The safety of workers is a primary concern in the workplace. According to Martin Sanders, one is either trained or goes to school to become an occupational health and safety specialist, otherwise known as a safety officer. Let us know more about this position.
Enforcing policies: The safety officer enforces compliance with a company’s safety standards. They must be involved in policymaking about safety issues and concerns. The safety officer must then inform employees of any updates on office safety regulations.
Inspections: Some workplace areas can be potentially hazardous to workers. A safety officer must inspect, for instance, that the scaffolding is stable, hard hats and safety shoes are used, and that site safety standards are observed before commencing work.
Investigations: The safety officer’s job to investigate when accidents occur, notes Martin Sanders. They must determine the cause and write a detailed report and proper recommendations to avoid future accidents.
Compliance: The safety officer, acting on behalf of the employer, ensures compliance with regulations set forth by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and state agencies. The OSHA form 300 is a document related to this duty. Furthermore, the poster “Job Safety and Health: It’s the Law” must be displayed in the workplace, as required by OSHA.
Training: Safety officers provide safety training to employees based on OSHA standards. These may include fire prevention, handling hazardous materials, and machine guarding, etc. The safety officer shall identify the needs and develop programs for these, explains Martin Sanders.
Captain Martin Sanders has more than a decade of experience in the occupational health and safety sector. He served as Director of Safety, Environmental Compliance and Emergency Management of the Federal Occupational Health, Program Support Center, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration. He was also the acting Chief of Safety for the Department of Health and Human Safety (DHHS). For more updates like this, follow this page.
Disclaimer: This site was prepared by Martin Sanders in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed are the author’s own and do not reflect the views of the USPHS, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Homeland Security, or the United States Government.
Martin Sanders 