EHS Specialist

Kdc One; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Kdc One is seeking an Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Specialist to lead and maintain our safety programs in a fast-paced manufacturing setting. You will ensure compliance with OSHA, Cal/OSHA, and EPA, manage workers' compensation, and drive incident investigations and training across the site.

The role emphasizes strong safety leadership, risk assessment, and collaboration with operations to reduce injuries and environmental impact.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in occupational safety, environmental science, or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive EHS experience in manufacturing.
• Minimum 3 years of hands-on workers' compensation claims management.
• Strong knowledge of OSHA/Cal-OSHA regulations and incident investigations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support all facility EHS programs and regulatory compliance.
• Conduct safety inspections, audits, and risk assessments.
• Perform incident investigations and implement corrective actions.
• Maintain OSHA logs and training documentation.
• Develop JSA and training matrices; coordinate PPE evaluation.

Skills

OSHA/Cal-OSHA regulations

Incident investigation

Workers' compensation administration

Safety training

Analytical thinking

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Science, Industrial Hygiene, Engineering, Risk Management, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Position Summary

The Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Specialist is responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining environmental, health, safety, and workers' compensation programs to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations while promoting a culture of safety throughout the organization. This role serves as a key resource for accident prevention, regulatory compliance, employee safety training, workers' compensation administration, environmental stewardship, and risk management within a fast-paced manufacturing environment. Strong workers' compensation experience is essential. Spanish language skills are highly preferred due to frequent interaction with a bilingual workforce.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Environmental, Health & Safety

• Lead and support all facility EHS programs, ensuring compliance with OSHA, Cal/OSHA, EPA, and other applicable regulations.
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve safety policies, procedures, and training programs.
• Conduct routine facility safety inspections, audits, risk assessments, and hazard analyses.
• Perform incident investigations, root cause analyses, and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Maintain OSHA logs, injury records, training documentation, and regulatory reporting requirements.
• Conduct new hire safety orientation and ongoing employee safety training.
• Develop and maintain Job Safety Analyses (JSAs) and hazard-specific training matrices.
• Evaluate and recommend appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Lead emergency preparedness initiatives, including drills, emergency response planning, and response team coordination.
• Partner with operations and department managers to identify and mitigate workplace risks.
• Monitor regulatory developments and communicate compliance requirements to management.

Environmental Compliance

• Maintain environmental permits, records, and reporting requirements.
• Administer hazardous waste, recycling, and pollution prevention programs.
• Ensure compliance with stormwater, air quality, hazardous materials, and waste management regulations.
• Conduct environmental inspections and maintain environmental management systems.
• Support sustainability initiatives and environmental performance improvement programs.
• Coordinate with regulatory agencies during inspections, audits, or inquiries.

Workers' Compensation & Risk Management

• Serve as the facility lead for workers' compensation administration and claim management.
• Conduct thorough investigations of all occupational injuries and illnesses.
• Manage workers' compensation claims from initial reporting through claim closure.
• Coordinate with insurance carriers, third-party administrators, occupational health clinics, medical providers, and employees.
• Ensure timely reporting of workplace injuries and compliance with claims management requirements.
• Monitor claim reserves, lost time, modified duty assignments, and return-to-work programs.
• Track injury trends and recommend corrective actions to reduce claim frequency and severity.
• Partner closely with Human Resources, Operations, Payroll, and Safety teams regarding claim status and employee accommodations.
• Assist injured employees throughout the workers' compensation process and ensure proper documentation.
• Maintain accurate claim records and provide workers' compensation metrics and reports to leadership.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Science, Industrial Hygiene, Engineering, Risk Management, or related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive EHS experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Minimum 3 years of hands-on workers' compensation claims management experience.
• Strong knowledge of OSHA/Cal-OSHA regulations, incident investigations, and injury prevention programs.
• Experience managing return-to-work, modified duty, and claim administration processes.
• Experience conducting safety training and employee coaching.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook).
• Ability to work independently while influencing leaders and employees at all levels.

Preferred

• Cosmetics, personal care, pharmaceutical, food, or other FDA-regulated manufacturing experience.
• Professional certifications such as ASP, CSP, OHST, CHMM, or related credentials.
• Experience with ESG reporting platforms such as EcoVadis or CDP.
• Bilingual English/Spanish strongly preferred;
• Experience working with captive insurance programs or self-insured workers' compensation environments.

Key Competencies

• Workers' Compensation Administration
• Regulatory Compliance
• Accident Investigation & Root Cause Analysis
• OSHA / Cal-OSHA Compliance
• Environmental Compliance
• Risk Assessment & Hazard Identification
• Safety Training & Employee Engagement
• Return-to-Work Program Management
• Claims Management
• Leadership & Influence
• Project Management
• Continuous Improvement

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to walk, stand, bend, kneel, and climb stairs throughout the workday.
• Frequent movement throughout manufacturing, warehouse, and office environments.
• Ability to respond to emergencies and conduct facility inspections.

Work Environment

• Manufacturing and production environment.
• Exposure to equipment, machinery, forklifts, and warehouse traffic.
• Indoor and outdoor work as required.
• Moderate noise levels and varying environmental conditions.