Safety Specialist

Southern Industrial Constructors•Columbia, SC

13d

About The Position

Southern Industrial Constructors, INC. is seeking a Safety Specialist in the Columbia, South Carolina area. The Specialist drives on-site hazard mitigation and occupational health initiatives by collaborating directly with frontline employees and site supervision. The role identifies, evaluates, and eliminates workplace risks while enforcing regulatory compliance and company safety standards, and mentors Safety Techs assigned to the project. The Specialist plans, directs, and manages safety activities at assigned jobsites under the direction of a site safety manager or designated business-unit safety resources. Duties include inspecting facilities, equipment, and task areas; reviewing job hazard analyses; monitoring safety performance and PPE use; conducting and documenting inspections and observations; delivering safety training; investigating accidents and injuries; and maintaining safety equipment and PPE inventories. Work may take place in offices, shops, busy traffic areas, warehouses, and undeveloped properties, with exposure to dirt, dust, grease, oil, vibration, and adverse weather. Employees may be reassigned to other roles, locations, or shifts based on business needs. The position requires safely accessing elevated areas and confined spaces, using required PPE, operating equipment and tools, and performing strenuous physical tasks.

Requirements

Preferably 3 to 5 years of craft experience at the apprentice or journeyman level; helper experience does not count toward this preference.
Four years of prior site safety experience, or craft supervisory experience in lieu of safety experience at a 2-to-1 ratio.
A minimum of 2 years of safety experience is preferred; safety supervision experience is not required.
OSHA 30-hour and OSHA 510 and 500 credentials, or willingness to obtain them once 5 years of safety experience is acquired.
NCCER CSSS or another approved professional certification.
Advanced understanding of potential site hazards and methods used to mitigate them.
Strong computer skills, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
Good written and verbal communication skills.
Basic understanding of conflict resolution strategies.
Advanced communication skills, including delegation, follow-up, and client interfacing.
Ability to safely access all areas of properties, buildings, structures, wharves, rooftops, elevated positions, and confined spaces.
Ability to effectively use required PPE and lift up to 50 pounds.
Ability to safely operate involved equipment and tools.
Ability to stand for long periods, bend consistently, work in confined spaces with limited access, work on ladders and in personnel lifts and workboats, and work in awkward body positions.
Strenuous physical demands are required to safely perform the essential functions of the position.

Nice To Haves

An AA, MESH, bachelor's, or master's degree; degrees are not required, and education may be considered in lieu of experience.
BCSP STS or STS-C certification.
Advanced professional certifications are strongly recommended, including BCSP, CHST, IHMM, ASHM, NASP, or CSM credentials.
BCSP ASP or CSP certification; IHMM CSMP or CSHM certification; or NASP SDS or SPC certification.

Responsibilities

Promote the company's Mission First, People Always values and culture through everyday interactions and decisions.
Inspect facilities, equipment, and task areas to identify potential safety hazards.
Monitor workplace safety performance and provide feedback to employees, supervision, and the site safety lead.
Review site job hazard analyses for completeness and accuracy, including task steps, hazards, and appropriate controls or mitigations.
Ensure required PPE is utilized.
Perform and document inspections of safety equipment, including fire extinguishers, fall protection, and other PPE.
Conduct and document site safety inspections, behavioral-based safety observations, and required client inspections or audits.
Serve as a competent person as required, potentially covering scaffolding, excavation, fall protection, confined spaces, and other areas.
Plan, direct, and manage safety activities at assigned jobsites with direction from the site safety manager or assigned business-unit safety resources.
Conduct health and safety training and maintain project records, including new-to-site employee orientation and Southern Zero Day.
Coordinate and deliver required training, which may include confined space, forklift and MEWP operation, hazard communication, spotter, firewatch, and confined-space attendant training.
Investigate accidents and injuries and complete required reports; use accidents and near misses as training to help prevent future occurrences.
Maintain appropriate inventories of safety equipment and PPE and communicate inventory information to the site safety lead and site management.
Mentor Safety Techs assigned to the project.
Perform other duties as assigned.