Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspectors investigate workplaces to confirm that they are complying with laws pertaining to health and safety at work. A person who wants to become an OSHA inspector will need to attend college, pass examinations and background checks, and then receive training through OSHA. Current job openings at OSHA are listed on their website and it is possible to start an application that can be used to apply for multiple positions, not just at OSHA but at other linked government agencies.
Someone with plans to become an OSHA inspector should receive a college degree in the sciences; OSHA is always in need of people like biologists and engineers. With a college degree, people can acquire relevant work experience, which is required for some OSHA inspector positions. For example, if someone is interested in inspecting oil rigs, it would be advisable to get a degree in a field like chemistry and to spend several years working on oil rigs to become familiar with them.
With a degree and some work experience, it is possible to apply for OSHA inspector jobs. OSHA may require people to pass an examination, depending on the position, and applicants will also need to pass a background check. Once accepted, candidates can be provided with OSHA training. This familiarizes them with the law and also provides them with information about how to conduct inspections and enforce the law.
Once someone has become an OSHA inspector, there are usually continuing education requirements. The law changes periodically and inspectors need to keep current so that they perform inspections accurately and provide pertinent information. People who are engaged in continuing education are more likely to be selected for promotion as they are perceived as more committed to their work with OSHA.
A would-be OSHA inspector should be prepared for a lot of travel and field work. OSHA inspections take place in workplaces that can be scattered far and wide and the inspections are random, which takes inspectors to numerous locations, sometimes in a very short time period. Careers at OSHA usually come with generous benefits including benefits that are designed to compensate for long hours on the road and in the field. Someone who wants to become an OSHA inspector can look forward to a life-long career if he or she is willing to put in the hours to keep up with changes in the field.
