Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Safety Engineering Specialist

🎯 Role Definition

The Safety Engineering Specialist is the technical backbone of our organization's health and safety framework. This role moves beyond simple compliance, acting as a proactive strategist and hands-on problem-solver dedicated to creating an inherently safer work environment. This individual is a subject matter expert who applies engineering principles and safety science to identify, analyze, and mitigate risks across all operational facets. By designing and implementing robust safety systems, programs, and procedures, the Safety Engineering Specialist not only protects our people and assets but also drives a world-class safety culture, ensuring that safety is a core value integrated into every process and decision.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

EHS Coordinator or Generalist
Junior Safety Engineer or Officer
Process Engineer or Mechanical Engineer with a safety focus

Advancement To:

Senior Safety Engineering Specialist or Lead Safety Engineer
EHS Manager or Corporate Director of Safety
Process Safety Manager (PSM)

Lateral Moves:

Risk Management Specialist
Compliance Manager
Industrial Hygiene Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Spearhead and meticulously document comprehensive Process Hazard Analyses (PHAs), such as Hazard and Operability Studies (HAZOPs), What-If analyses, and Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) for new and existing processes.
Develop, implement, and manage sophisticated safety programs, including Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), Confined Space Entry, Hot Work, Machine Guarding, and Fall Protection, ensuring they meet or exceed regulatory standards.
Conduct in-depth incident investigations and root cause analyses (RCA) for all safety-related events, developing and tracking corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs) to prevent recurrence.
Serve as the technical authority on federal, state, and local safety regulations (e.g., OSHA, EPA), interpreting complex standards and ensuring the organization's policies and procedures maintain full compliance.
Design and review engineering controls to mitigate occupational hazards, collaborating with engineering and maintenance teams on projects involving facility modifications, new equipment installation, and process changes.
Perform detailed ergonomic assessments and risk analyses of workstations and manual tasks, recommending modifications to equipment, processes, and workflows to reduce musculoskeletal injury risks.
Manage and audit the site's Safety Management System (SMS), aligning it with standards like ISO 45001, and drive continuous improvement through regular performance reviews and gap analyses.
Develop and deliver engaging and technically accurate safety training content for employees, contractors, and management on a wide range of topics, from hazard communication to emergency response.
Conduct comprehensive safety audits and inspections of facilities, equipment, and work practices to identify potential hazards and non-compliance issues, and partner with leadership to implement solutions.
Evaluate and approve new chemicals and materials through a rigorous safety review process, managing the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) library and ensuring compliance with Hazard Communication standards.
Provide expert safety engineering support for Management of Change (MOC) processes, ensuring all modifications to equipment, procedures, and materials are thoroughly vetted for potential safety impacts.
Develop and oversee emergency preparedness and response plans, coordinating drills and exercises to ensure the workforce is prepared for potential incidents like fires, chemical spills, or medical emergencies.
Analyze leading and lagging safety metrics and data trends to identify areas of concern, generate insightful reports for leadership, and provide data-driven recommendations for strategic safety initiatives.
Champion a proactive safety culture by building strong relationships with frontline employees and supervisors, actively participating in safety committees, and promoting employee involvement in safety programs.
Review capital projects and equipment specifications from a safety-by-design perspective, ensuring that new investments incorporate best-in-class safety features from the outset.
Manage contractor safety programs, including pre-qualification, orientation, and ongoing monitoring, to ensure that third-party personnel adhere to all site safety requirements.
Lead or participate in industrial hygiene monitoring activities (e.g., noise, air quality) to quantify employee exposures and verify the effectiveness of existing controls.
Author, review, and update technical safety procedures, standards, and guidelines to ensure they remain current, effective, and user-friendly for the intended audience.
Act as a key liaison during regulatory inspections and audits from agencies like OSHA, effectively communicating the site's safety programs and responding to any inquiries or findings.
Mentor junior EHS staff, technicians, and operational team members, sharing technical expertise and fostering their professional development in health and safety.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc safety data requests and conduct exploratory analysis on incident trends and leading indicator data.
Contribute to the organization's long-term environmental, health, and safety (EHS) strategy and technology roadmap.
Collaborate with operational and business units to translate production goals and business objectives into actionable and integrated safety improvement plans.
Participate in site leadership meetings, sprint planning, and continuous improvement (Lean/Six Sigma) initiatives, representing the safety function.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Regulatory Expertise: Deep, practical knowledge of OSHA (1910 & 1926), EPA, and NFPA standards.
Process Hazard Analysis (PHA): Proficiency in leading and documenting methodologies like HAZOP, FMEA, and What-If.
Root Cause Analysis (RCA): Mastery of techniques such as 5-Whys, Fishbone Diagrams, and TapRooT®.
Safety Management Systems (SMS): Experience implementing and auditing systems based on ISO 45001, ANSI Z10, or VPP.
Industrial Hygiene: Foundational knowledge of anticipating, recognizing, evaluating, and controlling occupational health hazards (chemical, physical, biological).
Ergonomics: Ability to conduct ergonomic risk assessments using tools like RULA, REBA, or NIOSH Lifting Equation.
Engineering Principles: Strong understanding of engineering controls, safety-by-design, and machine guarding standards.
Incident Investigation: Skilled in leading comprehensive investigations and developing effective corrective actions.
Technical Writing: Ability to create clear, concise, and technically accurate safety procedures, reports, and training materials.
Data Analysis: Competence in analyzing safety metrics, identifying trends, and presenting data to influence decision-making.

Soft Skills

Influence & Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences and persuade stakeholders at all levels without direct authority.
Problem-Solving: A systematic and analytical approach to identifying problems, evaluating options, and implementing effective and sustainable solutions.
Attention to Detail: Meticulous in reviewing procedures, conducting inspections, and documenting findings to ensure accuracy and compliance.
Resilience and Composure: Ability to remain calm, professional, and decisive when managing high-pressure situations, including emergency response and incident investigations.
Collaboration & Teamwork: A natural ability to build partnerships and work effectively across different departments, including operations, engineering, and maintenance.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree from an accredited university or college.

Preferred Education:

Master of Science (M.S.) in a relevant field.
Professional certification such as Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), or Professional Engineer (P.E.).

Relevant Fields of Study:

Occupational Health & Safety or Safety Engineering
Chemical, Mechanical, or Industrial Engineering
Environmental Science or a related technical field

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 5-10 years of progressive experience in a health and safety engineering role.

Preferred: Experience in a high-hazard environment such as chemical processing, heavy manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, or oil & gas is highly desirable. Demonstrated success in leading major safety initiatives and driving cultural change.