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certified safety professional

title: Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Certified Safety Professional (CSP)
salary: $90,000 - $150,000
categories: [Safety, EHS, Occupational Health, Compliance]
description: A comprehensive overview of the key responsibilities, required technical skills and professional background for the role of a Certified Safety Professional (CSP).
Comprehensive, recruiter-style summary of the Certified Safety Professional (CSP) role.
Includes 20+ real-world responsibilities, core competencies, hard and soft skills, and education/experience expectations.
SEO-optimized for keywords: Certified Safety Professional, CSP, OSHA compliance, ISO 45001, incident investigation, risk assessment, safety program management.

🎯 Role Definition

This role requires an experienced Certified Safety Professional (CSP) to lead and elevate our health, safety and environmental (HSE/EHS) programs across multi-site operations. The CSP will design, implement and continuously improve safety management systems to reduce risk, ensure regulatory compliance (OSHA, DOT, NFPA, local/state regulations), and foster a proactive safety culture. This role partners with operations, engineering, human resources and executive leadership to deliver measurable safety performance improvements and to drive employee engagement in safety initiatives.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Safety Coordinator / Safety Officer
  • EHS Specialist / Environmental Health & Safety Specialist
  • Construction Safety Technician or Site Safety Lead

Advancement To:

  • EHS Manager / Senior EHS Manager
  • Director of Safety / Head of Safety & Compliance
  • VP of EHS / Chief Safety Officer

Lateral Moves:

  • Regulatory Compliance Manager
  • Risk & Insurance Manager
  • Quality Manager / Quality & Safety Integration Lead

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Develop, implement and maintain a comprehensive enterprise-wide safety management system (SMS) aligned with ISO 45001 and industry best practices, ensuring consistent processes for hazard identification, risk assessment, mitigation and continuous improvement.
  • Lead and execute detailed job hazard analyses (JHAs), task hazard assessments and safe work permit programs (e.g., hot work, confined space, lockout/tagout) to prevent incidents and ensure regulatory compliance.
  • Conduct complex incident investigations using root cause analysis methodologies (e.g., TapRoot, 5 Whys, Fault Tree Analysis) and lead corrective action development, implementation tracking and verification to prevent recurrence.
  • Manage OSHA recordkeeping and reporting obligations, including OSHA 300/301 logs, timely reporting of OSHA recordable incidents, fatalities and severe incidents; prepare documentation for regulatory inspections and audits.
  • Perform routine and ad-hoc site safety inspections, audits and compliance assessments across facilities and construction sites, identify non-conformances, write detailed corrective action plans and follow up to closure.
  • Develop, deliver and evaluate comprehensive safety training programs (new hire, refresher, task-specific and leadership training), including curriculum, training materials, competencies and training records management.
  • Oversee contractor safety management programs—prequalification, contract language for safety requirements, site-based orientation, monitoring contractor performance and ensuring integration with company safety standards.
  • Lead process safety management (PSM) and chemical hazard programs where applicable: PSM compliance, HAZOP/What-If studies, management of change (MOC), PSSR, process hazard analyses and emergency shut-down procedures.
  • Design, implement and maintain behavioral-based safety initiatives and employee engagement programs to increase near-miss reporting, participation in safety observations and frontline ownership of safety practices.
  • Coordinate emergency preparedness and response plans, including development of emergency action plans, drills, tabletop exercises, communication protocols and liaison with local emergency responders.
  • Establish and monitor key safety performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics (TRIR, DART, LTIR, near-miss frequency, corrective action closure rate), prepare monthly/quarterly safety performance dashboards and present findings to senior leadership.
  • Manage PPE programs including hazard assessments, selection, procurement standards, fit testing programs and training to ensure proper use and compliance with OSHA and NFPA 70E requirements where applicable.
  • Oversee ergonomic programs and injury prevention initiatives: ergonomic assessments, workstation design recommendations, return-to-work and light-duty coordination with HR and occupational health providers.
  • Ensure hazardous materials management compliance (HAZMAT, HAZCOM/GHS, SDS management), coordinate spill response planning, and maintain required permits and documentation for storage and transport of hazardous substances.
  • Lead site-level and corporate safety audits for regulatory compliance (OSHA, state agencies, DOT) and third-party certifications (ISO 45001, ISO 14001), prepare audit responses and implement system-level corrective actions.
  • Manage and coach a team of safety professionals, providing mentorship, performance feedback, development plans and ensuring consistent application of policies and procedures across sites.
  • Partner with operations and engineering to integrate safety into project design and capital projects via safety reviews, risk-in-design assessments and MOC processes to avoid hazards being designed into systems.
  • Maintain vendor and equipment qualification programs for safety-critical equipment (fall protection systems, gas detection, confined space rescue equipment), ensuring calibration, inspection and certification schedules are met.
  • Develop and manage the EHS budget: capital and operating expenses for safety programs, training, PPE, monitoring equipment and contracted services while tracking ROI on major safety investments.
  • Act as company representative and regulatory liaison during inspections, investigations and enforcement actions; prepare responses, negotiate abatement timelines and ensure timely completion of required remedial actions.
  • Implement and maintain driver and fleet safety programs including driver qualification, hours-of-service compliance, vehicle maintenance audits and telematics usage to reduce motor vehicle incidents.
  • Maintain up-to-date knowledge of industry regulations and standards (OSHA 29 CFR 1910/1926, NFPA, EPA, DOT) and provide regulatory interpretation, impact analyses and recommended changes to company policy and training.
  • Establish and manage a robust near-miss and incident reporting process that facilitates timely investigation, trending analysis and dissemination of lessons learned across the organization.
  • Coordinate occupational health relationships including industrial hygiene monitoring, noise surveys, air sampling, respirator programs and medical surveillance to meet regulatory and programmatic requirements.
  • Drive continuous improvement projects using Lean/Six Sigma principles to eliminate hazards, improve safety processes and reduce incident rates while documenting benefits and sustaining improvements.

