Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Warehouse Safety Coordinator

🎯 Role Definition

The Warehouse Safety Coordinator is a hands-on EHS professional responsible for developing, implementing and sustaining a best-in-class safety program in high-volume distribution and warehouse environments. This role drives regulatory compliance (OSHA and state/local requirements), delivers targeted safety training, conducts root-cause incident investigations, and partners with operations to reduce workplace injuries, protect assets, and improve overall safety culture. The ideal candidate combines strong technical knowledge of warehouse hazards (powered industrial trucks, material handling, lockout/tagout, hazardous materials) with proven coaching and communication skills to influence frontline behaviors and operational leaders.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Safety Technician / Safety Specialist
Warehouse Supervisor or Lead
Facilities or Maintenance Technician

Advancement To:

EHS Manager / Warehouse Safety Manager
Safety Program Manager (multi-site)
Director of Safety or EHS Director

Lateral Moves:

Quality Assurance Manager
Training & Development Manager (operations-focused)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop, implement, and maintain the warehouse safety program, including written policies, standard operating procedures, and safe work instructions to ensure consistent OSHA, DOT, and company compliance across all shifts and facilities.
Conduct comprehensive, scheduled safety audits and walkthrough inspections of receiving, storage, picking, packing and shipping areas to identify hazards, prioritize risk remediation, and generate corrective action plans with owners and due dates.
Lead thorough investigations of all incidents, near misses, and property damage events; perform root cause analysis, document findings, assign corrective actions, and monitor completion to prevent recurrence.
Design and deliver role-based safety training and competency assessments for warehouse staff and supervisors covering PPE, powered industrial trucks, manual handling ergonomics, chemical hazards, emergency response, and job-specific controls.
Manage the powered industrial truck and material handling safety program by overseeing operator qualification, re-certification schedules, practical observation checks, and site-specific operational controls.
Maintain and audit incident and injury records including OSHA 300/300A logs, DART/TRIR calculations, and internal safety dashboards to provide accurate performance reporting to operations and senior leadership.
Implement and enforce lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures and energy control practices for maintenance, equipment changeovers, and contractor activities; perform periodic LOTO compliance audits.
Oversee the Hazard Communication (HazCom) program and SDS management system to ensure proper labeling, accessible Safety Data Sheets, and employee training on chemical handling and storage requirements.
Coordinate emergency preparedness and response planning, execute regular drills (fire, spill, medical) across shifts, maintain emergency equipment inventories, and communicate learnings to leadership and employees.
Administer the personal protective equipment (PPE) program by selecting appropriate PPE, ensuring availability, coordinating fit testing where required, and monitoring proper usage and compliance.
Drive data-driven safety improvement by tracking leading and lagging indicators, analyzing trends, and recommending process or layout changes to eliminate hazards and reduce injury frequency and severity.
Partner with continuous improvement and operations teams to evaluate proposed layout changes, new equipment, and process modifications for safety impacts and to integrate engineering controls where feasible.
Manage contractor safety: evaluate contractor pre-qualification documentation, deliver site-specific safety orientations, monitor contractor adherence to safety standards, and include contractors in incident investigations when applicable.
Facilitate job hazard analyses (JHAs) and task assessments for high-risk operations, document risk controls, and translate JHAs into operational procedures and training materials.
Implement behavioral-based safety observations and coaching programs that empower supervisors to provide on-the-spot feedback, record observations, and measure behavior change over time.
Maintain and administer safety software and reporting systems (incident management, observations, training LMS), ensure accurate data entry, and use these systems to identify systemic risks and report KPIs.
Conduct periodic assessments and continuous improvement projects to reduce slip/trip/fall, struck-by, caught-in/between, and overexertion incidents with targeted engineering and administrative controls.
Coordinate return-to-work and light-duty programs, work with HR and medical providers to accommodate restrictions, and track case progress to minimize lost time and facilitate safe, timely returns.
Maintain compliance with DOT/HAZMAT regulations for internal handling, storage and on-site transfer of hazardous materials including proper labeling, segregation, placarding and employee training.
Prepare and distribute monthly and quarterly safety performance reports, present findings to site leadership, and recommend prioritized investments or process changes to reduce risk exposure.
Serve as the site subject matter expert for regulatory inspections and audits, host OSHA/state inspections, prepare documentation and corrective action plans, and ensure timely closure of enforcement items.
Oversee routine facility safety items such as aisle spacing, pallet stacking, racking integrity, lighting, ventilation, and floor conditions to minimize environmental hazards and maintain safe workflows.
Develop and maintain clear, accessible safe work procedures, signage, and visual controls (floor marking, rack labels, safety signage) to standardize safe operations across shifts.
Mentor and coach frontline supervisors and warehouse leads to build safety accountability into daily operations, including pre-shift briefings, toolbox talks, and safety observation routines.

