Safety Coordinator

Job Description Job Description ** Position Summary** The Safety Coordinator is responsible for supporting and maintaining a safe working environment at a pet food manufacturing facility. This role ensures compliance with OSHA regulations, company safety policies, and industry best practices while actively promoting a strong safety culture among all employees. The Safety Coordinator works closely with operations, maintenance, engineering, and quality teams to prevent workplace injuries, reduce risk, and ensure safe production of pet food products. Key Responsibilities

• Implement, monitor, and enforce workplace safety programs in accordance with OSHA regulations and company standards.
• Conduct routine safety inspections of production, warehouse, maintenance, and utility areas to identify hazards and ensure compliance.
• Identify potential hazards and recommend corrective and preventive actions.
• Ensure compliance with applicable combustible dust standards, including housekeeping practices, ignition source control, and safe work procedures.
• Coordinate preventive maintenance and cleaning activities to minimize combustible dust hazards and maintain safe operating conditions.
• Participate in Process Hazard Analyses (PHA), risk assessments, and Management of Change (MOC) activities related to combustible dust hazards.
• Verify that dust collection systems, explosion venting, suppression systems, and other engineering controls are inspected, maintained, and functioning properly.
• Ensure hot work permits, lockout/tagout (LOTO), confined space entry, and contractor activities appropriately address combustible dust hazards before work begins.
• Lead safety training for new and existing employees, including hazard recognition, emergency response, PPE, and safe work practices.
• Investigate workplace injuries, incidents, near misses, and unsafe conditions; conduct root cause analyses and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Track safety metrics and maintain accurate records of inspections, audits, incidents, training, and corrective actions.
• Support emergency preparedness activities, including fire prevention, evacuation drills, and spill response.
• Ensure proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) throughout the facility.
• Assist with regulatory inspections, internal audits, and compliance initiatives.
• Collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Human Resources, and Quality to continuously improve workplace safety and regulatory compliance.
• Promote a proactive safety culture through employee engagement, coaching, and recognition programs.

• High school diploma required; Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Environmental Health and Safety, or a related field preferred.
• 2–4 years of experience in manufacturing or industrial safety; food or pet food manufacturing experience preferred.
• Working knowledge of OSHA regulations and workplace safety standards.
• Experience conducting safety training, inspections, and incident investigations.
• Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to analyze risks and implement effective corrective actions.
• Comfortable working in a manufacturing environment with exposure to machinery, noise, dust, and varying temperatures.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook) with the ability to create reports, analyze safety data, and maintain records.
• Ability to learn and effectively use plant manufacturing systems, document control software, and electronic recordkeeping systems.
• Strong computer skills, including data entry, spreadsheet management, report generation, and maintaining electronic compliance documentation.

• OSHA 30 certification.
• Experience in food, feed, pet food, grain, flour, or agricultural processing facilities where combustible dust hazards are present.
• Familiarity with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and HACCP principles.
• First Aid/CPR certification.

• Active manufacturing facility with exposure to production equipment, forklifts, moving machinery, noise, dust, and temperature variations.
• Frequent walking, standing, climbing stairs, and inspecting plant operations.
• Occasional off-shift, weekend, or emergency response availability may be required.