Safety Manager

Description

The Safety Manager is a corporate-level position responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing all aspects of the company's safety programs, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations, conducting safety audits, investigating incidents, providing safety training to employees, and communicating safety concerns to management to prevent workplace accidents and injuries. They will also ensure company compliance with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations. This role oversees driver qualification, vehicle maintenance records, and drug/alcohol testing policies while working closely with drivers, fleet operations, warehouse operations, and management to maintain safety and regulatory adherence.

Key Responsibilities

Developing and updating safety policies and procedures

• Creating comprehensive safety guidelines, emergency response plans, and work procedures to mitigate workplace hazards.
  
  

Conducting safety audits and inspections

• Regularly assessing work areas to identify potential safety risks, non-compliance issues, and areas for improvement. This will require some travel to warehouses and manufacturing locations.
  
  

Investigating accidents and injuries

• Thoroughly examining workplace accidents and near misses to determine root causes, implement corrective actions, and prevent future occurrences.
  
  

Providing safety training

• Designing and delivering safety training programs to employees, covering topics like hazard recognition, personal protective equipment (PPE) usage, and emergency procedures.
  
  

Compliance management

• Ensuring adherence to all applicable safety regulations, including OSHA/DOT-FMCSA standards, and maintaining necessary documentation.
• Monitor FMCSA Safety Measurement System (SMS) for violations and implement corrective actions.
• Maintain DOT accident records and ensure required documentation during audits.
• Enforce Hours of Service (HOS) compliance and provide retraining for violations.
• Ensure accurate Electronic Logging Device (ELD) usage and proper log completion.
  
  

Driver Qualification & Training

• Manage driver qualification files (DQFs), including medical certifications, licensing, MVR checks, and safety training.
• Ensure all required onboarding items are completed by collaborating with HR; previous employer safety performance checks and ensure compliance with FMCSA requirements.
• Ensure road tests are completed on all drivers before driving routes and verify compliance with medical examiner registry requirements.
• Develop training programs for DOT compliance personnel and supervisors.
  
  

Drug & Alcohol Compliance

• Ensure compliant administration of pre-employment, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, and random drug/alcohol testing per DOT regulations.
• Ensure FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse compliance and immediate removal of prohibited drivers.
  
  

Vehicle & Maintenance Compliance

• Collaborate with fleet manager and branches to ensure all commercial vehicles meet annual inspection requirements, including records for audits, retention, and pre-trip inspection data.
  
  

Compliance Record Management & Digitalization

• Conduct internal audits on driver files, vehicle maintenance, and safety data.
  
  

Audit & Enforcement Preparedness

• Prepare and lead OSHA, DOT/FMCSA audits, ensuring accurate documentation.
• Implement corrective actions for violations found in audits or inspections.
  
  

Reporting and analysis

• Tracking safety data, generating safety reports, and analyzing trends to identify areas requiring focused safety efforts.
  
  

Communication and collaboration

• Collaborating with management, employees, and other departments to promote a strong safety culture and address safety concerns.
  
  

Staying updated on safety regulations

• Keeping abreast of new safety legislation, industry best practices, and technological advancements in safety measures.
  
  

Requirements

• 5 years of experience in operations, safety, DOT and driver compliance experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in safety, risk management, or related field is preferred.
• Knowledge of OSHA regulations, warehouse operations, worker's compensation, accident claims management, FMCSA and DOT regulations, hours of service (HOS) rules, and exposure to electronic logs.
• Excellent organizational skills and proficiency in personal computer tasks are required, along with superior written and verbal communication skills. Ability to create detailed presentations and present to a wide range of team members, up to executive level.
• 3 years related experience in management capacity preferable.
• High level of proficiency in procedures, policies, methodology, and instruction.
• Ability to conduct training sessions and enforce compliance policies.
• Identify and present continuous cost and process improvement options.
• Ability to work independently and be detail oriented.
• Strong leadership and organizational skills, with the ability to direct and achieve priorities, goals, and strategies with limited supervision.
• Preferred: Associate Safety Professional (ASP), or Certified Safety Professional (CSP) obtained or in progress; experience with flee/operations management systems (Samsara, SPARC/Concorde, Geotab)