Job profile
Safety engineer (m/f/d)

In order to be allowed to work as a safety engineer, a degree in engineering or in safety-related areas is mandatory. If not already learned during your studies, safety-related expertise must also be acquired via a vocational insurance association or state-recognised training course.

In addition, safety engineers must be familiar with the regulations and application of occupational health and safety.

The following degree programmes offer the best basics for safety engineers:

• Engineering sciences
• Safety technology
• Safety and security
• Safety and quality law

Safety engineers are responsible for the safety protection of people in the operational environment. This is ensured above all by the planning and implementation of appropriate measures and achieved through the training of employees. Measures for work processes, assessment of protective equipment, organisation of fire protection and evacuation exercises and identification of preventive measures are at the top of the safety engineer activities list.

Occupational safety specialists are in active exchange with the employees of a company. They also communicate with safety and health professionals, such as company doctors or the company fire brigade, and coordinate the implementation of safety measures.

Which tasks are carried out by safety engineers is ultimately strongly dependent on the industry. Thus, the daily work of safety engineers can consist of the following activities:

• Inspection of plants regarding compliance with safety guidelines
• Documentation of current occupational safety measures/guidelines
• Training and consulting of those responsible or employees on occupational safety and health and safety
• Safety-related inspection of operating systems
• Creating requirements catalogues

• Carrying out measurements on noise and hazardous substances
• Implementation of technical and psychological risk assessments and risk analyses – including the use of new technologies in the context of digitisation and mobile work
• Creation of operating instructions
• Execution of instructions and guidance
• Ordering of occupational health and safety measures

• Monitoring the implementation of these measures and their evaluation
• Training of new employees
• Supporting the company in setting up a prevention and emergency organisation consisting of occupational physicians, occupational psychologists, health and fire protection experts
• Implementation of occupational safety and health

As safety engineers above all, in addition to company technical aspects, work in an advisory and guiding manner in compliance with formal requirements, they need communicative skills and persuasiveness to complement their professional qualifications.

In order to implement safety-relevant measures and build up an understanding of employees, safety engineers should have the following skills:

• Technical expertise and analytical thinking
• High demands on safety technology
• Knowledge of current legal situations
• Reliability and quality awareness
• Problem-solving skills and assertiveness
• Communication and leadership skills
• Time management
• Presentation skills
• Willingness to undergo continuous further training

Knowledge of safety technology is also becoming increasingly necessary, especially due to digitisation and the progressive networking of man and machine. They also deal with the areas of safety (accident prevention) and security (e.g. prevention of cybercrime) as well as associated areas of law, including knowledge of current case law.

The working world is fast-paced. Technologies, developments in occupational medicine and occupational psychology always entail new requirements that safety engineers must also take into account. Therefore, safety engineers must always be up to date with the latest technical and legal knowledge.

Regular training courses on innovations in technology, software and hardware solutions, training courses to strengthen soft skills, such as communication and presentation skills, should be attended by safety engineers.

In this way, they receive additional qualifications that increase their chances on the job market and enable them to switch to the management or consulting areas.

The salary of a safety engineer depends on the industry, size of company, location, professional experience and demonstrable qualifications. The annual salary ranges from EUR 40,000 gross for career starters and up to EUR 120,000 gross for experienced safety engineers in large companies.

A regional and industry-dependent fluctuation can be clearly seen in this profession.

In a joint interview, we find out what the goal of your job search is and what your desired company looks like. And then we get started. Because we know your industry and have both your requirements and those of our partner companies in mind when looking for your new dream job. Within a few days, we can introduce you to the first attractive jobs or projects as a safety engineer and establish contacts with your future employers. Exchange ideas together and determine if you want to work together.

As soon as you have found a future employer or an exciting project, Hays will draw up a contract.

Shape your professional future together with us. We also take your wishes into account in the choice of contract type and find the right model for you.