Safety Manager

Simmons Foods; Van Buren (AR); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Simmons Foods in Van Buren, AR is seeking a Safety & Health leader to oversee the site's safety programs, regulatory compliance, and incident investigations. This exempt role requires coordinating training and emergency procedures across facilities to reduce risks.

The position emphasizes continuous improvement of health and safety systems, with strong collaboration with management and workers to foster a culture of safe work practices.

Qualifications

• 2 years minimum in Safety & Health program development and implementation.
• 5 years of industry experience in poultry, pet food, or food manufacturing preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent certifications required.

Responsibilities

• Lead continuous improvement of Safety and Health Programs.
• Coordinate safety training and emergency management procedures.
• Oversee inspections, investigations, and abatement of hazards per OSHA standards.
• Support regulatory reporting and audits (OSHA, EPA, DOT).

Skills

Safety program leadership

Training material development

Regulatory compliance knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Safety or related fields

CSHO or similar certifications

Job description

Purpose of the Position

Provide leadership in the implementation of the company’s efforts to a production location; to anticipate, recognize, and evaluate workplace conditions that may cause workers’ injury or illness. Supervise and ensure the compliance with the company philosophy, policies, procedures and governmental regulations.

Essential Position Responsibilities - This is a Salary Exempt position.

• Ensure the continuous improvement of Safety and Health Programs. Work with the Director of Safety and facility managers to identify best practices and lead continuous improvement initiatives to reduce work process risks, raise safety awareness, and improve safe work practices. Work with Facility Management to ensure employees, visitors and contractors are trained and understand our Safety and Health Programs. Coordinate and facilitate training in safety programs, procedures, regulations, hazardous condition monitoring, and use of safety equipment. Provide facility managers with training material that is effective and easily comprehended by site audience. Develop effective safety training presentations for both employee orientation and annual safety training. Develop and grow effective safety trainers. Develop, train and implement site specific emergency management procedures.
• Identify, make recommendations and assist in the abatement of workplace hazards. Monitor job sites and processes for adherence to company Safety and Health programs & procedures, and OSHA standards by overseeing inspections, recommending corrective measures, preparing for OSHA safety audits and investigations. Lead work related injury and illness investigations. Provide leadership in abating all known hazards. Will identify and communicate safety issues to the attention of management, providing solutions to abate all known hazards.
• Assist in regulatory inspections and abatements. Will create action registers and will lead the abatement strategies for all cited hazards. Demonstrate a working knowledge of OSHA, DOT, DOL, and EPA regulations, audits and reporting. Be a resource and provide guidance to management in understanding the general industry standards, Department of Transportation, Department of Labor, and Environment Protection Agency. Support the company Director of Safety ensuring all regulatory reports are completed timely. This would include but not be limited to, OSHA’s 300 logs and the BLS end of the year reports, State & Federal EPA TIER II reports, and EPA Risk Management Plan (RMP) submissions.
• Work with our managers and employees to build a strong safety culture. Provide support to the company Director of Safety in the development and implementation of safety incentive programs that encourage employees to participate in reporting hazards. Develop and lead Facility Safety Committees. Create a Safety culture that empowers all employees to understand that everyone is responsible for their own safety. Create a learning environment where employees become safety advocates.
• Assist in the continuous improvement of our Workers’ Compensation strategies. Possess a working knowledge of each State and Federal Workers’ Compensation Laws. Understand compensable injuries versus non-compensable injuries. Ensure all Facility Workers’ Compensation reports are accurate and completed in accordance with the law. Assist in the identification of questionable claims and report such claims to the company Director of Safety. Utilize and implement appropriate resources and procedures that identify malingering claims and bring to resolution.
• Support company initiatives to reduce compensable claims and assist in bringing claims to closure. Assist facility canagement, claims manager, and LMP with the development of job rotation schedules for high risk positions that are known to have characteristics of causing cumulative trauma disorder or CTD’s. Maintain contact with employees who have sustained a compensable injury or illness. Ensure that our assigned Third Party Administrator (TPA) and respondent attorney have the necessary information, documents and insight into the incident or claim.
• Assist in the continuous improvement and implementation of our Loss Prevention and Security strategies. Ensure our employees, visitors, contractors, and company properties are protected from harm or theft. Provide and assist in the implementation of recommendations and solutions in crisis situations such as workplace violence, protest, and terrorist attacks.
• Participates as a member of the Team. Participates in the ongoing development, communication and implementation of team concepts, programs and policies; coordinates work to ensure best practices with all team members. Attends appropriate team meetings. As a member of the Team, fosters strong cohesiveness regarding all major issues; e.g., direction, annual plan, budget, policy changes, etc. Accepts responsibility to quickly identify any areas that lack cohesiveness, bringing them to the attention of the team leader and working with the team in a supportive manner to resolve issues and actively look for ways, and reinforce actions needed, to achieve synergy possible within the larger organization.
• Simmons Operating systems principles and objectives: Is familiar with Simmons’ established operating systems (e.g. quality, security, office environment, company policies, LEAN); understands the responsibility to maintain familiarity with the systems and this position’s role in support of these systems - including a consideration of the impact of individual actions on the systems and the responsibility to communicate concerns and improvement ideas.
• Performs other duties as necessary in support of business objectives: This position description is intended to guide the activities of the person in this position and is not intended to limit the thinking and creativity of the person as to the work of this function nor is it intended that this describe all the work that may be required of the person in this position.
• Physical Activities: Enters and locates information on a computer. Visually verifies information, often in small print. Communicates with Customers, Vendors, or Employees via telephone, in person, and/or electronic mail. May present information to small or large groups. Must be able to work in various temperatures. Move about in a manufacturing environment and surrounding property. May travel via car or plane to various work locations. Must be able to walk or stand 50% of an 8 hour work day, ascend & descend stairs, steps, portable & fixed mounted ladders to a minimum height of 20ft.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Must be able to don and wear personal protective equipment such as steel toed shoes, hearing protectors, and other required PPE that would assist in the assessments of potential hazards.
• Travel: Must be able to travel for a minimum of 5 hours by vehicle or plane. May require overnight stays.
• Technical Experience: 2 years minimum in Safety & Health program development and implementation.
• Industry Experience: A minimum of 5 years of industry experience, preference for Poultry, Pet Food, Feed Ingredient or similar food manufacturing organizations.
• Minimum Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Safety or related fields, or equivalent certifications such as SHEP, CSHO, or similar certifications or willing and able to complete certifications or 4 years related work experience.
• Preferred Education: N/A
• We value military experience and welcome veterans to join our team.
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