines to ensure that they will not injure or kill the workers. They help process engineers develop work processes, safety guidelines and safety equipment that help workers avoid injuring themselves while operating equipment. They also test the environmental conditions such as temperature and air quality to ensure that these conditions are ideal for the workers, since poor working conditions can reduce worker productivity and can also cause health problems for the workers. Engineers and other specialists with this certification must also look into specific work environments and identify hazards unique to the environment. For example, engineers designing work processes for medical facilities must take into consideration biological contaminants and containment issues.
Health and safety specialists must acquire a degree in either occupational health or safety. Specialists must also sometimes earn a master's degree in industrial hygiene or health physics. Students must learn about the regulatory standards put forth by OSHA in the classroom, and must keep up to date on these requirements as the department continues to expand its knowledge of health and safety concerns in the workplace.
Students often receive not only classroom instruction but also receive on-the-job training, since they must be able to apply their knowledge of regulations to real life work scenarios. This on-the-job training gives students the necessary industry contacts and also offers the student a source of income through paid internship. Schools often help students find these training opportunities.
Schools such as Jacksonville State College instruct OSHA students on how to meet federal regulations regarding the analysis, storage, transportation and dispensing of hazardous materials through their hazardous materials technology track. Gateway Community College has an environmental degree with a specialization in OSHA guidelines and focuses on preparing students to follow up worker complaints regarding working conditions and enforcing regulatory requirements. OSHA and Trinidad State Junior College work together to create programs designed to provide training for workers in dangerous fields to reduce injuries and health problems. Some schools, such as Mountain State University, have programs that prepare students for careers as work environment technicians and work environment specialists.