Overview

A safety director is responsible for leading the health, safety and environmental programs at organizations to reduce accidents and other injuries that are related to work. They design and monitor safety programs using data trends and make necessary changes to the program such as increasing safety measures when needed. Safety directors look to create proactive safety cultures at workplaces where employees feel comfortable to voice their concerns.

What responsibilities will I have?

• Direct and supervise an organization’s health, safety and environmental teams
• Develop and update health, safety and environmental programs
• Promote a proactive safety culture
• Create metrics for measuring the effectiveness of safety programs
• Identify and communicate workplace hazards with staff
• Have a strong understanding of state and federal safety regulations
• Conduct accident investigations, reviews and root cause analyses
• Facilitate relationships with local regulatory agents and respond to any concerns they may have
• Maintain and periodically review risk management systems
• Participate in meetings with others in upper-level management
• Manage the budget for health and safety programs
• Conduct on-site workplace inspections to identify workplace hazards
• Work with individual facility supervisors to improve their operational safety
• Coordinate training for safety and environmental programs
• Identify undesirable trends and make recommendations for corrective actions
• Implement and maintain emergency response plans, including the crisis management escalation reports
• Support human resources with benefits programs

What education and training is required?

A bachelor’s degree in occupational health and safety is typically required to become a safety manager. Alternatively, an associate or bachelor's degree in human health, engineering, chemistry or environmental health sciences is an option. Typically, experience working in occupational health is required to entering this managerial role.

To pursue a career as an Safety Director:

The following high school courses are recommended: agricultural education, anatomy, biology, mathematics, chemistry and physics.

Where can I work?

Safety directors typically work for manufacturing and processing facilities across multiple industries including the food, beverage, chemical, animal and seed industries. All workplaces are required to have occupational health and safety programs.

Future Job Market / Outlook

Good

Suggested Professional Organizations and Associations

• National Association of Safety Professionals
• National Safety Council