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Safety Manager Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

A Safety Manager, or Safety Supervisor is responsible for ensuring that an organisation and its employees adhere to safety standards. Their duties include creating and implementing organisational safety guidelines, promoting a culture of safety in the workplace and performing regular site inspections to check compliance.

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Safety Manager duties and responsibilities

Safety Managers design and implement safety procedures and regulations to minimise the risk of accidents or injuries or accidents in the workplace. Other duties and responsibilities of a Safety Manager include: 

  • Carrying out safety risks assessments prior to starting a new project
  • Reviewing all work procedures and ensuring they meet industry safety standards
  • Preparing and filing reports for accidents and other safety breaches
  • Staying up-to-date with health, safety and environment regulations
  • Ensuring safe installation of equipment and overseeing external contractors
  • Conducting in-house training sessions on health and safety awareness
  • Tracking incident metrics and applying findings
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What does a Safety Manager do?

A Safety Manager is responsible for shaping and maintaining a company’s safety culture. Their goal is to ensure that company operations adhere to a set of industry-compliant safety standards, that reduces accidents and resource wastage and improves efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Safety Managers conduct safety training for their team members and other employees. They also collaborate with other departments such as quality control and operations. Safety Managers work across industries including manufacturing, food and drink, aviation and technology, reviewing safety measures to save lives and improve working standards.

Safety Manager skills and qualifications

A successful Safety Manager candidate will have various prerequisite skills and qualifications to perform their duties effectively, these include:

  • In-depth knowledge of safety regulations
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Physical fitness and stamina
  • Strong team spirit and interpersonal skills
  • Patience and the ability to work in high-pressure environments
  • Research and analytic skills
  • Negotiation skills
  • Knowledge of relevant software packages

Safety Manager experience requirements

A Safety Manager requires one or two years of experience in safety management or a related field. Mid-level Safety Managers must have three to five years of experience, while Senior Safety Managers require over five years of experience. Management experience may also be required.

Prior experience in risk assessment, operations management and quality control with a background in the relevant industry is required. Other experience requirements depend on the hiring company, industry regulations and other factors.

Safety Manager education and training requirements

Safety Managers are usually required to have a bachelor’s degree in occupational health and safety or a similar field, such as engineering, biology and chemistry. A Safety Manager who intends to work specifically on a construction site must have a bachelor’s degree in engineering or construction management. Some employers accept candidates without a degree, but they must complete various training programmes and obtain industry-recognised certifications, such as a Diploma in Process Safety and Loss Prevention, Certificate in Applied Health and Safety and a National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety.

Safety Manager salary expectations

According to Indeed Salaries, a Safety Manager in the UK makes an average of £43,071 per year. This salary expectation depends on factors, including the candidate’s level of experience,educational qualifications, the hiring company, industry and geographical of the company.

Job description samples for similar positions

If a Safety Manager is not quite what you’re looking for, here are other job description samples that may fit your needs:

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Safety Manager job description FAQs

What are the different types of Safety Managers?

There are many different types of Safety Managers. These include Construction Safety Managers and Process Safety Managers. Construction Safety Managers work at construction sites to ensure that workers follow safety guidelines and use the recommended personal protective equipment (PPE). Process Safety Managers handle risk management in a processing plant and ensure that all processes adhere to safety regulations or standards.

What is the difference between a Safety Manager and a Safety Engineer?

A Safety Manager and Safety Engineer work to keep the workplace safe for their colleagues. While a Safety Manager enforces the safety culture by ensuring company-wide compliance, a Safety Engineer designs the systems and processes that enable Safety Managers to perform their jobs effectively. Safety Engineers usually have a background in engineering to enable them to understand the technical side of things and design effective yet safety systems.

Who does a Safety Manager report to?

A Safety Manager reports to the Head of Operations or to the Managing Director.

How do I make my Safety Manager job description stand out?

Start with an overview of your company, including the details about your company’s goals, values and culture. This helps attract applicants whose goals align with your company’s. Also, outline the key duties and responsibilities of the position and list the key skills, educational qualifications and experience you’re looking for. If you’re looking for candidates with specific HSE certifications, make sure to specify them.

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