Secondary Functions

Support procurement and engineering teams by providing safety specifications and acceptance criteria for new equipment purchases and capital projects.
Assist HR with onboarding documentation and tracking of mandatory safety certifications, background training records, and physical aptitude certifications.
Coordinate with facilities and maintenance on preventative maintenance schedules, lighting upgrades, and ventilation improvements that impact worker safety and comfort.
Participate in cross-functional continuous improvement teams to integrate safety into Lean or Six Sigma projects and pilot new safety technologies or controls.
Serve as backup lead for multi-site safety initiatives and provide subject matter expertise during the absence of the site EHS manager.
Maintain training attendance records, produce training compliance reports, and manage content within the learning management system (LMS).

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Strong working knowledge of OSHA regulations (29 CFR 1910) and experience maintaining OSHA 300/300A logs and reporting requirements.
Proficiency in incident investigation methodologies and root cause analysis techniques (e.g., 5 Whys, Fishbone/Ishikawa).
Practical experience conducting safety audits, facility inspections, JHAs, and implementing corrective action tracking systems.
Hands-on knowledge of lockout/tagout (LOTO) programs and energy control procedures specific to warehouse equipment and conveyors.
Experience managing powered industrial truck/forklift safety programs, operator training and certification processes.
Familiarity with Hazard Communication (HazCom), Safety Data Sheet (SDS) management and handling of industrial chemicals.
Competence with safety software and digital tools (e.g., iAuditor, Gensuite, VelocityEHS, incident management systems) and common LMS platforms.
Ability to prepare and analyze safety KPIs and metrics using Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, charts) and to produce executive-level safety dashboards.
Knowledge of DOT/HAZMAT requirements for storage and internal transportation of regulated materials.
Experience delivering hands-on safety training, behavior-based observation programs, and evaluating training effectiveness.
Basic understanding of ergonomic assessments, manual material handling risk reduction strategies, and design of administrative controls.
Familiarity with emergency response planning, first aid/CPR program administration, and coordination with local emergency services.

Soft Skills

Strong verbal and written communication skills for delivering training, writing procedures, and presenting safety reports to leadership.
Influential leadership and coaching skills to build safety accountability among supervisors and frontline employees.
High attention to detail and strong observational skills for spotting latent hazards and documentation inconsistencies.
Critical thinking and problem-solving aptitude to prioritize risks and design practical corrective actions.
Proven ability to work cross-functionally with operations, HR, facilities, procurement and maintenance teams.
Time management and organizational skills to manage audits, training schedules, incident follow-ups and multiple competing priorities.
Resilience and adaptability to operate in fast-paced, 24/7 warehouse environments with shifting operational demands.
Conflict resolution and negotiation skills to secure necessary resources and drive behavioral change.
Data-driven mindset with the ability to interpret safety metrics and translate them into actionable improvement plans.
Strong coaching and mentoring approach to develop frontline leaders and improve long-term safety performance.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED required; combination of education and relevant experience considered.

Preferred Education:

Associate or Bachelor's degree in Occupational Health & Safety, Environmental Health & Safety (EHS), Industrial Engineering, Safety Management, Environmental Science, or related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Occupational Health & Safety
Industrial/Environmental Engineering
Environmental Science or Public Health
Business Administration with focus on operations or safety management
Human Factors / Ergonomics

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

3–7 years of progressive safety experience in warehouse, distribution center or manufacturing environments; at least 1–2 years dedicated to frontline warehouse safety recommended.

Preferred:

5+ years of practical warehouse EHS experience with demonstrated success reducing recordable injuries, managing incident investigations, implementing PPE and forklift programs, and interacting with regulatory agencies.
Experience with safety management systems, leading safety committees, and using digital safety inspection and incident platforms.

If you want, I can also produce a one-page job posting or interview guide based on these responsibilities and skills tailored for your company size and region.