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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Technical Safety Specialist

💰 $95,000 - $160,000

EngineeringSafety & ComplianceOil & GasChemicalManufacturingEnergy

🎯 Role Definition

The Technical Safety Specialist is the cornerstone of an organization's commitment to operational integrity and risk management. This role serves as the subject matter expert on all matters related to process and functional safety, proactively identifying potential hazards within industrial processes and engineering systems. By applying rigorous analytical methods and deep knowledge of industry standards, the specialist engineers solutions that protect people, the environment, and company assets. This is not just a compliance function; it's a leadership role dedicated to embedding a deep-seated culture of safety and driving technical excellence to prevent major accidents.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Process Engineer
  • Instrumentation & Control Engineer
  • Chemical Engineer

Advancement To:

  • Senior or Lead Technical Safety Specialist
  • Process Safety Manager
  • Engineering Manager or Technical Authority

Lateral Moves:

  • Risk Engineering Consultant
  • Reliability Engineer
  • Project Engineering Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Lead, facilitate, and meticulously document comprehensive Process Hazard Analyses (PHAs), including Hazard and Operability studies (HAZOP), What-If analyses, and Failure Modes and Effects Analyses (FMEA) for new projects and existing facilities.
  • Perform and document Layer of Protection Analysis (LOPA) to determine the required independence and integrity of protection layers and to define Safety Integrity Level (SIL) targets for Safety Instrumented Functions (SIFs).
  • Develop, review, and maintain detailed Safety Requirement Specifications (SRS) for Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS), ensuring they are clear, concise, and verifiable throughout the safety lifecycle.
  • Execute SIL verification calculations using industry-standard software (e.g., exSILentia) to ensure the designed SIS architecture meets the required risk reduction targets and is compliant with IEC 61511.
  • Provide expert technical safety guidance and oversight for capital projects, from conceptual design through to commissioning and startup, ensuring safety-in-design principles are rigorously applied.
  • Champion the Management of Change (MOC) process by thoroughly reviewing proposed modifications to facilities, processes, or procedures to assess their impact on safety and risk profiles.
  • Conduct and/or lead formal incident investigations and root cause analyses (RCA) for process safety events and significant near-misses, developing effective corrective and preventive actions.
  • Interpret and ensure ongoing compliance with critical national and international safety standards, including IEC 61508, IEC 61511, ISA-84, API, and relevant OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) regulations.
  • Develop and maintain essential process safety information (PSI), including safe operating limits, cause and effect diagrams, and consequence analysis documentation.
  • Perform consequence modeling for potential loss-of-containment scenarios, including dispersion, fire, and explosion modeling, using software like PHAST or SAFETI.
  • Develop and participate in the validation of Functional Safety Assessments (FSA) at all stages of the safety lifecycle to confirm that the SIS and its components are correctly designed, installed, and operating as intended.
  • Review and provide technical approval for safety-critical documentation, including P&IDs, control narratives, operating procedures, and emergency response plans.
  • Establish and monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for process safety, analyzing trends and reporting on the health of safety barriers and management systems to leadership.
  • Act as the primary technical interface with regulatory agencies, auditors, and insurance providers on matters pertaining to technical and process safety.
  • Mentor and coach junior engineers, operations personnel, and other stakeholders on technical safety concepts, standards, and best practices to build organizational competency.

Secondary Functions

  • Support the development and implementation of the site's mechanical integrity program for safety-critical equipment, ensuring inspection, testing, and preventive maintenance plans are robust.
  • Participate in facility siting studies and Quantitative Risk Assessments (QRA) to evaluate and manage overall site risk levels.
  • Conduct periodic audits and gap analyses of the Process Safety Management (PSM) system to identify areas for continuous improvement and ensure sustained compliance.
  • Develop and deliver specialized training modules and workshops on topics such as HAZOP participation, LOPA methodology, and management of change protocols.
  • Collaborate with procurement teams to ensure that purchased equipment and services for safety-critical applications meet specified safety and quality requirements.
  • Stay abreast of emerging industry trends, technologies, and regulatory changes in the field of technical safety and champion their adoption where beneficial.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Expertise in facilitating Process Hazard Analysis (PHA) methodologies (HAZOP, What-If, FMEA).
  • Proficiency in Layer of Protection Analysis (LOPA) and Safety Integrity Level (SIL) selection and verification.
  • In-depth knowledge of functional safety standards such as IEC 61511, IEC 61508, and ISA-84/ANSI 91.
  • Experience with process safety software tools (e.g., PHA-Pro, exSILentia, PHAST, SAFETI).
  • Strong understanding of OSHA's Process Safety Management (PSM) standard (29 CFR 1910.119) and EPA's Risk Management Program (RMP).
  • Ability to read and interpret complex engineering documents, including P&IDs, Cause & Effect charts, and control logic diagrams.
  • Competency in conducting incident investigations and applying Root Cause Analysis (RCA) techniques.
  • Familiarity with Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) principles and methodologies.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional analytical and critical thinking skills to dissect complex systems and identify potential failure modes.
  • Strong influencing and communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences, from plant operators to senior management.
  • Meticulous attention to detail, particularly in documentation, calculation review, and requirements specification.
  • A collaborative mindset with a proven ability to build consensus and work effectively within cross-functional teams.
  • Innate leadership and facilitation skills to guide teams through hazard analysis workshops and drive decision-making.
  • Robust problem-solving capabilities to develop practical, effective, and sustainable risk mitigation strategies.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree.

Preferred Education:

  • Master of Science (M.S.) degree and/or professional certifications.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Chemical Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Or a closely related technical field.

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 5-15 years of progressive experience in engineering, operations, or safety within a process-intensive industry.

Preferred: Possessing a relevant professional certification such as TÜV Functional Safety Engineer/Professional, Certified Safety Professional (CSP), or Professional Engineer (P.E.) license. Direct experience in high-hazard industries like oil & gas, petrochemicals, LNG, or specialty chemicals is highly valued.

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