Industrial Safety and Health Engineers
Plan, implement, and coordinate safety programs, requiring application of engineering principles and technology, to prevent or correct unsafe environmental working conditions.
AI Impact Summary
Industrial Safety and Health Engineers faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 30/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 38% of all analyzed occupations. Of 21 analyzed tasks, 2 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Industrial Safety and Health Engineers skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.
Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
by DataCamp
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Creative Writing Specialization
by Wesleyan University
Estimated Impact
Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Leading People and Teams Specialization
by University of Michigan
Estimated Impact
We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.
Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
21 tasks analyzed
Investigate industrial accidents, injuries, or occupational diseases to determine causes and preventive measures.
Inspect facilities, machinery, and safety equipment to identify and correct potential hazards, and to ensure safety regulation compliance.
Conduct or coordinate worker training in areas such as safety laws and regulations, hazardous condition monitoring, and use of safety equipment.
Maintain and apply knowledge of current policies, regulations, and industrial processes.
Report or review findings from accident investigations, facilities inspections, or environmental testing.
Evaluate adequacy of actions taken to correct health inspection violations.
Recommend process and product safety features that will reduce employees' exposure to chemical, physical, and biological work hazards.
Interpret safety regulations for others interested in industrial safety, such as safety engineers, labor representatives, and safety inspectors.
Install safety devices on machinery, or direct device installation.
Review plans and specifications for construction of new machinery or equipment to determine whether all safety requirements have been met.
Review employee safety programs to determine their adequacy.
Interview employers and employees to obtain information about work environments and workplace incidents.
Conduct or direct testing of air quality, noise, temperature, or radiation levels to verify compliance with health and safety regulations.
Provide technical advice and guidance to organizations on how to handle health-related problems and make needed changes.
Maintain liaisons with outside organizations, such as fire departments, mutual aid societies, and rescue teams, so that emergency responses can be facilitated.
Plan and conduct industrial hygiene research.
Compile, analyze, and interpret statistical data related to occupational illnesses and accidents.
Design and build safety equipment.
Write and revise safety regulations and codes.
Confer with medical professionals to assess health risks and to develop ways to manage health issues and concerns.
Check floors of plants to ensure that they are strong enough to support heavy machinery.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Investigate industrial accidents, injuries, or occupational diseases to determine causes and preventive measures. | 30Estimated | 39.0% | 8% | |
| Inspect facilities, machinery, and safety equipment to identify and correct potential hazards, and to ensure safety regulation compliance. | 46.3Observed | 45.5% | 10% | |
| Conduct or coordinate worker training in areas such as safety laws and regulations, hazardous condition monitoring, and use of safety equipment. | 47.65Observed | 34.1% | 6% | |
| Maintain and apply knowledge of current policies, regulations, and industrial processes. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 5% | |
| Report or review findings from accident investigations, facilities inspections, or environmental testing. | 87Estimated | 84.0% | 6% | |
| Evaluate adequacy of actions taken to correct health inspection violations. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 5% | |
| Recommend process and product safety features that will reduce employees' exposure to chemical, physical, and biological work hazards. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 6% | |
| Interpret safety regulations for others interested in industrial safety, such as safety engineers, labor representatives, and safety inspectors. | 40Estimated | 31.0% | 4% | |
| Install safety devices on machinery, or direct device installation. | 10Estimated | 13.0% | 3% | |
| Review plans and specifications for construction of new machinery or equipment to determine whether all safety requirements have been met. | 55Estimated | 49.0% | 5% | |
| Review employee safety programs to determine their adequacy. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 4% | |
| Interview employers and employees to obtain information about work environments and workplace incidents. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 5% | |
| Conduct or direct testing of air quality, noise, temperature, or radiation levels to verify compliance with health and safety regulations. | 65Estimated | 59.0% | 5% | |
| Provide technical advice and guidance to organizations on how to handle health-related problems and make needed changes. | 58.33Observed | 38.3% | 4% | |
| Maintain liaisons with outside organizations, such as fire departments, mutual aid societies, and rescue teams, so that emergency responses can be facilitated. | 15Estimated | 21.0% | 3% | |
| Plan and conduct industrial hygiene research. | 55Estimated | 49.0% | 3% | |
| Compile, analyze, and interpret statistical data related to occupational illnesses and accidents. | 65Estimated | 53.0% | 5% | |
| Design and build safety equipment. | 40Estimated | 43.0% | 3% | |
| Write and revise safety regulations and codes. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 4% | |
| Confer with medical professionals to assess health risks and to develop ways to manage health issues and concerns. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 3% | |
| Check floors of plants to ensure that they are strong enough to support heavy machinery. | 35Estimated | 41.0% | 3% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 35.1%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$109,660
per year
Mean Wage
$113,770
per year
Employment
23K
workers
Wage Range
$62,050 - $166,670
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
Explore other career paths
Compare displacement risk across occupations and find careers with stronger long-term prospects.
Alternate Career Paths
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28%Median salary: $86,130
Higher risk than 30% of other occupations
Agricultural Engineers
29%Median salary: $84,630
Higher risk than 33% of other occupations
Environmental Engineers
29%Median salary: $104,170
Higher risk than 34% of other occupations
Energy Engineers
30%Median salary: $117,750
Higher risk than 36% of other occupations
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
30%Higher risk than 40% of other occupations
Soil and Water Conservationists
32%Median salary: $67,950
Higher risk than 50% of other occupations
Occupational Health and Safety Technicians
32%Higher risk than 52% of other occupations
Chemical Engineers
35%Median salary: $121,860
Higher risk than 67% of other occupations
Food Scientists and Technologists
37%Median salary: $85,310
Higher risk than 72% of other occupations
Environmental Compliance Inspectors
40%Median salary: $78,420
Higher risk than 79% of other occupations
Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Industrial Safety and Health Engineers professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Reading Comprehension
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Mathematics
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Mathematics
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Complex Problem Solving
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Social Perceptiveness
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Instructing
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Systems Analysis
Systems Analysis will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change