Safety Specialist

What this role is all about: 

We are looking for a Safety Specialist in La Crosse, WI.

Schedule: Monday through Friday 6am to 3pm

Travel Requirements: 15%

The Safety Specialist assists the Safety Manager/Plant Manager with site safety programs including but not limited to new employee safety orientation, safety training, written program creation and maintenance, assist with programs such as Workers’ Compensation. Responsible for directing, managing, identifying and auditing the systems associated with Plant and Health & Safety compliance. Ensure compliance with local, state, federal regulations such as OSHA, NFPA, and ANSI. Identify, evaluate, and act on company initiatives or risk mitigation to ensure continuous improvement of Health and Safety measures, Worker’s Compensation costs, and overall safety culture.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide training and coaching to ensure Safety standards and awareness are well understood throughout the organization.
• Provide compliance training to applicable employees on OSHA and DOT regulations.
• Ensure facilities are compliant with all OSHA, all federal and state/local safety guidelines and requirements, and organization safety standards.
• Administer a new and transfer employee safety orientation program.

• Research, develop, and deliver safety materials and training presentations.
• Review and edit written programs annually.
• Maintain safety training attendance records.
• Track and maintain pertinent safety information on a database.
• Understand and adhere to all Quality Assurance policies, Good Manufacturing Practice and Standard Operating Procedures and translate into workable plant procedures, including implementation and accountability to the policies.
• Partner with management to investigate all safety incidents and “Near Misses”, conduct reviews, and determine root cause analysis to include resolution and develop action plans.
• Assist employees with claims, and monitor/ manage the claims process.
• Participate in the management and resolution of Worker’s Compensation claims and issues.
• Assist with managing the corporate Workers’ Compensation program with the plant based Human Capital Business Partner and Site Managers to bring employees back to work in a time efficient and safe manner.
• Routinely inspect areas of the plant and all safety equipment located throughout the plant and office environments.
• Manage Safety Inventory – Ordering and restocking of PPE throughout the plant.
• With the involvement of Site Plant Managers and a cross section of plant-based employees, assist safety committee and activities.
• Understand relevant technical requirements in safety, including Federal, State and local ordinances and rules.
• Confer with management, supervisors and employees to gain knowledge of work situations requiring training and to better understand changes in policies, procedures, regulations, business initiatives and technologies.
• Complete all special projects as assigned by the Manager.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

• Implement corrective actions from inspections audits.
• Provide input to Engineering department on project concerning safety and equipment selection.
• Understand and adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices and Safety Protocol.
  • Stop any observed unsafe acts and obey facility safety rules and procedures.
  • Correct or report any observed safety hazards.
  • Support safety policies and programs.

This list of duties and responsibilities is not all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities, as management may deem necessary from time to time.

Qualifications:

Education Required:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Safety and Health or related field of study preferred.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Experience Required:

• Minimum two (2) years of experience in safety and health work required.
•  Minimum two (2) years within a similar manufacturing environment required. Dairy industry experience preferred.
• Food/beverage manufacturing and dairy safety background highly preferred.
• Knowledge of First Aid, Confined Space entry, LOTO, and experience in Classroom Instruction required.

Certification/Licensure Required:

• None

Skills Required:

• Demonstrate ability to drive organization change through strong interpersonal and communication skills and formal problem-solving techniques.
• High level of interpersonal skills to handle sensitive and confidential situations and documentation.
• Demonstrate excellence in organizational skills, establishing priorities and meeting deadlines
• Basic computer skills with Microsoft Excel, Power Point, Word, Outlook and field-specific software.
• Basic math skills (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division).
• Knowledgeable in Federal, State and local regulations relevant to Safety and Risk.
• Effective formal presentation skills, commands attention, and can manage group process during the presentation.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively at all levels in a collaborative team environment
• Ability to apply logic and methods to solve difficult problems with effective solutions.
• Ability to work with minimum supervision, adapt to a changing environment quickly, and think independently.
• Exhibit a professional manner in collaborating with others and works to maintain constructive working relationships.

AA/EEO – Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity