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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Health and Safety Coordinator

💰 $ - $

Health & SafetyComplianceOperationsEnvironment

🎯 Role Definition

The Health and Safety Coordinator is responsible for developing, implementing and maintaining workplace safety programs that reduce risk, ensure regulatory compliance (OSHA, local/state regulations, ISO 45001 where applicable), and promote a culture of safety across operations. This role performs hazard identification and risk assessments, leads incident investigations and corrective actions, delivers employee safety training, coordinates emergency preparedness, and supports internal and external audits. The ideal Health and Safety Coordinator has hands-on experience with safety management systems, strong investigative and communication skills, and proven ability to partner with site leadership and frontline teams to drive measurable safety improvements.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Safety Technician / Safety Assistant with 0–2 years’ experience
  • Site Supervisor / Foreman stepping into an H&S role
  • Environmental Health intern or Compliance Coordinator

Advancement To:

  • Health and Safety Manager / HSE Manager
  • Regional Health & Safety Lead / HSE Business Partner
  • EHS Director or Safety Program Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Environmental Compliance Coordinator
  • Risk Management Analyst
  • Quality, Safety & Environmental (QSE) Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Develop, implement and continuously improve site and company-wide health and safety programs, policies and procedures to ensure compliance with local, state and federal regulations, company standards, and applicable ISO or industry frameworks (for example ISO 45001).
  • Conduct regular hazard identification, job safety analyses (JSAs) and risk assessments for operational tasks, construction activities and maintenance work, and document recommended controls and mitigation plans.
  • Lead and manage incident reporting and investigation processes for near-misses, injuries, property damage and environmental incidents, perform root cause analysis (RCA), and track corrective and preventive actions to closure.
  • Maintain accurate, auditable records of all safety inspections, incidents, training, permits and corrective actions; prepare monthly and quarterly H&S performance reports and metrics (TRIR, LTIR, near-miss rates, corrective action closure rates).
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for regulatory inspections and audits (OSHA, local authorities), prepare required documentation, coordinate site responses and implement corrective actions resulting from inspection findings.
  • Plan, schedule and deliver effective safety training programs and toolbox talks, including new-hire onboarding, PPE usage, lockout/tagout, confined space entry, working at heights, fire safety and emergency response drills.
  • Manage the site permit-to-work systems (hot work permits, confined space entry permits, electrical permits), ensuring strict compliance and proper authorization for hazardous tasks.
  • Conduct regular safety audits and walkthroughs across facilities and job sites to monitor compliance with safety standards, contractor performance, and housekeeping practices; provide timely feedback and follow-up.
  • Coordinate occupational health programs, including medical surveillance, hearing conservation, ergonomic assessments and return-to-work procedures in partnership with HR and medical providers.
  • Oversee contractor prequalification and ongoing contractor safety performance, perform contractor safety orientations, and verify contractor compliance with company H&S requirements.
  • Evaluate, recommend and monitor use of personal protective equipment (PPE), ensure inventory and availability, and enforce proper use across operations.
  • Develop, update and maintain emergency response and business continuity plans, lead emergency response teams during drills and real events, and coordinate with local emergency services when required.
  • Support capital projects and engineering changes by reviewing designs and scope for safety risks, participating in pre-construction safety reviews and ensuring safe project execution.
  • Analyze H&S data and leading indicators to identify trends and prioritize interventions; propose and implement behavior-based safety initiatives and continuous improvement activities to drive injury reduction.
  • Ensure Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS/SDS) management and hazardous materials handling is current, compliant, and communicated to relevant personnel.
  • Coordinate ergonomics assessments and implement controls to reduce musculoskeletal injury risks in repetitive or manual handling jobs.
  • Facilitate and lead safety committees, cross-functional H&S meetings, and worker engagement initiatives to promote ownership and two-way communication on safety concerns.
  • Implement and manage lockout/tagout (LOTO) and energy isolation programs, ensuring proper procedures, training and auditing.
  • Provide technical support and coaching to supervisors and front-line employees on incident prevention, corrective actions and safe work procedures.
  • Prepare and present executive-level safety performance summaries and recommendations to site leadership and corporate teams to influence investment and policy decisions.
  • Manage waste and environmental safety aspects related to operations (chemical storage, spill control, disposal practices) to reduce environmental risk and regulatory exposure.
  • Coordinate onboarding and ongoing competency assessments for safety-critical roles, ensuring personnel are qualified to perform assigned tasks safely.

