Safety Specialist

Safety Specialist

The Safety Specialist partners with company leadership, supervisors, and employees to foster and sustain a proactive safety culture that prioritizes the health, safety, and well-being of all employees. This role is responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) programs that minimize organizational risk, ensure regulatory compliance, and promote continuous improvement.

The Safety Specialist serves as a subject matter expert and trusted business partner by providing guidance, training, audits, investigations, and performance analysis that support safe and compliant operations across multiple manufacturing and distribution facilities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Partner with management and employees to promote a strong safety culture across all company facilities.
• Develop, implement, and maintain safety policies, procedures, programs, and best practices that reduce organizational risk and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Analyze safety performance metrics, including OSHA recordable incidents, near misses, corrective actions, and other leading and lagging indicators to identify trends and recommend continuous improvements.
• Lead and participate in workplace incident investigations, including Root Cause Analysis (RCA), to identify contributing factors and develop effective corrective actions.
• Coordinate safety incident response activities, including evidence collection, documentation, reporting, and record retention.
• Recommend, implement, and monitor corrective and preventive actions to ensure timely completion and sustained effectiveness.
• Conduct routine facility inspections, safety audits, workplace assessments, and hazard evaluations to identify and mitigate risks.
• Track corrective action plans through completion and verify implementation effectiveness.
• Develop and deliver safety orientation, training programs, toolbox talks, and educational materials for employees, supervisors, and management.
• Educate employees on OSHA regulations, environmental health and safety requirements, company policies, and industry best practices.
• Observe workplace activities and recommend improvements that enhance employee safety, health, ergonomics, and overall wellness.
• Coach supervisors and employees on safe work practices, regulatory compliance, and hazard recognition.
• Build collaborative relationships with Plant Managers, Human Resources, Operations, Maintenance, and other functional leaders to support organizational safety initiatives.
• Participate in safety committees, incident review boards, risk management initiatives, and other cross-functional teams.
• Prepare detailed reports related to inspections, investigations, safety performance, regulatory compliance, and corrective actions.
• Respond to employee safety concerns and provide guidance regarding company policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain current knowledge of OSHA regulations and applicable federal, state, and local safety laws and standards.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Minimum of five (5) years of Environmental, Health, and Safety experience in a manufacturing, industrial, or distribution environment.
• Strong knowledge of OSHA regulations and safety management systems.
• Experience leading incident investigations and conducting Root Cause Analysis (RCA).
• Experience performing safety audits, inspections, and workplace risk assessments.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail.
• Ability to influence others and build collaborative relationships across all organizational levels.

Preferred:

• Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Health, Industrial Hygiene, or a related discipline.
• Professional safety certification(s), including one or more of the following:
• Certified Safety Professional (CSP)
• Associate Safety Professional (ASP)
• Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM)
• Experience working in a multi-site manufacturing environment.
• Experience with safety management software and reporting systems.

Travel Requirements:

Routine travel between company facilities is required. Additional overnight travel may be necessary based on business needs, audits, investigations, training activities, or project support.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to walk manufacturing and warehouse facilities for extended periods.
• Ability to stand, bend, climb stairs and ladders, kneel, crouch, and occasionally work in confined spaces.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds occasionally.
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE), including safety glasses, hearing protection, steel-toe footwear, hard hats, gloves, and other equipment as required.
• Ability to work in manufacturing environments with varying temperatures, noise levels, moving machinery, dust, and other industrial conditions.
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle and travel between company locations.

Working Conditions:

This position regularly works in both office and manufacturing environments. The incumbent will frequently be exposed to industrial equipment, production operations, and warehouse activities requiring the consistent use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Occasional evening, weekend, or emergency response work may be required based on operational needs.

Disclaimer:

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by individuals assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, or qualifications. Management reserves the right to modify, assign, or remove duties as business needs dictate. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Performance Expectations and Core Competencies:

All CREO Group Employees are expected to:

• Demonstrate the CREO Core Values of Collaboration, Respect, Empowerment, and Opportunity in all interactions.
• Support the Company's Value Creation Plan through Commercial Innovation, End Market Expansion, Operational Execution, and Nurture Our Team.
• Promote a culture where people thrive, partners grow, and innovation takes shape.
• Perform work safely, ethically, efficiently, and with a commitment to continuous improvement.
• Contribute positively to the success of One CREO by working collaboratively across all functions and locations.

CREO Core Value - Core Competency:

Collaboration - Teamwork, Communication, Customer Focus

Respect - Integrity, Inclusion, Professionalism

Empowerment - Accountability, Results Orientation, Decision Making

Opportunity - Innovation, Learning Agility, Adaptability, Continuous Improvement

Physical Requirements/Work Environment:

Manufacturing Plant:

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Employees in this position are regularly required to:

• Remain in a standing and/or walking position for extended periods during the work shift.
• Frequently walk throughout the production floor, warehouse, and other manufacturing areas.
• Use hands and fingers to handle, grasp, manipulate, assemble, inspect, or operate materials, tools, machinery, and equipment.
• Frequently reach, push, pull, bend, stoop, crouch, kneel, squat, twist, and climb as required to perform job duties.
• Occasionally climb stairs, ladders, or work platforms where job duties require.
• Lift, carry, push, or pull materials, parts, containers, or equipment weighing up to:
• Frequently: up to 25 pounds
• Occasionally: up to 50 pounds
• More than 50 pounds with team lifting or mechanical assistance, when required.
• Perform repetitive hand, wrist, arm, and shoulder movements throughout the workday.
• Maintain sufficient manual dexterity and coordination to safely operate production equipment and hand tools.
• Visually inspect products, equipment, labels, gauges, and displays to identify defects or quality concerns.
• Hear alarms, warning signals, equipment sounds, and verbal instructions in a manufacturing environment.
• Communicate effectively with supervisors, coworkers, and visitors regarding production, quality, and safety matters.
• Wear required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which may include safety glasses, hearing