Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Warehouse Safety Technician

🎯 Role Definition

This role requires a proactive Warehouse Safety Technician to deliver operational safety programs, conduct inspections and incident investigations, and partner with warehouse leadership to reduce risk and improve worker safety. This is a highly visible, cross-functional role that requires strong knowledge of OSHA regulations, hands-on experience in warehouse environments (forklifts, material handling, dock safety), and the ability to translate safety data into actionable corrective actions and training.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Safety Coordinator or EHS Technician transitioning from general maintenance or operations
Experienced Warehouse/Forklift Operator with demonstrated safety leadership
Quality or Facilities Technician with exposure to compliance activities

Advancement To:

Safety Supervisor or EHS Specialist managing multiple sites
Regional Safety Manager overseeing multi-site safety programs
Occupational Health & Safety Manager or Director of EHS

Lateral Moves:

Operations Supervisor / Shift Lead
Quality Assurance or Compliance Specialist
Facilities / Maintenance Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Conduct daily and scheduled warehouse safety inspections, including dock areas, pallet racking, order-picking zones, mezzanines, and vehicle traffic patterns, documenting hazards and driving timely corrective actions to eliminate or mitigate risks.
Lead thorough incident, near-miss and injury investigations using root-cause analysis methods (5 Whys, fishbone) to determine causal factors, recommend corrective and preventive actions, and track implementation through completion.
Perform forklift, aerial lift and powered industrial truck safety audits and ensure operators are certified and compliant with company policies and OSHA 1910 requirements; coordinate re-certification and remedial training where gaps are identified.
Maintain and review Safety Data Sheets (SDS/MSDS), chemical inventories, and hazardous materials storage practices; advise operations on proper labeling, secondary containment and spill response procedures.
Execute and document routine PPE assessments and distribution programs — assess tasks for appropriate PPE, monitor use, and manage PPE replacement and inventory.
Administer lockout/tagout (LOTO) program execution in coordination with maintenance and operations; perform audits of LOTO compliance and support corrective actions for nonconformances.
Deliver job-specific safety training and toolbox talks for warehouse staff (new hire onboarding, seasonal workforce, contractor orientation), and maintain training records in the LMS or compliance tracking system.
Monitor and report key safety KPIs (TRIR, DART, near-miss rate, leading indicators) and prepare monthly/quarterly dashboards for site leadership and corporate EHS partners.
Develop, update and enforce site-level safety procedures, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and work instructions to align with corporate EHS policy and regulatory requirements.
Coordinate emergency response planning, including evacuation drills, spill response, confined space rescue readiness, and first-aid/AED availability; train and maintain site response teams.
Conduct ergonomics assessments for manual material handling tasks and recommend controls (lift-assist devices, work station redesign) to reduce musculoskeletal injury risk.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives (Kaizen, 5S) focused on safety, such as eliminating trip hazards, improving pallet handling processes, and optimizing traffic flow to reduce incidents.
Oversee contractor safety management: review contractor safety plans, perform pre-job briefings, and monitor contractor adherence to site rules and training requirements.
Enforce fall protection policies in elevated work areas and mezzanines, including guardrail compliance, personal fall arrest systems, and inspection of anchorage points.
Support return-to-work and light-duty programs by coordinating with HR and medical providers to ensure timely, safe reintegration of injured employees.
Conduct environmental monitoring where applicable (noise, dust, air sampling) and implement engineering or administrative controls to maintain exposures below regulatory limits.
Collaborate with maintenance and engineering teams to assess machine guarding needs, initiate guarding projects, and verify new equipment meets safety standards prior to commissioning.
Manage safety signage, floor marking and traffic controls (speed limits, pedestrian crossings, one-way lanes) and adjust layouts to minimize worker-vehicle interactions.
Implement and manage near-miss and hazard reporting programs that encourage reporting, ensure timely corrective actions, and recognize proactive reporting behaviors.
Perform audits for compliance with OSHA, DOT (where applicable), NFPA, and company EHS policies and prepare corrective action plans and follow-up verification.
Support product handling and storage best practices including racking inspections, load capacity verification and pallet integrity checks to prevent collapse and product damage.
Participate in cross-functional safety committees, lead monthly safety meetings, and act as the site safety liaison to corporate EHS and regional managers.
Maintain accurate documentation and records for regulatory inspections, insurance audits and client site visits; prepare responses and coordinate inspections when necessary.
Investigate and respond to citizen or customer safety concerns related to site operations and work with operations to remediate issues quickly and diplomatically.
Evaluate new safety technologies (telematics, proximity sensors, backup cameras) and recommend investments that demonstrably reduce exposure and incident frequency.

