Occupational Safety Engineer

Ford Motor; Chennai; On-site; INR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Ford Motor in Chennai is seeking an Engineer II, Occupational Safety to support and implement safety programs across plant operations, applying safety engineering principles to identify and mitigate hazards. You will contribute to a proactive safety culture through risk management, incident prevention, and emergency preparedness.

You will supervise shift safety, manage PTW/LOTO, lead incident investigations, ensure compliance with statutory and company safety requirements, and collaborate with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering is mandatory.
• Master's Degree in Industrial Safety Engineering is mandatory.
• Certifications in Occupational Health & Safety, ISO 45001, or related EHS disciplines are preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide shift safety management across General/A/B/C shifts with Safety Workmen.
• Supervise Safety Workmen, monitor PPE compliance, and deliver on-the-job coaching.
• Lead incident and emergency management, including first response and root cause analysis.
• Ensure compliance with Factories Act, State Rules, and ISO 45001, and maintain safety documentation.
• Drive hazard identification and risk assessment, develop CAPA actions.
• Coordinate with multiple departments to ensure safe execution of plant activities.

Skills

Hazard Identification

Risk Assessment

Incident Investigation

PTW Management

Emergency Response

Safety Audits

Shifts supervision

Team Leadership

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering

Master's Degree in Industrial Safety Engineering

Certifications in Occupational Health & Safety

ISO 45001 Certification

Fire Safety Certification

Risk Assessment Certification

Job description

Engineer II, Occupational Safety Position Summary

The Engineer 2, Occupational Safety is responsible for supporting and implementing occupational health and safety programs across plant operations. Working under general supervision, the incumbent applies established safety engineering principles, technical standards, and regulatory requirements to identify, evaluate, and mitigate workplace hazards. The role provides operational safety support across all shifts, ensures compliance with statutory and company safety requirements, and contributes to a proactive safety culture through risk management, incident prevention, emergency preparedness, and continuous improvement initiatives. The position supports the organization's Safety Operating System (SOS) and collaborates closely with Production, Maintenance, Security, Contractors, and Safety Workmen to ensure a safe and compliant work environment.

A. Shift Safety Management

Ensure comprehensive safety coverage across all shifts (General/A/B/C) by deploying and supervising Safety Workmen in critical and high-risk operational areas. Conduct shift handover briefings covering ongoing safety concerns, permit status, hot work activities, incidents, and unresolved safety observations. Perform routine shop-floor safety inspections and patrols at defined intervals and document findings. Monitor and enforce compliance with Permit-to-Work (PTW) requirements for: Hot Work Confined Space Entry Work at Height Electrical Isolation (LOTO) Excavation Activities Identify unsafe conditions and initiate immediate corrective actions.

B. Safety Workmen Supervision

Allocate Safety Workmen based on operational risk assessments, manpower availability, and critical work activities. Monitor attendance, effectiveness, PPE compliance, and performance of Safety Workmen throughout the shift. Provide guidance and training on: Fire watch duties Gas testing procedures Barricading and access control Emergency response protocols Review shift reports submitted by Safety Workmen and escal… Deliver on-the-job coaching and periodic refresher training to strengthen safety competencies.

C. Incident and Emergency Management

Serve as the first responder and safety coordinator during accidents, near misses, fires, medical emergencies, or other critical events. Ensure timely emergency response actions, including: First aid coordination Evacuation management Firefighting response Emergency communication Lead preliminary incident investigations and root cause analysis. Document incidents and recommend corrective and preventive actions (CAPA). Support implementation and verification of incident closure actions.

D. Compliance and Safety Documentation

Ensure compliance with: Factories Act and applicable State Factory Rules Indian statutory EHS regulations ISO 45001 requirements Internal company safety standards and procedures Maintain and update: PTW records Safety logbooks Gas testing reports Incident registers Compliance documentation Verify that all contractors and new employees have completed required safety inductions before entering operational areas. Exercise stop-work authority when unsafe conditions or behaviors are observed. Issue safety observations, violation notices, and corrective actions as required by company procedures. Support planning, coordination, and execution of emergency drills including fire, evacuation, and medical response simulations. Conduct periodic inspections of emergency and safety equipment, including: Fire extinguishers First aid kits Eye wash stations Emergency response equipment

E. Hazard Identification and Risk Control

Monitor and drive adherence to 5S and workplace housekeeping standards. Ensure fire exits, emergency routes, assembly points, and safety signage remain unobstructed and compliant. Verify proper storage, handling, transportation, and labeling of hazardous materials and chemicals. Conduct hazard identification exercises and workplace risk assessments. Develop, implement, and track corrective and preventive actions to eliminate identified risks.

F. Coordination and Reporting

Coordinate with Production, Maintenance, Engineering, Utilities, Security, and Contractors to ensure safe execution of all plant activities. Prepare and submit daily and shift-end safety reports, metrics, and MIS updates. Participate in daily safety reviews, toolbox talks, and operational meetings. Escalate safety concerns, manpower shortages, equipment failures, and compliance risks to Safety Management in a timely manner. Support safety improvement projects and contribute toward departmental safety objectives and milestones.

Educational Qualification

Mandatory Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering. Master's Degree (M.Tech.) in Industrial Safety Engineering. Preferred Additional certifications in Occupational Health & Safety, Fire Safety, Risk Assessment, ISO 45001, or related EHS disciplines.

Professional Experience Required

5 to 6 years of hands-on Occupational Safety experience in manufacturing, automotive, heavy engineering, process, or industrial environments. Proven field-based safety management experience involving shop-floor operations, hazard identification, risk assessment, incident investigation, emergency response, and statutory compliance. Experience managing high-risk activities including Permit-to-Work (PTW), LOTO, confined space entry, work at height, hot work, and contractor safety management. Experience supervising Safety Workmen, safety inspections, audits, and shift-based safety operations.

Preferred Prior experience in the automotive manufacturing industry

Exposure to large-scale industrial facilities with automated manufacturing systems, machinery safety, and fire protection systems.

Technical Knowledge & Competencies

Strong knowledge of occupational safety regulations, Factories Act, applicable State Factory Rules, BIS/IS standards, and ISO 4501 requirements. Proficiency in Machine Safety Risk Assessments, hazard identification, risk evaluation, and risk mitigation in accordance with ISO 12100 and related machinery safety standards. Sound understanding of Fire Protection Engineering, including fire detection systems, fire suppression systems, fire load assessment, and emergency preparedness. Working knowledge of International Building Code (IBC) and other applicable national and international safety standards. Experience in implementing statutory, regulatory, and corporate EHS requirements across industrial operations. Strong understanding of Safety Analytics and AI/ML applications for hazard detection, risk prediction, incident trend analysis, and safety performance monitoring. Ability to develop, validate, interpret, and communicate AI-driven safety models and risk-based recommendations to technical and non-technical stakeholders. Proficiency in safety reporting, root cause analysis, CAPA implementation, and safety management systems.