An occupational health and safety specialist works to prevent or decrease any type of injury or harm to people in the workplace. They typically examine a variety of work environments and ensure that safety regulations are being followed. An occupational health and safety specialist can find employment in a variety of industries, including local, state and federal governments, hospitals and manufacturing. They can pursue a variety of job titles, such as industrial hygienist, health physicist and environmental protection officer. As these professionals test the safety of various work environments, they sometimes put themselves in dangerous situations and must take precautions to prevent injury. Most occupational health and safety specialists work full-time, sometimes putting in extra hours in emergency situations.