Occupational Health and Safety Technicians

Collect data on work environments for analysis by occupational health and safety specialists. Implement and conduct evaluation of programs designed to limit chemical, physical, biological, and ergonomic risks to workers.

The occupation "Occupational Health and Safety Technicians" has an automation risk of 49.3%, which is slightly below its base risk of 50.0%. This indicates that, while nearly half of the role's tasks could potentially be automated with current and foreseeable technology, a considerable portion still relies on human skills and judgment. The role involves a mix of routine and specialized responsibilities, affecting its overall automation vulnerability. The ability of machines to process data, follow standardized procedures, and perform repetitive safety checks contributes to the risk. However, the nature of health and safety work—with its high stakes for human wellbeing—means many processes still require ongoing human oversight. Among the most automatable tasks are evaluating situations when a worker refuses to work due to perceived danger, supplying or maintaining personal protective equipment, and training workers in specific safety procedures, such as those related to green jobs. These activities generally rely on established protocols, decision trees, or repeatable processes. Advances in sensor technologies, robotics, and AI-driven training modules (such as virtual reality safety simulations) further increase the feasibility of automating these tasks. As a result, routine checks and standard trainings are particularly susceptible to automation, as are the logistical aspects of equipment handling and maintenance. In contrast, the most automation-resistant tasks require nuanced judgment, context-sensitive analysis, or investigative interviewing—capabilities far from full automation. Examining practices at green building sites for compliance with evolving standards, performing tests to assess hazards of recycled materials, and conducting interviews to uncover potential violations or communicable disease risks all demand higher-order critical thinking, adaptability, and interpersonal skills. The primary bottleneck skill limiting automation is "Originality," which accounts for 3.0% of the skillset for this occupation. Original thought and creative problem-solving are essential for adapting procedures to unique or emerging situations—a level of human judgment and inventiveness that current AI and automation systems cannot reliably replicate.