Secondary Functions

  • Support corporate safety communications, prepare safety bulletins, alerts and monthly newsletters to increase awareness of risks and preventive controls.
  • Assist HR with workers' compensation case management, return-to-work plans, light-duty placement and collaboration with medical providers.
  • Provide technical input for insurance and risk assessments, contribute to loss-control recommendations and work with brokers/insurers to manage premiums and claims.
  • Support sustainability and environmental programs where safety and environmental risk overlap, including waste handling, spill prevention and emergency planning.
  • Participate in cross-functional project teams for continuous improvement initiatives, site start-ups, shutdowns and major maintenance activities to ensure safety is embedded in planning phases.
  • Mentor and develop less-experienced EHS staff through formal coaching, on-the-job training and succession planning.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Certified Safety Professional (CSP) certification required or strongly preferred; knowledge of ASP/CIH/CHST is a plus.
  • Deep working knowledge of OSHA regulations (29 CFR 1910/1926), DOT hazmat regulations, NFPA standards and applicable state/local safety codes.
  • Experience implementing and maintaining ISO 45001-compliant safety management systems, including internal auditing and certification readiness.
  • Proficient in incident investigation and root cause analysis techniques (TapRoot, 5 Whys, Ishikawa) with demonstrated ability to produce corrective action plans and verify effectiveness.
  • Competence in process safety management (PSM) elements: HAZOP, MOC, PSSR, and PHA facilitation for facilities handling hazardous chemicals.
  • Strong experience with job hazard analysis (JHA/JSA), permit-to-work systems, LOTO programs and confined space entry procedures.
  • Proficiency with EHS software and tools: incident management systems, audit platforms, training LMS, document control systems and basic CMMS integration.
  • Practical knowledge of industrial hygiene monitoring, respiratory protection programs, PPE selection and fit testing; experience with noise, air and exposure assessments.
  • Data-driven skills: ability to develop, maintain and interpret safety KPIs and dashboards using Excel, Power BI, Tableau or similar analytics tools.
  • Familiarity with contractor safety management systems, pre-qualification processes and on-site contractor oversight.
  • Skilled in emergency response planning, crisis management, tabletop exercises and coordination with local emergency services.
  • Working knowledge of fall protection systems, scaffolding, powered industrial trucks and equipment safety standards.

Soft Skills

  • Strong leadership and people management skills with experience leading cross-functional teams and influencing at all organizational levels.
  • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; ability to craft clear safety policies, training materials and executive-level presentations.
  • Analytical mindset with strong problem-solving capabilities and attention to detail to drive root-cause corrective actions.
  • High level of initiative, decisiveness and the ability to prioritize in a fast-paced, operational environment.
  • Collaborative approach; proven ability to build relationships with operations, maintenance, HR and external stakeholders.
  • Training and coaching skills with the ability to motivate frontline employees to adopt safer behaviors and participate in safety programs.
  • Conflict resolution and negotiation skills for dealing with contractors, regulators and internal stakeholders during incidents or compliance discussions.
  • Adaptability and resilience to manage change, regulatory updates and emergency response situations.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety & Health, Environmental Health, Industrial Hygiene, Engineering (Mechanical/Chemical), or related technical discipline.

Preferred Education:

  • Master's degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Management, Industrial Hygiene or an MBA with relevant EHS coursework is preferred.
  • Additional certifications such as CIH (Certified Industrial Hygienist), CHST, OHST, or PE in a related discipline are advantageous.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Occupational Safety & Health
  • Environmental Health & Safety
  • Industrial Hygiene
  • Mechanical, Chemical or Industrial Engineering
  • Emergency Management / Public Safety

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 5 – 15+ years of progressive EHS experience, including site-level and corporate program leadership.

Preferred:

  • 7+ years in safety leadership roles with demonstrated success reducing incident rates and implementing safety management systems.
  • CSP certification strongly preferred or required, with experience managing multi-site operations, conducting regulatory audits and leading incident investigations.
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