Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Environmental Health and Safety Specialist

🎯 Role Definition

The Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Specialist is responsible for developing, implementing, and enforcing workplace safety and environmental programs to protect employees, contractors, the community, and company assets. This role leads hazard identification and mitigation, ensures regulatory compliance (OSHA, EPA, state agencies), conducts investigations and audits, delivers training, and supports continuous improvement of the EHS management system (e.g., ISO 45001, ISO 14001). The EHS Specialist acts as a subject matter expert for risk assessments, incident response, and environmental permitting while partnering with operations, facilities, and leadership to drive a strong safety culture.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

EHS Coordinator / Safety Technician
Environmental Technician
Facilities Technician with safety responsibilities

Advancement To:

EHS Manager
Senior Health & Safety Specialist
Director of Environmental, Health & Safety

Lateral Moves:

Quality Manager
Environmental Compliance Specialist
Risk Management Analyst

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop, implement, and maintain comprehensive EHS programs, policies, and procedures that align with federal, state, and local regulations (OSHA, EPA, DOT), industry standards (ANSI, NFPA), and corporate EHS objectives to reduce risk and ensure legal compliance.
Lead incident investigation and root cause analysis for workplace injuries, near misses, environmental releases, and property damage; prepare detailed corrective action plans, track implementation, and report lessons learned to leadership to prevent recurrence.
Conduct regular site inspections, facility audits, and safety tours to identify hazards, evaluate controls (engineering, administrative, PPE), document findings, and drive corrective actions with clear timelines and accountable owners.
Perform comprehensive job hazard analyses (JHAs) and task-based risk assessments to establish safe work procedures, required controls, and training requirements for high-risk tasks such as confined space entry, lockout-tagout (LOTO), and energized work.
Manage regulatory reporting and permitting obligations including OSHA recordkeeping (300/300A/301), EPA reporting, spill notifications, air and water permit conditions, and other compliance submissions; prepare and submit timely, accurate reports to regulatory agencies.
Design, deliver, and maintain effective EHS training programs (new hire, annual refreshers, specialized curricula) including HAZWOPER, PPE use, emergency response, forklift and equipment safety, and hazardous chemical handling to ensure competence and compliance.
Oversee hazardous materials and chemical management programs: maintain Safety Data Sheets (SDS), chemical inventories, labeling, storage protocols, and transportation compliance (DOT/HM-215) to minimize exposure and environmental risk.
Coordinate and lead emergency response planning and drills (fire, spill, active shooter, natural disaster); maintain and evaluate emergency response equipment and PPE readiness and update emergency action plans based on drill outcomes and regulatory changes.
Implement and manage occupational health and industrial hygiene monitoring programs including noise monitoring, air sampling, respirator fit testing, biological monitoring, and ergonomic assessments; partner with industrial hygienists and medical providers as needed.
Develop and manage environmental programs focused on waste management, recycling, spill prevention and control, stormwater management, and air emissions reduction; ensure facility practices meet permit limits and environmental best practices.
Support procurement and capital projects by performing EHS reviews for new equipment, process changes, contractor work scope, and construction activities to ensure hazards are identified and controls are integrated before work begins.
Maintain and improve the EHS management system (EMS/H&SMS) including document control, corrective action tracking, metrics/KPIs (TRIR, DART, near-miss rates), and management review processes to drive continuous improvement.
Conduct contractor HSE pre-qualification, monitor contractor performance, verify training and certifications, and ensure contractor activities comply with company safety expectations and regulatory requirements.
Manage personal protective equipment (PPE) programs including selection, distribution, training, and enforcement; perform PPE assessments to match appropriate PPE with task hazards and certify compliance during inspections.
Oversee waste characterization, handling, storage, labeling, and disposal for hazardous and non-hazardous wastes; coordinate with third-party vendors and maintain hazardous waste manifests and cradle-to-grave documentation.
Maintain facility permits, conduct permit condition reviews, and coordinate with external consultants and regulators during inspections, notices, and corrective actions to ensure rapid and compliant resolution of findings.
Track, analyze, and report EHS performance data and trends to leadership using dashboards and written reports; translate data into prioritized action items that reduce risk and support strategic safety goals.
Support ergonomics initiatives by conducting workstation assessments, recommending corrective equipment and administrative controls, and partnering with HR and facilities to reduce MSDs and improve employee comfort and productivity.
Maintain the chemical hygiene and hazardous communication program, ensuring proper labeling, SDS access, right-to-know training, and safe use and storage protocols across all operations.
Develop and maintain lockout-tagout (LOTO), confined space, hot work, and permit-to-work systems; review permit compliance and conduct periodic audits to validate that controls are fully implemented.
Collaborate cross-functionally with operations, engineering, maintenance, HR, and legal to embed EHS principles in business processes and to support investigations, corrective action plans, and change management.
Serve as primary contact for regulatory inspections and third-party audits; prepare facility teams, gather documentation, accompany inspectors, and develop timely corrective actions for any citations or observations.
Lead continuous improvement projects to reduce incidents, environmental releases, and compliance risks by applying behavior-based safety, Six Sigma, Lean, or other process improvement methodologies.

