A safety director can work for any type of company or industry. He or she is typically in charge of all aspects of a company’s efforts to create and maintain a safe and healthy work environment for all employees. A safety director’s general responsibilities include overseeing special projects as well as working on routine daily activities.
Safety directors, for example, are responsible for both emergency preparedness and routine inspection policies. Company vehicles and equipment will need to be inspected on a regular basis, whether daily, monthly, or more or less frequently, in order to comply with safe operation guidelines. These inspections are carried out properly by safety directors. Inspection reports are written and kept by them. In addition to those routine responsibilities, the director must ensure that the company has adequate emergency first aid supplies and a fire evacuation plan.
Fire drills are managed by safety directors, who also send emergency evacuation plan details to managers. They may also meet with managers on a regular basis so that these leaders can instruct the employees who report to them on certain safety issues. The safety director in some companies will teach safety concepts to groups of employees at the same time. In the event of an emergency, such as an earthquake, he or she may also lead volunteer safety committees of employee volunteers who will organize supplies such as water and non-perishable foods to store in a company storeroom.
A safety director’s job requires him or her to stick to a budget. At an annual budget meeting, he or she may be required to propose a yearly safety plan and have the amount approved by senior management. Safety directors must hire and train safety personnel while staying within budget constraints. Any necessary communications or safety equipment must be purchased within the budget.
The director’s job description usually includes using computer programs to analyze and track the effectiveness of current safety programs. To keep his or her safety director certification, he or she may need to take regular career refresher courses. Safety directors may be required to travel to inspect field equipment or facilities, depending on the industry and business.
A safety director’s ongoing responsibility is to work with local, regional, and national governments to ensure compliance with safety laws. It may also be necessary to travel to annual safety seminars or workshops. The director usually sends a report to corporate management or departmental managers summarizing the main points of these meetings.