The EPA has the authority to establish minimum air quality guidelines.
It is the state, however, that implements plans to meet the air quality
guidelines. Each state has to submit a state implementation plan to the
EPA to ensure guidelines are being met. Those guidelines not met are
referred to as nonattainment areas. Nonattainment areas are classified as
marginal, moderate, serious, severe, or extreme. A plan is then submitted
to the EPA, along with a timeline to bring the air quality for a particular
pollutant into compliance. In the case of severe or extreme air pollution, a
timeline of up to 20 years may be necessary to improve air quality to the
guidelines established in 1990.
Water Pollution
Water pollution is the action of contaminating the liquid that descends
from the clouds as rain, especially with human-made waste. It can affect
ponds, streams, rivers, and even oceans. There are natural impurities and
human activities that pollute water supplies. Naturally occurring particles
that appear in water are not always pollutants. They are typically divided
into three categories of particles. Suspended particles absorb light and
make water cloudy. Colloidal particles require special filtration to be
removed from water. Dissolved matter, including molecules and ions of
various substances, is the tiniest of all particles. Human activities are often
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Safety Professionals
The roles of safety professionals vary with the company or
organization with whom they are employed. Safety professionals
are prepared to identify hazards in the workplace and to implement ways to minimize those
hazards. Some industries require highly specific safety expertise. Most trained safety profes-
sionals are well prepared to recognize hazards, conduct safety inspections and audits, imple-
ment fire protection plans, and ensure regulatory compliance with agencies such as the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA). They also manage hazardous materials, improve the workplace through an
understanding of ergonomics (the physiological and psychological limitations of the body),
ensure environmental protection, and provide safety training to employees. Safety profes-
sionals are often responsible for conducting accident investigations, advising management
by helping to establish safety objectives, maintaining an accurate record keeping system for
safety-related data, and implementing and managing a comprehensive safety program.
The largest percentage of safety professionals are employed in the manufacturing and
production sector of the economy. Many safety professionals are employed in the insurance
industry, for governmental agencies such as OSHA or the EPA, or as independent consul-
tants. The minimum educational requirement for a safety professional is a bachelor’s degree
in a safety-related field. Most safety professionals earn a Certified Safety Professional (CSP)
designation by passing a professional exam administered by the Board of CSPs. Salaries for
safety professionals range from about $30,000 for a safety inspector to over $180,000 for an
experienced manager of a comprehensive safety program in a large industry. The average
starting salary for an entry-level safety professional is approximately $48,000.
Nonattainment: A
classification of an
area in which the
Environmental
Protection Agency
(EPA)’s minimum
air quality guide-
lines are not met.
Water pollution:
The action of
contaminating the
liquid that
descends from the
clouds as rain,
especially with
human-made
waste.
Suspended particle:
A particle in water
that absorbs light
and makes water
cloudy.