Program Information
Is safety your number one priority? Are you analytical, cautious, and efficient? If so, a career in environmental health and safety technology may be the right path for you. This is a specialized branch of the health profession that focuses on the environment of workers. Environmental health and safety professionals strive to find and eliminate conditions in the workplace that may result in injury or disease. This is achieved through a process of anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of the various stresses that contribute to unsafe working environments.
The San Jacinto College Environmental Health and Safety Technology program:
- Is multi-disciplinary in nature, providing students with relevant exposure to biological, chemical, physical, mathematical, and health sciences disciplines, as well as a thorough introduction to occupational health and safety concepts;
- Trains students to recognize common occupational safety concerns that deal with safety hazards involved with confined space entry, hazardous energy control, hazard communication, compliance with safety standards, environmental protection; and other areas; and
- Prepares students to perform the following functions: identify and analyze accident and loss-producing conditions; develop accident prevention and loss control methods, procedures, and programs; communicate accidents and loss-control data to individuals on a need-to-know basis; and measure and evaluate the effectiveness of accident and loss-control systems.
Additional Information
The San Jacinto College Environmental Health and Safety Technology curriculum is modeled from guidelines of the American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH) and the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP). The ABIH and BCSP began a jointly sponsored certification program through the Council on Certification of Health, Environmental, and Safety Technologists (CCHEST). CCHEST will administer the testing. Students who pass the certification examination and pay the required fees are authorized to use the title Environmental Health and Safety Technologist, and to use the initials OHST after their names. Students may further their studies at a university leading toward positions as a Certified Safety Professional and/or Certified Industrial Hygienist.
Career Opportunities
An environmental health and safety manager heads the modern safety and health team. Depending on the size of the company and the commitment of its management, the teams include positions for:
- Safety/Environmental Specialists,
- Safety/Environmental Engineers,
- Industrial Hygienists,
- Risk Management Specialists,
- Health Physicists,
- Occupational Physicians, and
- Occupational Health Nurses.
The job of the environmental health and safety manager is complex and diverse focusing on analysis, prevention, planning, evaluation, promotion, and compliance. Educational requirements range from technical certificates to graduate degrees. Additional college majors held by practitioners include environmental science, occupational and environmental health and safety, industrial safety and health technology, industrial technology, industrial engineering technology, manufacturing technology, industrial management, and engineering technology.
Earning Potential
Occupational Health and Safety Technician: $78,203 per year.1
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Source: texaswages.com, median salary Gulf Coast region, 2022
For more information, students may contact: Department Chair –281-998-6350, x1188. Direct: 281-478-2712 - shawn.dickerson@sjcd.edu
Campus
Central Campus
Information
Environmental Health & Safety Technology (EHST) is a specialized branch of the health professions focusing on the environment of workers. Professionals in this field strive to find and eliminate conditions in the workplace that may result in occupational injury or disease. This is achieved through a process of anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of the various stresses that contribute to unsafe working environments.
The EHST program is multi-disciplinary in nature, providing students with relevant exposure to disciplines including biological, chemical, physical, mathematical, and health sciences, as well as a thorough introduction to occupational health and safety concepts. Common occupational safety concerns deal with safety hazards involved with confined space entry, hazardous energy control, hazard communication, and compliance with safety standards, environmental protection, and other areas. Environmental health and safety personnel are expected to perform the following functions: identify and analyze accident and loss-producing conditions; develop accident prevention and loss control methods, procedures, and programs; communicate accidents and loss control data to individuals on a need-to-know basis; and measure and evaluate the effectiveness of accident and loss control systems.
The curriculum is modeled from guidelines of the American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH) and the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP). Students who complete the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in EHST may qualify to begin the examination process to become an Associate Safety Professional (ASP) through the BCSP. Students may also complete course work at a number of upper-level universities leading toward additional certifications such as the Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) through the ABIH, the Certified Environmental Professional (CEP) through the National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP), the Certified Risk Manager (CRM) through the National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research (NAIER), and many others.
Plan of Study
5ENVR-HLTH
| First Term | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| EPCT 1307 | Introduction to Environmental Safety and Health | 3 |
| OSHT 1309 | Physical Hazards Control | 3 |
| EPCT 1301 | Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) Training and Related Topics | 3 |
| OSHT 1307 | Construction Site Safety and Health | 3 |
| EPCT 1311 | Introduction to Environmental Science | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Term | ||
| OSHT 1313 | Accident Prevention, Inspection and Investigation | 3 |
| OSHT 2309 | Safety Program Management | 3 |
| OSHT 2320 | Safety Training Presentation Techniques | 3 |
| OSHT 2401 | OSHA Regulations-General Industry | 4 |
| EPCT 1305 | Environmental Regulations Overview | 3 |
| Approved Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 19 | |
| Total Credits | 34 | |
Capstone Experience: OSHT 2309 Safety Program Management
Approved Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EMSP 1160 & EMSP 1501 | Clinical-Emergency Medical Technician and Emergency Medical Technician 1 | 6 |
| EPCT 1313 | Contingency Planning | 3 |
| OSHT 2380 | Cooperative Education-Occupational Safety and Health Technology | 3 |
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Both courses are required if used to satisfy the elective requirement for Environmental Health and Safety Technology and must be taken concurrently.