Secondary Functions

  • Support development and maintenance of digital safety systems and databases (incident management, training LMS, inspection checklists) and assist with data integrity and reporting requirements.
  • Assist procurement and facilities teams in selecting safety-critical equipment and engineering controls (guarding, ventilation, fall protection) and validate their installation against safety specifications.
  • Participate in corporate HSE initiatives, benchmarking and sharing best practices across sites to standardize successful safety interventions.
  • Provide administrative support for safety certifications and permits, maintaining licenses, certifications and training records for the site.
  • Coordinate with HR on disciplinary action and corrective coaching linked to safety violations or repeated non-compliance.
  • Support sustainability and environmental compliance projects that intersect with occupational health and safety objectives.
  • Act as a point-of-contact to support external stakeholders (clients, insurers, regulators) for safety-related questions and documentation requests.
  • Assist with budget tracking for safety programs, PPE purchases, training costs and small capital safety projects.
  • Help develop and maintain site signage, safety communications, and safety incentive programs that drive visibility and awareness.
  • Participate in cross-functional teams for process improvement, risk reduction and product safety as needed.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Strong working knowledge of OSHA regulations (or local regulatory equivalents), and experience applying regulatory requirements to day-to-day operations.
  • Experience implementing and maintaining ISO 45001-aligned safety management systems or equivalent EHS management frameworks.
  • Proficiency in conducting incident investigations and root cause analysis (RCA) techniques such as 5 Whys, Fishbone (Ishikawa), or TapRooT.
  • Risk assessment and job safety analysis (JSA/JHA) competency, including experience documenting controls and verification steps.
  • Practical knowledge of permit-to-work systems (hot work, confined space, electrical) and lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures.
  • Experience performing safety audits and inspections, generating corrective action plans and tracking closure.
  • Competence with hazardous materials management, SDS/MSDS systems, chemical inventory control and spill response.
  • Ability to develop and deliver training programs and toolbox talks; experience with learning management systems (LMS) is a plus.
  • Familiarity with personal protective equipment (PPE) selection and compliance monitoring.
  • Proficiency in H&S reporting and metrics (TRIR, LTIR, incident rates), and experience using Excel, Power BI, or other reporting tools.
  • Knowledge of emergency response planning, fire safety, and first-aid/medical surveillance coordination.
  • Experience managing contractor safety programs and contractor prequalification processes.
  • Experience with ergonomics assessments and mitigation strategies for repetitive strain and manual handling risks.
  • Working knowledge of environmental regulations that intersect with safety (waste handling, air emissions, spill prevention).

Soft Skills

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to prepare clear reports, present to leadership and coach frontline workers.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and gain buy-in from cross-functional teams and site leadership.
  • Analytical mindset and attention to detail, able to synthesize incident data into actionable recommendations.
  • Problem-solving and decision-making skills under pressure, especially during incident response or emergencies.
  • Organizational skills and the ability to prioritize multiple safety initiatives in a dynamic operations environment.
  • Leadership and facilitation skills for running safety committees, training sessions and cross-functional workshops.
  • Strong customer-service orientation when supporting internal stakeholders and external regulators.
  • Change-management aptitude to help embed safety culture and new procedures into daily operations.
  • Integrity, resilience, and a visible commitment to personal and corporate safety values.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or equivalent is required; post-secondary certificate in Occupational Health & Safety or related field preferred.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Occupational Health & Safety, Environmental Health, Industrial Hygiene, Safety Engineering, Environmental Science, or a related technical discipline.
  • Professional certifications such as OSHA 30, NEBOSH General Certificate, Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), or other recognized HSE certifications are highly desirable.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Occupational Health & Safety
  • Environmental Science / Engineering
  • Industrial Hygiene
  • Safety Engineering
  • Public Health

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 2–5 years of progressive experience in occupational health and safety or related roles; entry-level candidates with strong certification and internship experience may be considered.

Preferred:

  • 3–7 years of hands-on H&S experience in manufacturing, construction, energy, heavy industry, or similar operational environments.
  • Demonstrated experience leading incident investigations, managing safety audits, delivering training, and driving measurable safety improvements.
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