Safety Specialist - Oxford, AL

Job:                 Safety Specialist

Reports to:       Safety Manager

Job Summary:

The Safety Specialist – Oxford Operations is responsible for providing hands-on safety leadership and support for Epsilon's Oxford manufacturing facility.

This position will serve as the primary on-site safety resource for the Oxford operation and will work closely with the Oxford Plant Manager, Production leadership, supervisors, employees, Human Resources, Quality, and the Tuscaloosa Safety Manager to establish and maintain a safe, compliant, and proactive work environment

The Safety Specialist will implement Epsilon's established safety programs and procedures, conduct inspections and observations, provide employee training, investigate incidents, identify hazards, and ensure corrective actions are completed.

This position will play an important role in establishing Epsilon's safety culture as the Oxford facility is brought online and grows. The successful candidate must be comfortable working directly with employees on the manufacturing floor and must have the ability to identify hazards, communicate expectations, and work with Operations leadership to correct unsafe conditions.

Job Duties & Responsibilities                                                                         

On-Site Safety Leadership

• Serve as the primary day-to-day safety resource for the Oxford facility.
• Maintain a consistent and visible presence throughout the manufacturing operation.
• Conduct routine safety walks, inspections, and employee observations.
• Identify unsafe conditions, unsafe behaviors, and potential hazards.
• Immediately communicate significant safety concerns to appropriate Operations and Safety leadership.
• Assist supervisors and managers with correcting unsafe conditions and behaviors.
• Promote employee ownership and accountability for workplace safety.
• Support the development of a strong safety culture from the beginning of the Oxford operation.

Safety Program Implementation

• Implement Epsilon's company-wide safety policies, programs, and procedures at the Oxford facility.
• Work under the direction of the Tuscaloosa Safety Manager to maintain consistency between Epsilon locations.
• Assist with developing and maintaining Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs), Job Safety Analyses (JSAs), SOPs, and safe-work practices.
• Assist in evaluating safety requirements for new equipment, processes, tools, and facility modifications.
• Maintain required safety documentation and records.
• Assist with internal and external safety audits and inspections.

Manufacturing Floor Safety

• Monitor and promote compliance with safety requirements related to:
• Personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Lockout/Tagout
• Machine guarding
• Welding and hot work
• Grinding and cutting
• Fall protection
• Electrical safety
• Overhead cranes
• Rigging and material handling
• Forklifts and powered industrial trucks
• Compressed gases
• Hazardous materials and chemicals
• Housekeeping and workplace organization
• Ergonomics
• Emergency equipment and access
• Shipping and receiving operations
• Heavy and oversized material handling
• The Safety Specialist will work closely with Production leadership to ensure safety requirements are incorporated into daily work activities rather than treated as a separate administrative function.

Employee Training

• Conduct new-hire safety orientation for Oxford employees.
• Coordinate required safety training with the Tuscaloosa Safety Manager.
• Conduct toolbox talks and periodic safety training.
• Maintain employee training records.
• Identify additional training needs based on incidents, observations, process changes, and regulatory requirements.
• Assist supervisors in reinforcing safety expectations with their teams.
• Promote employee participation in hazard identification and near-miss reporting.

Incident Investigation

• Respond to workplace injuries, incidents, near misses, and property-damage events.
• Conduct or assist with incident investigations.
• Identify immediate, contributing, and root causes.
• Develop recommended corrective and preventive actions.
• Track corrective actions through completion.
• Communicate incident information to the Tuscaloosa Safety Manager and Oxford Operations leadership.
• Assist with OSHA recordkeeping and reporting requirements.
• Monitor incident trends and recommend improvements.

Inspections and Corrective Actions

• Conduct scheduled and unscheduled facility safety inspections.
• Document identified hazards and assign corrective actions.
• Maintain a corrective-action tracking system.
• Follow up with responsible personnel to ensure corrective actions are completed.
• Verify that corrective actions effectively address the identified hazard.
• Escalate overdue or unresolved safety issues to the Safety Manager and Oxford Plant Manager.

Emergency Preparedness

• Assist with implementing and maintaining the Oxford facility Emergency Action Plan.
• Conduct or assist with emergency drills.
• Support evacuation procedures and emergency response planning.
• Inspect emergency equipment and safety stations.

• Assist with maintaining eyewash stations, first-aid supplies, fire extinguishers, emergency exits, and other safety equipment.
• Support severe weather and other emergency preparedness activities.

Contractor and Visitor Safety

• Assist with establishing and enforcing contractor safety requirements.
• Monitor contractor activities for compliance with Epsilon safety requirements.
• Provide appropriate safety orientation to contractors and visitors when required.
• Coordinate with Operations regarding higher-risk contractor activities.

