Job Description Job Description
We are seeking an experienced Safety Specialist to lead and strengthen our workplace safety program at a fast-paced meat processing facility. This position is responsible for promoting a strong safety culture, ensuring compliance with applicable OSHA and regulatory requirements, identifying and controlling workplace hazards, and reducing injuries and incidents throughout plant operations.
The ideal candidate has hands-on experience in manufacturing, food processing, meat processing, or another industrial environment and is comfortable working directly with production employees, supervisors, and management.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and manage the plant's overall health and safety program.
- Ensure compliance with OSHA, state and local regulations, and applicable food-processing safety requirements.
- Conduct regular safety inspections, hazard assessments, and workplace audits.
- Identify unsafe conditions and behaviors and implement corrective and preventive actions.
- Investigate workplace accidents, injuries, near misses, and safety incidents; identify root causes and track corrective actions.
- Develop and deliver employee safety training, including PPE, lockout/tagout, machine guarding, ergonomics, hazard communication, emergency procedures, and safe work practices.
- Maintain safety records, reports, inspections, training documentation, and required regulatory documentation.
- Partner with supervisors and department leaders to establish safety goals and improve safety performance.
- Monitor and improve key safety metrics, including OSHA recordables, lost-time incidents, near misses, and corrective-action completion.
- Support workers' compensation claims and return-to-work processes as appropriate.
- Evaluate PPE requirements and ensure employees are properly trained in its use.
- Assist with emergency preparedness, evacuation procedures, and emergency response planning.
- Participate in safety committee meetings and employee engagement initiatives.
- Promote a proactive, employee-focused safety culture throughout the facility.
- Stay current on changes to OSHA regulations and industry best practices.
- Perform other safety-related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Strong knowledge of OSHA regulations and workplace safety principles.
- Experience conducting accident investigations and root-cause analyses.
- Experience developing and delivering safety training.
- Strong communication, leadership, organization, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work effectively with employees at all levels of an organization.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and safety documentation systems.
- Ability to work in a physically demanding, temperature-controlled meat-processing environment and regularly walk throughout the production facility.
- Ability to work flexible hours, including occasional early mornings, evenings, weekends, or holidays when operationally necessary.
Preferred Qualifications
- OSHA 30-Hour certification.
- Experience with OSHA recordkeeping and reporting.
- Experience with lockout/tagout, machine guarding, confined spaces, powered industrial trucks, ergonomics, and chemical safety.
- Experience in a USDA-regulated meat or poultry processing facility.
- Bilingual English/Spanish communication skills.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary based on experience.
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
- Paid time off and paid holidays.
- Retirement savings plan with company contribution.
- Professional development and safety-certification opportunities.
- Opportunity to make a measurable impact on employee safety and plant performance.