Secondary Functions

Maintain EHS documentation library, training records, incident logs, and regulatory correspondence in centralized systems to ensure audit readiness and knowledge continuity.
Support sustainability and corporate responsibility initiatives such as greenhouse gas inventorying, energy efficiency projects, and waste reduction programs to align EHS with broader ESG goals.
Assist with budget preparation for EHS equipment, training, and capital projects; track expenditures and recommend cost-effective solutions that maintain compliance and safety.
Provide technical support for product stewardship and lifecycle management activities, including chemical risk assessments for new products and supply chain EHS screening.
Coordinate medical surveillance programs, occupational health referrals, and return-to-work processes in partnership with HR and medical providers to ensure appropriate accommodations and compliance with ADA and workers’ compensation policies.
Support incident litigation and insurance processes by collecting evidence, compiling reports, and working with legal and claims adjusters when necessary.
Facilitate cross-site benchmarking and sharing of best practices to elevate EHS performance across multiple facilities or business units.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Regulatory compliance: strong working knowledge of OSHA standards (1910, 1926), EPA regulations, DOT hazardous materials regulations, and applicable state and local environmental/safety codes.
Incident investigation & root cause analysis: experience leading investigations using methodologies such as 5 Whys, Fishbone (Ishikawa), and TapRooT.
EHS management systems: hands-on experience with ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 implementation, internal auditing, and corrective action tracking.
Industrial hygiene: competency in basic IH monitoring techniques (air sampling, noise dosimetry), interpreting results, and recommending controls.
Hazardous materials management: SDS management, chemical inventory control, labeling (GHS), storage and compatibility, spill response.
Emergency response & crisis management: developing EOPs, running drills, and coordinating multi-disciplinary emergency teams.
Permitting & reporting: experience preparing and managing environmental permits, NPDES/stormwater programs, and regulatory reporting (TRI, RCRA manifests, CERCLA notifications).
Training development & delivery: create and deliver engaging EHS training curriculums, adult learning techniques, and competency assessments.
Lockout-Tagout (LOTO) & confined space: practical knowledge of permit systems, entry procedures, rescue plans, and monitoring equipment.
Data analysis & EHS metrics: ability to analyze safety performance data, create KPIs and dashboards, and present actionable insights to leadership.
PPE selection & program management: perform hazard-based PPE selection and manage procurement, fit testing, and compliance.
Waste management & hazardous waste operations (HAZWOPER): knowledge of waste characterization, labeling, storage, and disposal protocols.
Environmental monitoring: experience with air, water, and soil sampling programs and interpreting laboratory data.
Contractor HSE management: pre-qualification, site oversight, and contractor performance tracking.
Software & systems: proficiency with EHS management software, incident reporting tools, Microsoft Office suite, and basic GIS or permitting systems.

Soft Skills

Strong verbal and written communication: capable of producing clear compliance documentation, training materials, and executive summaries for diverse audiences.
Leadership and influence: ability to lead cross-functional teams, influence operational decision-making, and drive safety culture without direct authority.
Analytical thinking and problem solving: synthesize complex regulatory and operational data to identify root causes and pragmatic solutions.
Attention to detail: meticulous recordkeeping and follow-through to ensure audit readiness and compliance.
Project management: manage multiple EHS initiatives simultaneously, deliver on timelines, and coordinate internal/external stakeholders.
Conflict resolution and diplomacy: navigate sensitive employee incidents and regulatory interactions with professionalism.
Adaptability and resilience: respond effectively to changing regulations, operational priorities, and incident response demands.
Coaching and mentoring: develop frontline supervisors and employees through on-the-job coaching and feedback.
Continuous improvement mindset: apply Lean, Six Sigma, or similar practices to reduce waste and process inefficiencies affecting safety and environmental performance.
Ethical judgment and integrity: maintain confidentiality, ensure honest reporting, and act as a trusted advisor on risk-related decisions.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety & Health, Environmental Science, Industrial Hygiene, Engineering, or related technical field.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor’s degree plus professional certification (CSP, CIH, CHMM, ASP) or a Master’s degree in Environmental Health & Safety or related discipline.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Occupational Safety & Health
Environmental Science / Engineering
Industrial Hygiene
Chemical Engineering
Emergency Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

3–7 years of progressive EHS experience in manufacturing, construction, utilities, chemical, or industrial operations.

Preferred:

5+ years of site-level EHS experience with demonstrated regulatory compliance, incident investigation, and program development; prior experience managing multi-site EHS programs or leading cross-functional improvement initiatives is highly desirable. Certifications such as OSHA 30, HAZWOPER 24/40, CSP, CIH, or CHMM are strongly preferred.