Safety Specialist

Safety Specialist

IPG Photonics is seeking a Safety Specialist to support and help drive Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) initiatives across our manufacturing and operational facilities. This role is a step above the Safety Coordinator level and is intended for an experienced safety professional capable of working more independently, leading initiatives, conducting investigations, and partnering directly with leadership to improve safety performance and regulatory compliance.

The Safety Specialist will play a key role in supporting laser manufacturing operations, laboratories, engineering spaces, cleanrooms, and production environments by identifying hazards, driving corrective actions, conducting training, supporting industrial hygiene activities, and helping strengthen the overall safety culture across the organization.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Safety & Compliance Support

• Support day-to-day administration and execution of Environmental, Health & Safety programs across manufacturing and operational environments.
• Assist in ensuring compliance with OSHA, EPA, state, local, and company safety regulations and standards.
• Conduct routine facility inspections, safety audits, hazard assessments, and behavioral observations.
• Identify unsafe conditions and behaviors and partner with leaders to implement corrective actions.
• Assist in the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of SH&E procedures, SOPs, and safety programs.

Incident Investigation & Risk Reduction

• Lead or support incident, injury, near miss, and property damage investigations.
• Utilize root cause analysis methodologies to identify contributing factors and corrective actions.
• Track corrective actions to closure and support trend analysis reporting.
• Participate in emergency response activities and support emergency preparedness initiatives.

Manufacturing & Technical Safety Support

• Support manufacturing operations involving lasers, optics, electronics, cleanroom processes, chemicals, compressed gases, soldering, and high-voltage equipment.
• Assist with industrial hygiene monitoring and sampling activities including noise, air quality, ventilation, and chemical exposure assessments.
• Support machine guarding evaluations, lockout/tagout (LOTO) compliance, PPE assessments, and ergonomic reviews.
• Participate in contractor safety oversight and laboratory safety compliance activities.

Training & Employee Engagement

• Conduct safety training sessions for employees, supervisors, contractors, and new hires on a variety of SH&E topics.
• Help promote a proactive safety culture through employee engagement initiatives, safety meetings, toolbox talks, and awareness campaigns.
• Serve as a resource to employees and managers regarding SH&E concerns and best practices.
• Provide guidance and coaching to supervisors regarding safe work practices and regulatory expectations.

Documentation & Reporting

• Maintain safety records, training documentation, inspection reports, and compliance tracking systems.
• Support OSHA logs, incident reporting, and audit preparation activities.
• Assist with internal and external SH&E audits and corrective action follow-up.
• Prepare reports, summaries, and recommendations for leadership review.

Education & Experience

• Associate degree in Safety, Environmental Health & Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Engineering Technology, or related field preferred.
• High school diploma or GED required.
• 5+ years of safety experience in a manufacturing, industrial, engineering, or technical environment preferred.
• Experience in high-tech, electronics, semiconductor, medical device, optics, or laser manufacturing environments preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Working knowledge of OSHA regulations, industrial hygiene principles, and manufacturing safety practices.
• Understanding of:
  • Machine guarding
  • Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)
  • Electrical safety
  • Hazard communication
  • Industrial hygiene sampling methods
  • PPE requirements
  • Incident investigation and root cause analysis
• Strong training, communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively across all levels of the organization.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong organizational and follow-through skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and safety tracking/reporting systems.
• Demonstrates positivity, integrity, accountability, and professionalism.

Preferred Qualifications

• OSHA 30 certification preferred.
• CPR/First Aid certification preferred.
• Experience supporting ISO 14001 and/or ISO 45001 environments preferred.
• Experience working in cleanroom or regulated manufacturing environments preferred.

Working Conditions

• Frequent work within manufacturing, laboratory, warehouse, and cleanroom environments.
• Regular use of PPE including safety glasses, hearing protection, gloves, and laser safety equipment.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, and move throughout operational areas for extended periods.
• Occasional lifting up to 25 pounds may be required.