Secondary Functions

Support development and maintenance of site safety documentation, templates and checklist libraries to standardize inspection and audit processes across shifts.
Assist with data entry, trending and exploratory analysis of safety incidents to identify patterns and prioritize interventions; prepare concise summaries for leadership review.
Contribute to the implementation of digital EHS tools (incident management systems, mobile inspection apps) and train end users on data capture and closeout workflows.
Participate in continuous improvement sprints and safety-focused Kaizen events to integrate ergonomic and procedural improvements into day-to-day operations.
Serve as backup for site environmental monitoring tasks and facilities coordination in the absence of the Facilities Manager.
Coordinate logistical and administrative tasks for external inspections, insurance surveys and internal walk-throughs, ensuring documentation and corrective actions are ready for review.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Strong working knowledge of OSHA regulations applicable to warehouses (OSHA 1910 series) and the ability to interpret and apply standards to operational activities.
Experience conducting incident investigations and root cause analysis using structured methodologies (5 Whys, Fishbone/Cause-and-Effect).
Forklift / Powered Industrial Truck familiarity and ability to audit operator certification; knowledge of reach trucks, pallet jacks, and order pickers.
Proficient in Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures, machine guarding assessment and control implementation.
Competence with PPE selection programs, respirator programs (fit testing knowledge a plus), and fall protection systems.
Experience using EHS software for incident reporting, inspections, corrective action tracking, and training management (examples: iAuditor, Enablon, Intelex, VelocityEHS).
Ability to develop and deliver safety training and toolbox talks and maintain training records in Learning Management Systems (LMS).
Practical ergonomics assessment capabilities and knowledge of controls to reduce manual material handling injuries.
Basic data analysis skills: extracting, cleaning and visualizing safety data (Excel advanced functions, pivot tables; Power BI/Tableau experience advantageous).
Knowledge of hazardous materials management, SDS handling, spill response and basic HAZMAT awareness.
Familiarity with emergency response planning, evacuation drills and first-aid/AED program administration.
Experience with racking inspections, load capacity calculations and warehouse storage best practices.
Competence auditing contractor safety programs and conducting pre-job safety briefings.

Soft Skills

Strong oral and written communication skills with the ability to clearly present findings and influence site leaders and frontline employees.
Excellent observational skills and attention to detail to identify latent hazards and unsafe behaviors.
Problem-solving and critical thinking mindset to prioritize risk-reduction activities based on impact and feasibility.
Customer-service orientation: able to partner with operations, HR and maintenance to enable safe productivity.
Leadership presence and the ability to deliver training and lead safety meetings with credibility.
Time management and organizational skills to manage multiple safety projects, inspections and corrective actions.
Diplomacy and conflict resolution skills when enforcing safety policies or addressing non-compliance.
Continuous improvement mindset with openness to learn and adapt to new safety technologies and methodologies.
Integrity and accountability in maintaining accurate records and following through on corrective action ownership.
Collaborative team player who can work across shifts, functions and with third-party vendors.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High School Diploma or GED required.

Preferred Education:

Associate degree or Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Health, Industrial Technology, Industrial Engineering, or a related field preferred.
Professional safety certifications preferred: OSHA 10/30, Certified Safety Technician (CST), Associate Safety Professional (ASP) or Certified Safety Professional (CSP), or relevant credentials (NEBOSH, CIH fundamentals).

Relevant Fields of Study:

Occupational Safety & Health
Environmental Health & Safety (EHS)
Industrial Engineering / Technology
Logistics, Supply Chain Management
Facilities or Maintenance Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–5 years of hands-on experience in warehouse safety, operations safety, or EHS technician roles.

Preferred:

3+ years in a distribution center or manufacturing environment with direct responsibility for site safety programs.
Demonstrated experience with OSHA compliance, incident investigation and safety training facilitation.
Experience implementing corrective action plans, working with cross-functional teams, and using EHS software for tracking incidents and audits.