Summary
The Safety Director is responsible for developing, implementing, and continuously improving the organization's environmental, health, and safety (EHS) programs to ensure a safe and compliant workplace. This position works proactively to prevent workplace injuries, minimize environmental risk, promote safety awareness, and ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including OSHA, EPA, and DNR requirements.
The Safety Director serves as the company's primary safety and environmental compliance leader, partnering with management, supervisors, and employees to foster a culture of safety and accountability throughout all facilities. This position is responsible for policy development, employee training, incident investigations, regulatory reporting, compliance audits, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Principal Duties and Areas of Responsibility
Safety Program Management
- Collaborates with management to develop, implement, and maintain company safety policies, procedures, and programs.
- Supports and drives annual company safety goals and initiatives.
- Identifies opportunities to eliminate workplace injuries, accidents, and occupational health concerns.
- Promotes a culture of safety awareness and continuous improvement throughout the organization.
- Reviews and updates safety policies and procedures to ensure compliance with changing regulations and operational needs.
- Participates in new equipment, product, and process reviews to identify and mitigate safety risks.
Regulatory Compliance
- Ensures compliance with all federal, state, and local safety, environmental, and occupational health regulations.
- Maintains OSHA recordkeeping requirements and completes all required reporting.
- Coordinates inspections by regulatory agencies and addresses corrective actions as needed.
- Maintains all records, permits, logs, and documentation associated with environmental and safety regulations.
- Acts as company liaison with regulatory agencies and external auditors.
Environmental Compliance
- Responsible for environmental reporting and compliance activities.
- Prepares and submits monthly, annual, and regulatory reports required by DNR, EPA, and other agencies.
- Ensures compliance with permit requirements and applicable environmental regulations.
- Monitors waste handling and disposal activities, including solid waste, hazardous waste, industrial discharges, recycled materials, universal waste, scrap, stormwater, and related environmental programs.
- Supports emergency preparedness, pollution prevention, hazardous waste management, and community right-to-know requirements.
Training and Employee Development
- Develops and delivers safety training programs for all employees.
- Conducts new employee safety orientation and ongoing safety education.
- Ensure employees, supervisors, and contractors understand and comply with safety requirements.
- Reviews safety training effectiveness and recommends improvements as necessary.
- Leads safety meetings, safety committees, and employee engagement initiatives.
Incident Investigation and Risk Management
- Investigates all workplace incidents, injuries, near misses, and property damage events.
- Conducts root cause analysis using established methodologies such as 5-Why and corrective action processes.
- Tracks injury and incident metrics and recommend improvements based on trends and analysis.
- Monitors workers' compensation claims and supports return-to-work efforts.
- Stop operations or activities that pose an immediate risk to personnel, equipment, or the environment.
- Has authority to initiate disciplinary action for observed unsafe behaviors or policy violations.
Auditing and Inspections
- Conducts routine facility inspections, audits, and risk assessments.
- Reviews work practices and conditions to ensure compliance with company standards and regulatory requirements.
- Monitors corrective actions resulting from internal audits, regulatory inspections, and incident investigations.
- Ensure contractor personnel comply with company safety policies and site requirements.
Reporting and Communication
- Provides monthly safety performance reports to the President and senior leadership.
- Maintains safety committee meeting minutes and inspection reports.
- Communicates safety performance, trends, and regulatory updates to management and employees.
- Improve safety and environmental communications throughout the organization.
General Responsibilities
- This is an onsite, hands-on position at our Marshfield, WI facility.
- Maintains work areas in a clean and orderly condition and follows prescribed safety procedures.
- Adheres to company quality standards, policies, and procedures.
- Perform duties in an ethical and professional manner consistent with company values and handbook policies.
- Performs other related duties as assigned by management.
Skills and Abilities
- Extensive knowledge of OSHA, EPA, DNR, and applicable environmental, health, and safety regulations.
- Strong leadership, coaching, and employee engagement skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to train, influence, and motivate employees at all levels of the organization.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Ability to conduct incident investigations and root cause analyses.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word and Excel.
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate across departments.
Qualifications
- Associate or bachelor’s degree in occupational safety, Environmental Health, Industrial Safety, or a related field preferred.
- Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in Environmental, Health, and Safety leadership roles within manufacturing or industrial environments.
- Working knowledge of OSHA regulations and reporting requirements.
- Experience with environmental compliance programs, permits, and regulatory reporting preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to identify hazards, conduct risk assessments, and implement corrective actions.
- Experience conducting employee training and safety committee leadership.
- Strong understanding of incident investigation processes and safety management systems.