Safety Specialist

Chefs Warehouse•Chicago, IL

About The Position

The Midwest Safety Coordinator is responsible for promoting and maintaining a safe work environment across Midwest operations. This role develops, implements, and oversees safety programs, policies, and training initiatives to ensure compliance with OSHA, DOT, and company safety standards. The Safety Specialist collaborates with Transportation, Warehouse Operations, Human Resources, and Leadership teams to foster a strong organizational safety culture. The role includes travel between facilities as needed and working one week per month on an overnight shift to support training, audits, and employee engagement.

Requirements

Strong knowledge of DOT and OSHA regulations, compliance requirements, and industry best practices.
Experience developing and implementing safety and risk management programs.
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to lead safety discussions and trainings.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, and Outlook.
Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to work one week per month on an overnight shift to support training, audits, and employee engagement.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Occupational Health & Safety, Environmental Science, Industrial Safety, or a related field.
At least 3 years of safety experience in transportation, distribution, warehouse, manufacturing, or related industries.
Certified Safety Trainer designation.
Smith System Driver Training certification or experience.
Experience with Samsara or similar video-based safety and fleet management platforms.

Responsibilities

Develop, implement, and enforce safety policies, procedures, and training programs in compliance with OSHA, DOT, and other applicable regulations.
Partner with Transportation, Warehouse Operations, Human Resources, Leadership, and safety professionals to promote a culture of safety and continuous improvement.
Investigate accidents, injuries, and incidents; identify root causes; and implement corrective and preventive actions.
Monitor and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local safety regulations.
Collect, analyze, and report safety metrics and trends; identify areas for improvement and develop action plans.
Provide safety training, coaching, and guidance to employees at all levels.
Support and administer safety incentive and performance-based reward programs.
Participate in the screening, hiring, orientation, and onboarding of warehouse and transportation employees, emphasizing safety awareness and compliance.
Serve as a subject matter expert on DOT regulations and transportation safety programs.
Conduct facility audits, inspections, and risk assessments to identify and mitigate potential hazards.
Travel between facilities as needed to support safety initiatives and training efforts.