Safety Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Hirzel Canning Company feeds people.

Hirzel Canning Company & Farms is a 5th-generation family company with a passion for serving the community. Our Dei Fratelli brand is your source for locally-grown tomato and sauerkraut products. We seek individuals that share our core values, our commitment to future generations, and our passion for providing food that brings families together . 

A few of the benefits you’ll experience at Hirzel Canning Company are: 

• Competitive Pay
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• Annual Pay Increases
• Employer 401(k) Matching
• Health Savings Account with Employer Contributions
• Health and Wellness Program
• Community Involvement
• Family-Centric Environment

Candidates must be willing and able to pass a pre-employment drug screen.

Job Summary

Protecting the safety and health of our employees, customers, and subcontractors is a priority in our organization. We strive for safety practices and safe conditions in all our operations. Every individual in our organization is responsible for our safety program and working according to our safety protocols. The Safety Manager will be responsible for developing, managing, and supporting the implementation of comprehensive safety programs to ensure the safety and health of our employees, subcontractors, suppliers, customers, and visitors across all locations in Northwest Ohio. The Safety Manager will combine in-depth knowledge of manufacturing safety regulations with a proven ability to foster a culture of safety, accountability, and employee engagement.

Key Responsibilities & Essential Functions:

• Assess workplace hazards to anticipate potential risks to employees.
• Develop and implement strategies to minimize or eliminate workplace and environmental risks to employees.
• Administer and continuously improve the company’s safety programs and processes by maintaining accurate documentation, ensuring consistent communication, and implementing company-wide compliance with safety standards and best practices.
• Develop, track, and report on company-wide safety KPIs and metrics to measure program effectiveness and drive strategic continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with the Plant Managers and designated safety representatives at each plant and farm locations to ensure coordinated efforts of safety program and process priorities.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local safety and health regulations. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of regulatory changes and work to implement necessary updates to company policies & practices. 
• Direct the development and coordination of ongoing safety training and employee certification programs in collaboration with Managers and Supervisors to ensure consistency and compliance across all locations.
• Oversee and direct the thorough investigation of all recordable incidents and near misses, ensuring timely reporting and the implementation of robust corrective and preventative actions.
• Collaborate with internal personnel in managing claims related to workplace injuries and/or property damage.
• Act as the primary resource for technical safety matters, including compliance and injury prevention.
• Provide ongoing mentorship to the safety committee and employees to promote safety awareness and consistently reinforce its integration into the organization’s daily culture.
• Design and execute a standardized corporate safety audit program to ensure consistency and compliance across all manufacturing and farm locations.
• Develop, maintain, and conduct regular audits and drills of company-wide emergency preparedness, crisis management, and business continuity plans.
• Develop and update safety-related Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on a regular basis. 
• Evaluate, select, and lead the corporate implementation of a Safety Management System (SMS) or Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) software platform to centralize data, improve reporting, and streamline compliance activities.
• Manage corporate safety budget and oversee relationships with safety vendors, consultants, and insurance carriers to maximize resource utilization and service quality.

Preferred QualificationsSkills

• Demonstrated experience in the evaluation, selection, or implementation of an EHS software platform is highly desirable.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to engage effectively at all levels of the organization and with external partners. 
• Experienced in incident investigation, documentation, and corrective action planning. 
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple safety initiatives simultaneously. 
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Google Sheets/Docs and similar software tools.
• Strong public speaking and presentation skills.
• Proven ability to develop SOPs and formal safety documentation.
• Decisive and proactive in addressing safety concerns and resolving issues quickly, with a high attention to detail.
• Bilingual Proficiency in Spanish (written and verbal) is preferred.

Education & Experience

• 5 years of hands-on safety experience in manufacturing, including roles with increasing levels of responsibility. 
• Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Health and Safety, Industrial Engineering, Industrial Hygiene, Environmental Health and Safety, or related fields is preferred.
• Relevant safety certifications (e.g., OSHA certifications, CSP, COSS) preferred.
• Preferred knowledge of food manufacturing processes or similar industrial operations.
• Ability to work with insurance safety services and safety organizations to optimize resources and stay current with industry best practices.

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.

• Reaching with hands and arms.
• Communication through speech and hearing and in writing.
• Ability to travel between sites in Northwest Ohio.
• Daily requirements:
  • Bending, twisting, turning, reaching below the knee, pushing, pulling, squatting, kneeling, standing, walking, sitting.
• Lifting requirements:
  • Will regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
  • Will occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

NOTE

Attendance on the job each and every day is absolutely essential to the efficient operation of the Company. 

The responsibilities and duties outlined in this document are not all-inclusive and are subject to change at the discretion of management based upon the needs of the company. In the absence of key personnel, the supervisor will assume responsibility to see the functions of this job are performed as required. 

Hirzel Canning Co & Farms provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for

employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color,

religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation,

gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Hirzel Canning Co. & Farms is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and a drug-free workplace.