The Director of Safety is a hands-on leader responsible for ensuring comprehensive EHS compliance across Ohio Gratings, Inc. and its affiliated entities. This role will shape and foster a robust safety culture by walking the production floor, collaborating with managers and associates, and developing forward-thinking safety initiatives. The Director will manage all EHS responsibilities, including regulatory filings, safety training, audits, and emergency response, while constantly striving for safety and environmental excellence.
Key Responsibilities:
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Regulatory Compliance & Audits: Ensure full compliance with federal, state, and local safety regulations, including EPA requirements, OSHA standards, and industry-specific environmental protocols. This includes water and air testing, waste management, and other EHS regulations that affect manufacturing operations in Ohio and other states.
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Safety Leadership: Serve as a visible, boots-on-the-ground leader, fostering an active safety culture by conducting daily safety walks with the safety coordinators, interacting with managers, supervisors, and associates, and leading by example in safe work practices.
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Continuous Improvement: Lead the Safety & EHS team in identifying potential risks, recommending improvements, and driving continuous enhancement of safety processes. Collaborate with operations teams to integrate safety into daily tasks, ensuring safety becomes a natural part of the workflow.
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Safety Training: Develop, implement, and manage comprehensive safety training programs, including ‘train the trainer’ initiatives. Ensure that all associates receive required safety training on time, and that training sessions cover key areas like emergency response, proper equipment use, and hazard awareness.
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Incident Management: Respond immediately to safety incidents, lead accident investigations, perform root cause analysis, and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence. Ensure that all incidents, including near misses, are properly documented and followed up with a sense of urgency.
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EHS Program Management: Oversee all aspects of the company’s EHS program, ensuring that all safety and environmental standards are maintained and that safety procedures are consistently followed across all facilities.
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Reporting & Recordkeeping: Oversee OSHA recordkeeping and ensure that all required filings and reports (including quarterly and annual safety reports) are accurate, timely, and submitted in compliance with regulatory requirements.
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Collaboration & Engagement: Act as a key safety liaison, working closely with HR, management, and production teams to promote a culture of safety and ensure alignment on safety protocols. Collaborate with teams on Job Hazard Analysis (JHA), ensuring thorough understanding and mitigation of workplace risks.
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Emergency Response: Serve as the first responder in safety incidents, providing immediate care and ensuring that emergency protocols are followed. Lead emergency response drills and training to prepare teams for real-life scenarios.
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Safety Inspections: Conduct regular inspections and audits across all facilities, identify areas of concern, and work with teams to address them proactively.
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Worker's Compensation & Risk Management: Partner with HR to manage workers' compensation claims, ensuring sensitive information is handled with confidentiality and providing support to affected employees.
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Team Leadership: Provide strong leadership to the Safety & EHS team, mentoring and guiding safety coordinators and associates. Build a high-performing team that is proactive in addressing safety challenges and committed to a culture of safety.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Health and Safety, Environmental Health, Safety Engineering, or a related field.
- Certification in Occupational Health and Safety Management (preferred).
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in occupational health and safety within an industrial or manufacturing environment, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
- Deep knowledge of OSHA standards, EPA regulations, and other relevant safety and environmental laws.
- Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and engagement across all levels of the organization.
- Proficiency in safety data analysis and MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
- Ability to travel to different facilities and perform safety inspections as required.
- Physical ability to lift up to 45 pounds and participate in on-call duties across all shifts.
Work Environment
This is a hands-on, active role requiring frequent interaction with employees at all levels of the organization. The position involves spending time on the production floor and office and may require travel to other company locations.
EEO Statement:
Our company is an equal opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants regardless of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic or status protected by local, state, or federal laws.