Occupational Safety and Health

MORE INFORMATION
Alvaro D. Taveira, chair
Occupational and Environmental Safety & Health Department
Winther 6034
(262) 472-1117
Fax:
(262) 472-1091
safety@uww.edu
Web site

Admissions Office
UW-Whitewater
Whitewater, WI 53190
(262) 472-1440
Fax:
(262) 472-1515
uwwadmit@uww.edu
Web site

The Department of Occupational and Environmental Safety & Health (OES&H) prepares students for rewarding careers protecting America's work force, the public and the natural environment from harm in today's age of rapid technological and scientific development. The Environmental Safety & Health (ESH) professional is concerned with the interaction between people and the physical, chemical, biological and psychological factors which affect their safety, health and productivity. Coursework covers a wide range of subjects including ergonomics, accident prevention, security, and environmental protection. The students are provided with essential skills that enable them to recognize, devise and implement methods to control hazards. In addition, students are provided with a number of practical work site experiences, culminating in a full semester internship with a practicing ESH professional.

Graduates enjoy a wide range of career opportunities with excellent potential for advancement and personal fulfillment. Organizations that have hired our graduates include state and federal government, military, industrial and construction companies, transportation companies, non-profit organizations, consulting firms, insurance companies, health care facilities and research institutions.

A partial list of job titles include:

• Safety engineer
• Loss control manager
• Safety director
• Risk manager
• Security manager
• Firefighter
• School safety coordinator
• Drivers education instructor

All OES&H faculty members hold doctoral degrees, and academic staff members hold at least masters degrees. Many of the faculty and academic staff also hold nationally and internationally recognized professional certifications. Most faculty and staff have significant field experience and bring a wealth of practical knowledge to the classroom. While all faculty and staff members are committed to teaching, they are also involved in furthering the profession through research and service activities.

Preparation for the program should begin with a well-rounded education including math and science courses in high school. Special emphasis should be placed on quantitative skills, the natural sciences and the physical sciences. Because ESH professionals must be proficient with computers, students should also develop these skills prior to applying to the OESH program.

OES&H students spend their final semester working full-time under the direction of an experienced ESH professional in the field. This real-world experience allows students to apply the knowledge acquired in the classroom to problems in actual workplaces.

Some of the employers that have participated in our internship program:

• American Family Insurance
• Aon
• General Electric Medical Systems
• Payne & Dolan
• Sears Roebuck
• Trek Bicycles
• Underwriter Laboratories

The average starting salary for OESH graduates typically ranges from $35,000 to $40,000 for the undergraduate program, and can reach $60,000 for the masters program graduates. The placement rate has remained consistently above 95 percent. Some of the employers that have hired our graduates include:

• Abbott Laboratories
• Aetna
• Aldrich Chemical
• Briggs & Stratton
• Generac
• General Motors
• Harley Davidson
• Johnson Controls
• JP Cullen
• Kohler
• QuadGraphics
• Rockwell Automation
• SC Johnson's Wax
• SubZero

The department has an active Student Safety Organization (SSO). The organization has been internationally recognized for student leadership and has taken an important role in developing similar organizations on campuses throughout the country. The SSO has been instrumental in sponsoring monthly professional development seminars. Annually the SSO organizes a full day conference where prominent EHS professional from a variety of industries share their experiences and insights with the students.

Required safety courses

• Introduction to Safety
• Behavioral Aspects of Accident Prevention
• Legal Aspects in Safety
• Ergonomics
• Industrial Accident Prevention
• Industrial Hygiene
• Industrial Safety Management
• Fire Prevention/Protection

Elective safety courses

• Introduction to Security
• Safe Handling of Materials
• Construction Safety
• Chemical Safety
• Principles of Environmental Safety
• Occupational Hearing Conservation
• Motor Fleet Safety
• Alcohol & Other Drugs