A professional who inspects places of employment to detect unsafe or unhealthy working conditions. Responsibilities include:

• Inspects work environment, machinery, and equipment in establishments and other work sites for conformance with governmental standards according to procedure or in response to complaint or accident.
• Interviews supervisors and employees to obtain facts about work practice or accident.
• Rates unsafe condition according to factors, such as severity of potential injury, likelihood of recurrence, employers' accident record, and evidence of voluntary compliance.
• Observes employees at work to determine compliance with safety precautions and safety equipment used.
• Orders suspension of activity posing threat to workers.
• Writes new safety order proposal designed to protect workers from work methods, processes, or other hazard not previously covered, using knowledge of safety-engineering practices, available protective devices, safety testing, and occupational safety and health standards.
• Discusses reason for inspection and penalty rating system with employer.
• Reviews log of reportable accidents and preventive actions taken to determine employers' attitude toward compliance with regulations.
• Documents findings and code sections violated.
• Interprets applicable laws and regulations to advise employer on legal requirements.
• May specialize in inspection of specific machine, apparatus, or device.
• May specialize in inspection of specific industry, such as construction, manufacturing, mining, petroleum, or transportation.
• May testify in legal proceedings.
• May photograph work environment suspected of endangering workers to provide evidence in legal proceedings.