Safety Specialist- Recycle Yard

JOB TITLE: Safety Specialist- Recycle Yard

LOCATION: Santa Barbara

POSITION SUMMARY

The Safety Specialist is responsible for developing, implementing, and enforcing safety programs and policies within the Recycle Yard & Recycling Centers. This role ensures compliance with all applicable regulations, promotes a strong safety culture, and works proactively to prevent workplace injuries and incidents.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include but are not limited to the following:

Safety Program Management

• Develop, implement, and maintain site-specific safety policies and procedures for the Recycle Yard and Recycling Center.
• Conduct regular safety audits, inspections, and risk assessments
• Identify hazards and take immediate corrective action.
• Monitor and maintain an adequate inventory of PPE for all staff.
• Monitor compliance with OSHA, DOT, EPA, and local regulations

Training & Education

• Have an active role with operational employees to instill a culture of safety through outreach and engagement.
• Lead safety orientations for new hires, contractors, and visitors
• Conduct ongoing safety training (e.g., PPE, equipment operation, hazard communication, lockout/tagout)
• Facilitate safety meetings responsible for communicating policies and regulations. Enforce MarBorg’s safety rules and regulations; this includes disciplining employees for safety rules violations and unsafe acts.
• Test trainees to measure progress and to evaluate the effectiveness of training.
• Recommends employees for participation in internal training programs.

Incident Prevention & Investigation

• Investigates and completes reports for work-related injuries and/or vehicle accidents/incidents in a timely manner.
• Investigate accidents, near-misses, and unsafe conditions
• Identify root causes and implement post-accident corrective actions
• Maintain accurate records of incidents and safety metrics

Site Monitoring & Enforcement

• Maintain a visible, hands-on presence in the yard to promote safe work practices.
• Perform daily walkthroughs of yard operations (heavy equipment, tipping areas, sorting lines)
• Enforce proper use of PPE and safe work practices
• Address unsafe behaviors immediately and consistently

• Conducts and records employee observations, premise and shop inspections, landfill/transfer station / Recycling Centers equipment inspections, and periodic vehicle safety inspections
• Conducts site visits to confirm ineffective documentation of records and, where evident, takes action to correct the maintenance of such records

Regulatory Compliance

• Oversee compliance programs, including environmental and OSHA. Assist with continual compliance with mandated state and federal regulations (i.e. OSHA, EPA, etc.)
• Ensures the cleanliness and maintenance of the facility.
• Maintain required documentation, logs, and reports
• Coordinate with regulatory agencies during inspections or audits

Environmental & Hazardous Materials Oversight

• Monitor proper handling and disposal of hazardous or prohibited materials.
• Ensure compliance with environmental regulations and spill prevention programs.
• Plans, develops, and conducts safety and hazardous waste handling training programs for employees, with particular attention to those in positions of higher risk.
• Assists in testing and evaluation procedures. Develops and maintains a broad understanding of appropriate processes, programs, and procedures.

Collaboration and Communication

• Work closely with operations to improve safety.
• Partner with Risk Manager on workers’ compensation and return-to-work programs.
• Partner with the Safety and Risk Manager, who oversees safety across all departments, to ensure alignment between yard operations and company-wide safety goals, policies, and risk management strategies.
• Will handle special projects and other related management duties as assigned.

• Participates in the investigation of serious accidents/injuries

• Provides accident data and accident reduction goals

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

None

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of 4 years of relevant safety experience in the waste industry or heavy industrial environment,
• Experience working in a hands-on, fast-paced operational setting.
• Ability to lead by example.
• Practical, common-sense approach to safety and problem-solving.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Comfortable working in a fast-moving environment where priorities can shift.
• Strong organizational and follow-through skills.
• Demonstrates and promotes ethical behavior.
• Working knowledge of OSHA and EPA guidelines.
• Bilingual English & Spanish.

EDUCATION

• High school diploma or GED required
• OSHA 30-hour certification required or ability to obtain
• First Aid/CPR certification preferred

CORE COMPETENCIES:

• Doing Good: Maintains and promotes integrity and values in the conduct of all activities.
• Making Good: Takes responsibility and ownership for a problem, project, or issue.

• Treating Our People Well: Proactively seeks and finds ways to provide extraordinary service. Fosters respect for all individuals and points of view. Works cooperatively and effectively with others to achieve common goals characterized by pride, trust, and commitment.
• Observant: Ability to identify safety or operational deficiencies and to quickly implement a correction.
• Safety Matters: Actively participates in creating a safe and healthy workplace for our employees and our customers.
• Environmentally Focused: Takes initiative to preserve and improve our local environment for future generations. Makes every day Earth Day.

NEAT JOB SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES: Ability to enforce rules consistently , Accountability, Attention to Detail, Communication, Observation, Conflict Resolution, Proactive Safety Mindset, Coaching and Training,

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read write and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos in English and Spanish. Ability to write simple correspondence in English and Spanish. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

CERTICATES, LICENSE, REGISTRATION

• Class C driver’s license is required

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

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

Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in a yard environment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee frequently is required to walk for long periods of time on concrete floors; stoop, sit, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts and outside weather conditions. Work is performed primarily in a yard environment, occasional field environments that may require some travel from site to site and is frequently exposed to dust, grease, fumes or airborne particles and toxic or caustic chemicals. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; high, precarious places; extreme cold; extreme heat; and risk of electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

Compensation details: 30-34 Hourly Wage

PI804c2d4dd6f3-38059-40536284