Loss Control / Risk Engineer

Insurance & Claims

Inspects jobsites on the insurer's behalf to manage risk before a loss happens, distinct from a Safety Manager who does similar work but for the contractor, not the insurance company.

What is a Loss Control / Risk Engineer?

A Loss Control Engineer, also called a Risk Engineer, inspects construction sites and facilities on behalf of an insurance company or broker, identifying hazards and risk factors that could lead to a claim and recommending changes to reduce that risk. It sounds similar to a Safety Manager's job, and the underlying hazard knowledge overlaps, but the two roles sit on opposite sides of the relationship: a Safety Manager works for the contractor building the project, while a Loss Control Engineer works for (or on behalf of) the insurer that's covering it, and their inspection findings can directly affect a project's insurance pricing and terms.

What they do

• Inspect construction sites and facilities to identify hazards and risk factors
• Write loss control reports documenting findings and recommended corrective actions
• Advise underwriters on a project or contractor's risk profile based on site inspections
• Track a contractor's safety performance and loss history over time
• Recommend risk improvement measures to policyholders as a condition of coverage
• Investigate the circumstances behind significant claims to identify prevention opportunities

A typical day

• 8:00 AMReview a contractor's safety records ahead of a scheduled site inspection
• 9:30 AMInspect an active jobsite, documenting hazards and safety program adherence
• 12:00 PMWrite up a loss control report with recommended corrective actions
• 1:30 PMAdvise an underwriter on a contractor's risk profile ahead of a policy renewal
• 3:00 PMFollow up with a policyholder on whether previously recommended safety improvements were made

Skills

Software

Education

Required:

Bachelor's degree in occupational safety, engineering, or a related field, plus safety or risk-related field experience; no license is legally required for this role

Preferred:

Board of Certified Safety Professionals' Certified Safety Professional (CSP) credential, the same designation many contractor Safety Managers pursue, and the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designation from The Institutes

Not necessary:

A construction-specific degree; many loss control engineers come from a general safety or engineering background

Career progression

1. 1.Loss Control Field Representative
2. 2.Loss Control / Risk Engineer
3. 3.Senior Risk Engineer
4. 4.Risk Engineering Manager

Who hires for this role