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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Certified Safety Professional (CSP)

💰 $90,000 - $150,000

SafetyEHSOccupational HealthCompliance

🎯 Role Definition

We are seeking an experienced Certified Safety Professional (CSP) to lead and elevate our health, safety and environmental (HSE/EHS) programs across multi-site operations. The CSP will design, implement and continuously improve safety management systems to reduce risk, ensure regulatory compliance (OSHA, DOT, NFPA, local/state regulations), and foster a proactive safety culture. This role partners with operations, engineering, human resources and executive leadership to deliver measurable safety performance improvements and to drive employee engagement in safety initiatives.

Key SEO terms: Certified Safety Professional, CSP, safety management, OSHA compliance, incident investigation, risk assessment, safety training, ISO 45001, process safety management.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Safety Coordinator / Safety Officer
  • EHS Specialist / Environmental Health & Safety Specialist
  • Construction Safety Technician or Site Safety Lead

Advancement To:

  • EHS Manager / Senior EHS Manager
  • Director of Safety / Head of Safety & Compliance
  • VP of EHS / Chief Safety Officer

Lateral Moves:

  • Regulatory Compliance Manager
  • Risk & Insurance Manager
  • Quality Manager / Quality & Safety Integration Lead

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Develop, implement and maintain a comprehensive enterprise-wide safety management system (SMS) aligned with ISO 45001 and industry best practices, ensuring consistent processes for hazard identification, risk assessment, mitigation and continuous improvement.
  • Lead and execute detailed job hazard analyses (JHAs), task hazard assessments and safe work permit programs (e.g., hot work, confined space, lockout/tagout) to prevent incidents and ensure regulatory compliance.
  • Conduct complex incident investigations using root cause analysis methodologies (e.g., TapRoot, 5 Whys, Fault Tree Analysis) and lead corrective action development, implementation tracking and verification to prevent recurrence.
  • Manage OSHA recordkeeping and reporting obligations, including OSHA 300/301 logs, timely reporting of OSHA recordable incidents, fatalities and severe incidents; prepare documentation for regulatory inspections and audits.
  • Perform routine and ad-hoc site safety inspections, audits and compliance assessments across facilities and construction sites, identify non-conformances, write detailed corrective action plans and follow up to closure.
  • Develop, deliver and evaluate comprehensive safety training programs (new hire, refresher, task-specific and leadership training), including curriculum, training materials, competencies and training records management.
  • Oversee contractor safety management programs—prequalification, contract language for safety requirements, site-based orientation, monitoring contractor performance and ensuring integration with company safety standards.
  • Lead process safety management (PSM) and chemical hazard programs where applicable: PSM compliance, HAZOP/What-If studies, management of change (MOC), PSSR, process hazard analyses and emergency shut-down procedures.
  • Design, implement and maintain behavioral-based safety initiatives and employee engagement programs to increase near-miss reporting, participation in safety observations and frontline ownership of safety practices.
  • Coordinate emergency preparedness and response plans, including development of emergency action plans, drills, tabletop exercises, communication protocols and liaison with local emergency responders.
  • Establish and monitor key safety performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics (TRIR, DART, LTIR, near-miss frequency, corrective action closure rate), prepare monthly/quarterly safety performance dashboards and present findings to senior leadership.
  • Manage PPE programs including hazard assessments, selection, procurement standards, fit testing programs and training to ensure proper use and compliance with OSHA and NFPA 70E requirements where applicable.
  • Oversee ergonomic programs and injury prevention initiatives: ergonomic assessments, workstation design recommendations, return-to-work and light-duty coordination with HR and occupational health providers.
  • Ensure hazardous materials management compliance (HAZMAT, HAZCOM/GHS, SDS management), coordinate spill response planning, and maintain required permits and documentation for storage and transport of hazardous substances.
  • Lead site-level and corporate safety audits for regulatory compliance (OSHA, state agencies, DOT) and third-party certifications (ISO 45001, ISO 14001), prepare audit responses and implement system-level corrective actions.
  • Manage and coach a team of safety professionals, providing mentorship, performance feedback, development plans and ensuring consistent application of policies and procedures across sites.
  • Partner with operations and engineering to integrate safety into project design and capital projects via safety reviews, risk-in-design assessments and MOC processes to avoid hazards being designed into systems.
  • Maintain vendor and equipment qualification programs for safety-critical equipment (fall protection systems, gas detection, confined space rescue equipment), ensuring calibration, inspection and certification schedules are met.
  • Develop and manage the EHS budget: capital and operating expenses for safety programs, training, PPE, monitoring equipment and contracted services while tracking ROI on major safety investments.
  • Act as company representative and regulatory liaison during inspections, investigations and enforcement actions; prepare responses, negotiate abatement timelines and ensure timely completion of required remedial actions.
  • Implement and maintain driver and fleet safety programs including driver qualification, hours-of-service compliance, vehicle maintenance audits and telematics usage to reduce motor vehicle incidents.
  • Maintain up-to-date knowledge of industry regulations and standards (OSHA 29 CFR 1910/1926, NFPA, EPA, DOT) and provide regulatory interpretation, impact analyses and recommended changes to company policy and training.
  • Establish and manage a robust near-miss and incident reporting process that facilitates timely investigation, trending analysis and dissemination of lessons learned across the organization.
  • Coordinate occupational health relationships including industrial hygiene monitoring, noise surveys, air sampling, respirator programs and medical surveillance to meet regulatory and programmatic requirements.
  • Drive continuous improvement projects using Lean/Six Sigma principles to eliminate hazards, improve safety processes and reduce incident rates while documenting benefits and sustaining improvements.

