Safety Specialist

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.