Regulatory Compliance

• Maintain working knowledge of applicable OSHA regulations and Epsilon safety requirements.
• Assist the Tuscaloosa Safety Manager with OSHA compliance activities.
• Maintain required OSHA records and documentation as assigned.
• Assist with regulatory inspections and responses.
• Stay informed regarding changes in applicable safety regulations and industry best practices.

Reporting Structure

• The Safety Specialist reports directly to the Tuscaloosa Safety Manager for safety program direction, standards, policies, training requirements, reporting, and overall safety performance.
• The Safety Specialist will work closely with the Oxford Plant Manager / General Manager regarding day-to-day operational safety matters, facility conditions, production activities, and corrective actions.
• The Safety Specialist is expected to maintain independence in identifying and reporting safety concerns while working collaboratively with Operations.

Authority

• The Safety Specialist is expected to immediately address unsafe conditions and behaviors.
• When an activity presents an imminent serious safety hazard, the Safety Specialist has the authority to recommend or initiate the appropriate immediate action, including stopping the affected work when necessary, and must promptly notify the Oxford Plant Manager and Tuscaloosa Safety Manager.
• The Safety Specialist is not responsible for replacing the safety responsibilities of supervisors, managers, or employees. Safety remains a shared responsibility throughout the organization.

Key Performance Indicators

• Performance will be measured using a combination of leading and lagging safety indicators, including:
• OSHA recordable incident rate
• Lost-time and restricted-duty incidents
• Near-miss reporting
• Safety observations completed
• Corrective-action closure rate
• Repeat safety violations
• Required training completion
• Safety inspection completion
• Incident investigation completion
• Employee participation in safety programs
• PPE and procedure compliance
• Improvement in overall safety performance and culture

Job Qualifications:

Required:

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 3+ years of safety experience in manufacturing, industrial construction, fabrication, mechanical, electrical, or a related industrial environment.
• Working knowledge of OSHA regulations and industrial safety practices.
• Experience conducting safety inspections and hazard assessments.
• Experience investigating workplace incidents.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively with hourly employees, supervisors, and management.
• Ability to work independently while following direction from the Tuscaloosa Safety Manager.
• Strong organizational and documentation skills.
• Preferred:
• Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Health & Safety, Industrial Safety, or related field.
• OSHA 30 certification.
• OSHA 10 certification.
• ASP, CSP, or other recognized safety certification.
• First Aid/CPR certification.
• Experience with OSHA recordkeeping.
• Experience in welding, fabrication, mechanical assembly, piping, electrical, or modular manufacturing.
• Experience with overhead cranes and rigging.
• Experience with Lockout/Tagout.
• Experience developing and delivering safety training.

Knowledge and Skills

• OSHA regulations and industrial safety practices
• Hazard identification and risk assessment
• Incident investigation and root-cause analysis
• Safety inspections
• Corrective-action management
• PPE requirements
• Lockout/Tagout
• Machine guarding
• Fall protection
• Hot work
• Crane and rigging safety
• Forklift safety
• Electrical safety
• Emergency response
• Employee safety training
• Safety documentation and recordkeeping
• Microsoft Word and Excel

Physical Requirements

• Ability to spend significant time walking and working throughout a manufacturing facility.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
• Ability to climb stairs and access various areas of a manufacturing facility.
• Ability to wear required PPE.
• Ability to work around welding, grinding, cutting, painting, cranes, forklifts, heavy equipment, industrial noise, and other manufacturing activities.
• Ability to work occasional extended hours, weekends, or other schedules when operational or safety requirements dictate.

Work Environment

• The Safety Specialist will work primarily in the Oxford manufacturing facility and will spend substantial time on the production floor.
• The work environment may include welding, fabrication, mechanical assembly, piping, electrical work, cranes, rigging, forklifts, heavy material handling, painting, elevated work, industrial noise, and other manufacturing activities.
• The Safety Specialist is expected to lead by example and maintain a professional, safety-focused presence at all times.

Core Expectations

• Promote the principle that every employee goes home safely every day.
• Lead by example.
• Be visible and engaged on the manufacturing floor.
• Identify hazards before they result in an incident.
• Address safety issues promptly and professionally.
• Build relationships with employees and Operations leadership.
• Maintain consistency with Epsilon's company-wide safety standards.
• Hold employees and leadership accountable to established safety requirements.
• Focus on prevention rather than reaction.
• Communicate clearly and consistently.
• Follow corrective actions through completion.
• Help establish and maintain a strong safety culture at the Oxford facility.
• Support Epsilon's growth while maintaining safety as a fundamental operating priority.