Secondary Functions

  • Support corporate safety communications, prepare safety bulletins, alerts and monthly newsletters to increase awareness of risks and preventive controls.
  • Assist HR with workers' compensation case management, return-to-work plans, light-duty placement and collaboration with medical providers.
  • Provide technical input for insurance and risk assessments, contribute to loss-control recommendations and work with brokers/insurers to manage premiums and claims.
  • Support sustainability and environmental programs where safety and environmental risk overlap, including waste handling, spill prevention and emergency planning.
  • Participate in cross-functional project teams for continuous improvement initiatives, site start-ups, shutdowns and major maintenance activities to ensure safety is embedded in planning phases.
  • Mentor and develop less-experienced EHS staff through formal coaching, on-the-job training and succession planning.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Certified Safety Professional (CSP) certification required or strongly preferred; knowledge of ASP/CIH/CHST is a plus.
  • Deep working knowledge of OSHA regulations (29 CFR 1910/1926), DOT hazmat regulations, NFPA standards and applicable state/local safety codes.
  • Experience implementing and maintaining ISO 45001-compliant safety management systems, including internal auditing and certification readiness.
  • Proficient in incident investigation and root cause analysis techniques (TapRoot, 5 Whys, Ishikawa) with demonstrated ability to produce corrective action plans and verify effectiveness.
  • Competence in process safety management (PSM) elements: HAZOP, MOC, PSSR, and PHA facilitation for facilities handling hazardous chemicals.
  • Strong experience with job hazard analysis (JHA/JSA), permit-to-work systems, LOTO programs and confined space entry procedures.
  • Proficiency with EHS software and tools: incident management systems, audit platforms, training LMS, document control systems and basic CMMS integration.
  • Practical knowledge of industrial hygiene monitoring, respiratory protection programs, PPE selection and fit testing; experience with noise, air and exposure assessments.
  • Data-driven skills: ability to develop, maintain and interpret safety KPIs and dashboards using Excel, Power BI, Tableau or similar analytics tools.
  • Familiarity with contractor safety management systems, pre-qualification processes and on-site contractor oversight.
  • Skilled in emergency response planning, crisis management, tabletop exercises and coordination with local emergency services.
  • Working knowledge of fall protection systems, scaffolding, powered industrial trucks and equipment safety standards.

Soft Skills

  • Strong leadership and people management skills with experience leading cross-functional teams and influencing at all organizational levels.
  • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; ability to craft clear safety policies, training materials and executive-level presentations.
  • Analytical mindset with strong problem-solving capabilities and attention to detail to drive root-cause corrective actions.
  • High level of initiative, decisiveness and the ability to prioritize in a fast-paced, operational environment.
  • Collaborative approach; proven ability to build relationships with operations, maintenance, HR and external stakeholders.
  • Training and coaching skills with the ability to motivate frontline employees to adopt safer behaviors and participate in safety programs.
  • Conflict resolution and negotiation skills for dealing with contractors, regulators and internal stakeholders during incidents or compliance discussions.
  • Adaptability and resilience to manage change, regulatory updates and emergency response situations.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety & Health, Environmental Health, Industrial Hygiene, Engineering (Mechanical/Chemical), or related technical discipline.

Preferred Education:

  • Master's degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Management, Industrial Hygiene or an MBA with relevant EHS coursework is preferred.
  • Additional certifications such as CIH (Certified Industrial Hygienist), CHST, OHST, or PE in a related discipline are advantageous.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Occupational Safety & Health
  • Environmental Health & Safety
  • Industrial Hygiene
  • Mechanical, Chemical or Industrial Engineering
  • Emergency Management / Public Safety

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 5 – 15+ years of progressive EHS experience, including site-level and corporate program leadership.

Preferred:

  • 7+ years in safety leadership roles with demonstrated success reducing incident rates and implementing safety management systems.
  • CSP certification strongly preferred or required, with experience managing multi-site operations, conducting regulatory audits and leading incident investigations.
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