Environmental Health and Safety Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Description :

The Role and Responsibilities

As an Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Specialist, you are responsible for overseeing the development, implementation, and management of safety programs and training initiatives to ensure a safe and sustainable work environment for all employees. Your role includes assessing workplace hazards, ensuring compliance with safety regulations, and delivering training programs that enhance employees' skills and knowledge of safety protocols. By fostering a culture of safety and sustainability, you contribute to minimizing workplace risks and advancing the organization's environmental and social responsibility goals.

Your Key Areas of Impact

Safety Program Management : You create and maintain safety policies and procedures that ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations. Conducting regular risk assessments and audits, you identify potential hazards and implement strategies to mitigate them, fostering a safer workplace. Regular equipment inspections and the enforcement of safety measures keep operations running smoothly and minimize the likelihood of incidents. When accidents or near misses occur, your thorough investigations, documentation, and corrective action recommendations prevent future occurrences. Collaborating with leadership, you champion a strong safety culture, encouraging accountability and proactive participation in safety initiatives across all levels of the organization.

Training Program Development : Developing and delivering effective safety training programs enables employees to confidently follow workplace safety protocols and emergency procedures. You ensure new employees are prepared by organizing comprehensive onboarding sessions that prioritize safety from day one. By monitoring the effectiveness of training programs and updating them as needed, you keep employees engaged and aligned with evolving safety standards. Through your efforts, the workforce becomes better equipped to respond to emergencies, with improved preparedness reducing response times and enhancing overall safety outcomes. Maintaining detailed training records helps you demonstrate regulatory compliance and track the continuous improvement of employee competencies.

Compliance and Regulatory Oversight : Your work ensures the organization stays compliant with OSHA, EPA, and other relevant safety regulations, protecting the business from fines and enhancing its reputation. By staying informed about changes in safety legislation and best practices, you proactively update policies and training programs to reflect current standards. Coordinating inspections and audits, you identify areas for improvement and address compliance gaps before they become issues. Detailed documentation of all safety-related activities provides a strong foundation for audit readiness and supports accountability across the organization.

Emergency Response and Preparedness : You lead the development of emergency response plans, ensuring the organization is prepared to handle unexpected situations effectively. Training employees on evacuation procedures, fire drills, and other safety protocols helps reduce confusion and panic during actual emergencies. Acting as the point of contact in safety-related emergencies, you provide clear guidance, ensuring swift and organized responses that minimize risks to personnel and property.

Data Collection and Reporting : You collect and analyze safety performance data, using insights to identify trends and areas that need attention. By preparing detailed reports and presenting them to senior management, you provide valuable information that shapes strategic safety initiatives. Tracking the results of safety programs and training efforts allows you to highlight successes, identify areas for improvement, and demonstrate the impact of these programs on reducing workplace incidents and enhancing compliance.

Collaboration and Communication : Serving as the go-to resource for safety-related concerns, you provide guidance to management and employees alike. Collaborating with department heads, you integrate safety practices into daily operations, ensuring consistency and reducing risks. By fostering open communication and organizing regular safety discussions, you encourage employees to take an active role in identifying and addressing potential hazards. Hosting safety awareness events and workshops, you create opportunities for learning and engagement, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to a proactive safety culture.

Requirements :

You hold a bachelor’s degree in occupational health and safety, environmental science, sustainability, or a related field, complemented by at least 2 years of experience in a safety, training, or compliance-focused role. Your expertise includes a strong understanding of applicable regulations such as OSHA, EPA, and ISO 14001, which you apply effectively to ensure organizational compliance. You may hold certifications such as NEBOSH, CSP, or LEED. You will work with a high level of integrity, confidentiality, organization, and time management. You are proficient with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. You are also proficient in safety and training technologies, such as learning management systems (LMS) and incident management software.

The Work Environment, Physical Demands, and Travel

Your work is conducted primarily in a dynamic manufacturing setting, requiring flexibility to work in both office and production floor environments, where exposure to noise, dust, fumes, and varying temperatures is common, necessitating the use of appropriate personal protective equipment and adherence to safety protocols. This job requires remaining in a stationary position 75% of the time, whether standing or sitting, and moving about inside the facility. This job requires operating a computer 75% of the time. This job requires the ability to be able to lift to 35 lbs.