Position Purpose:
The Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Representative is responsible for coordinating and performing the technical safety and environmental activities necessary to support daily plant operations while ensuring compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations. This position serves as a key resource to plant leadership, supervisors, and employees by developing safety and environmental programs, maintaining regulatory compliance, supporting the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System, and fostering a culture of safety and environmental stewardship throughout the facility.
The EHS Representative works closely with management and employees to develop the knowledge, skills, and accountability of supervisors, enabling them to lead safety and environmental initiatives within their respective departments.
Essential Functions:
Safety Compliance
- Maintain working knowledge of OSHA and applicable state safety regulations and ensure compliance throughout the facility.
- Conduct safety inspections, audits, and assessments to identify hazards and regulatory compliance gaps.
- Review new equipment, processes, and materials for safety compliance.
- Support investigations of workplace incidents and recommend corrective actions.
- Promote effective communication among management, supervisors, and employees regarding safety expectations and performance.
Safety Program Development
- Develop, implement, and continuously improve safety programs and initiatives.
- Support strategic planning of safety awareness programs such as 5S, housekeeping audits, hazard identification initiatives, and employee engagement activities.
- Monitor program effectiveness using safety metrics and performance data.
- Lead and coordinate plant safety committee activities to maintain employee involvement and engagement.
Environmental Compliance
- Maintain working knowledge of EPA, state environmental regulations, and applicable environmental requirements.
- Conduct inspections and audits to ensure environmental compliance.
- Support waste management and waste reduction initiatives.
- Partner with plant leadership to promote environmental responsibility and compliance throughout the facility.
ISO 14001 Environmental Management System
- Serve as the Environmental Management Representative for the facility.
- Maintain and support all elements of the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System.
- Coordinate internal and external environmental audits.
- Work with auditors, supervisors, and management to address deficiencies and implement corrective actions.
- Support continual improvement initiatives related to environmental performance.
Training and Development
- Develop and deliver safety and environmental training programs.
- Establish and maintain a train-the-trainer network to enhance supervisory ownership of training activities.
- Track training requirements and ensure compliance with all required safety and environmental training.
- Audit training effectiveness and identify opportunities for improvement.
- Develop lesson plans, training materials, and educational resources.
Regulatory Agency Relations
- Serve as the primary point of contact for regulatory agencies.
- Accompany regulatory representatives during facility inspections.
- Prepare responses and supporting documentation for agency inquiries.
- Coordinate corrective action plans resulting from regulatory inspections or findings.
Budget and Resource Management
- Develop and manage departmental budgets for safety and environmental programs.
- Monitor expenditures and ensure resources are used effectively.
- Develop contingency plans to maintain compliance and support business needs during changing economic or operational conditions.
Data Management and Reporting
- Develop systems for collecting, tracking, and analyzing safety and environmental performance data.
- Prepare reports for plant leadership and corporate stakeholders.
- Monitor key performance indicators and identify trends requiring corrective action.
- Ensure timely and accurate reporting of required regulatory and corporate metrics.
Policy and Procedure Development
- Develop and maintain safety policies, procedures, and work instructions.
- Ensure consistent implementation and compliance throughout the facility.
- Collaborate with supervisors and employees in policy development and continuous improvement efforts.
- Train supervisors and employees on policy updates and procedural requirements.
Injury and Claims Management
- Coordinate workplace injury management activities.
- Partner with occupational health providers and workers' compensation carriers.
- Support return-to-work and transitional duty programs.
- Work to reduce recordable injuries, lost workdays, and restricted work activity through proactive interventions and corrective actions.
Education:
- Bachelor's degree in Occupational Health & Safety, Environmental Science, Safety Management, Industrial Technology, or a related field preferred.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Minimum of two to three (2-3) years of safety leadership experience in an industrial or manufacturing environment.
- Experience with environmental compliance programs preferred.
- Experience with ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems preferred.
- Knowledge of OSHA regulations and workplace safety requirements.
- Knowledge of EPA and applicable state environmental regulations.
- Understanding of risk assessment, incident investigation, hazard identification, and corrective action processes.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
- Experience with safety and environmental data management systems preferred.
Physical Demands:
- Combination of office and manufacturing plant environments.
- Frequent exposure (20%-50%) to industrial conditions including noise, dust, odors, temperature extremes, chemicals, operating machinery, and other manufacturing-related hazards.
- Travel requirement of approximately 5-10%, including occasional overnight travel.
- Must be able to perform plant inspections and audits throughout the facility.
Environmental Conditions:
- Frequent exposure (20%-50%) to industrial conditions including noise, dust, odors, temperature extremes, chemicals, operating machinery, and other manufacturing-related hazards.
Behavioral Traits:
- High Integrity
- Detail-Oriented
- Confident and Independent
- Logical and Analytical
- Persuasive and Influential
- Assertive and Tenacious
- Flexible and Adaptable
- Strong Leadership Presence
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.