Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Health and Safety Manager

🎯 Role Definition

The Health and Safety Manager is a strategic leader and hands-on advocate dedicated to cultivating a world-class safety culture. This role is the cornerstone of an organization's commitment to employee well-being and operational integrity. More than just a compliance officer, the Health and Safety Manager acts as a coach, auditor, and strategist, responsible for developing, implementing, and continuously improving all policies and programs that protect our team members from workplace hazards. They are the primary driver in ensuring the company not only meets but exceeds all local, state, and federal health and safety regulations, thereby minimizing risk, reducing liability, and promoting an environment where every employee feels safe, valued, and empowered.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Health and Safety Coordinator / Specialist
Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) Engineer
Industrial Hygienist

Advancement To:

Director of Health and Safety
Regional or Global EHS Manager
Vice President of Risk Management & Compliance

Lateral Moves:

Operations Manager
Quality Assurance Manager
Corporate Risk Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop, implement, and manage a comprehensive, company-wide health and safety management system (HSMS) aligned with ISO 45001 or similar standards.
Proactively identify, evaluate, and mitigate workplace hazards by conducting comprehensive risk assessments and job hazard analyses (JHAs) for all operational processes, equipment, and facilities.
Lead all incident investigations, employing root cause analysis (RCA) methodologies to determine contributing factors and implement robust corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs) to prevent recurrence.
Design and deliver engaging and effective safety training programs for all levels of the organization, from new hire orientation to specialized topics like lockout/tagout, confined space entry, and hazard communication.
Serve as the primary point of contact for regulatory agencies such as OSHA, EPA, and state-level bodies, managing all inspections, inquiries, and official correspondence.
Champion a proactive safety culture through visible leadership, regular site walkthroughs, employee engagement initiatives, and the establishment of active safety committees.
Maintain meticulous and audit-ready records of all safety-related activities, including training completion, incident reports, inspection findings, and workers' compensation claims.
Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) such as Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) and Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred (DART), providing regular performance reports to senior leadership.
Manage the organization's emergency preparedness and response plans, including conducting drills, maintaining emergency equipment, and training response teams.
Oversee the industrial hygiene program, coordinating exposure monitoring for chemical, physical, and biological hazards to ensure a healthy work environment.
Conduct regular, in-depth audits of internal processes and contractor safety programs to ensure full compliance with both company policies and legal requirements.
Manage the procurement, distribution, and proper use of all personal protective equipment (PPE), ensuring it meets the specific needs of each task and complies with relevant standards.
Stay abreast of new and proposed federal, state, and local safety regulations, interpreting their impact on the organization and implementing necessary changes to maintain compliance.
Lead ergonomic assessments and initiatives to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and improve employee comfort and productivity.
Develop and manage the departmental budget for all health and safety programs, equipment, and initiatives, ensuring cost-effective allocation of resources.

Secondary Functions

Collaborate with Human Resources and department managers to develop and implement effective return-to-work programs for injured employees.
Partner with the engineering and facilities teams on new projects, equipment purchases, and process changes to ensure safety-by-design principles are integrated from the outset.
Mentor and develop junior EHS professionals and safety committee members, building a strong pipeline of safety leadership within the organization.
Review and approve safety-related documentation from third-party vendors and contractors before they are permitted to work on-site.
Represent the company in industry safety groups and professional conferences to benchmark best practices and stay current on emerging trends.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Regulatory Expertise: Deep and practical knowledge of OSHA (General Industry 1910 & Construction 1926), EPA, and NFPA standards and reporting requirements.
Incident Investigation & Root Cause Analysis: Proficiency in methodologies such as 5 Whys, Fishbone (Ishikawa) diagrams, and Fault Tree Analysis to conduct thorough and unbiased investigations.
Risk Assessment Methodologies: Demonstrated ability to perform Job Hazard Analysis (JHA), Process Hazard Analysis (PHA), and other formal risk assessment techniques.
EHS Management Systems: Experience implementing and managing systems based on frameworks like ISO 45001 and ISO 14001.
Industrial Hygiene: Foundational knowledge of monitoring techniques for noise, air quality, chemical exposure, and other workplace environmental stressors.
Ergonomics: Ability to conduct ergonomic assessments and recommend effective engineering and administrative controls.
Safety Program Development: Proven track record of creating, authoring, and implementing comprehensive safety policies and procedures from the ground up.

Soft Skills

Influence & Leadership: Ability to inspire and influence a positive safety culture across all levels of the organization, from the shop floor to the executive suite, without direct authority.
Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, capable of presenting complex technical information clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences.
Problem-Solving: A pragmatic and analytical approach to identifying problems, evaluating solutions, and making sound, risk-based decisions under pressure.
Attention to Detail: Meticulous in record-keeping, policy writing, and auditing to ensure accuracy and compliance.
Interpersonal Skills & Empathy: Strong ability to build trust and rapport with employees, showing genuine concern for their well-being while holding them accountable to safety standards.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited university.

Preferred Education:

Master's degree in a relevant field and/or professional certification such as Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), or similar.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Occupational Health and Safety
Environmental Science
Engineering (Industrial, Chemical, Mechanical)
Public Health

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

7-10 years of progressive experience in an Environmental, Health, and Safety role, with at least 3 years in a management or leadership capacity.

Preferred:

Experience in a high-risk industry such as manufacturing, construction, logistics, or chemical processing. Proven experience managing EHS programs across multiple sites is highly desirable.