Safe Workplace Manager

Position Title: Safe Workplace Manager

Employment Type: Full Time

FLSA Status: Salary Exempt

Reports to: Plant Manager

Location: Fostoria, OH

Position Summary:

The Technical Safety Manager is responsible for leading all aspects of safety, regulatory compliance, risk management, and safety culture within a 120-employee glass manufacturing operation. This role serves as the site's technical expert on OSHA compliance, industrial safety, machine guarding, powered industrial trucks, lockout/tagout, fall protection, ergonomics, contractor safety, and incident investigation.

The Technical Safety Manager partners closely with operations, maintenance, engineering, and leadership teams to proactively identify hazards, reduce risk, improve safety performance, and ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations. The position requires a highly visible presence on the manufacturing floor and a hands-on approach to safety leadership.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Safety Leadership & Culture
Lead the facility's safety program and promote a culture where safety is a core value.
Serve as the site's primary safety resource and advisor to employees, supervisors, and leadership.
Participate in Safety Functional Council with other Safety admin across other CGS manufacturing facilities
Participate in monthly communication meetings to engage all plant employees and maintain team alignment and clarity of organizational and business goals
Drive employee engagement in safety initiatives, observations, audits, and continuous improvement efforts.
Conduct regular plant safety inspections and risk assessments lead safety awareness campaigns.
Regulatory Compliance
Ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, state regulations, and company safety standards.
Maintain required safety records, documentation, permits, and reporting.
Monitor regulatory changes and implement necessary compliance actions.
Manage OSHA logs and reporting requirements.
Maintain alcohol & drug-free workplace and administer reasonable suspicion drug tests onsite
Incident Investigation & Risk Reduction
Lead investigations of injuries, near misses, property damage incidents, and safety concerns.
Utilize root cause analysis methodologies to identify corrective actions.
Track corrective actions to completion and verify effectiveness.
Analyze incident trends and develop proactive prevention strategies.
Training & Development
Develop and deliver safety training programs for employees, supervisors, and contractors.
Manage new employee safety orientation and annual refresher trainings.
Ensure employees are trained and certified on required equipment and safety procedures.
Technical Safety Programs
Manage and continuously improve:
Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)
Machine Guarding
Powered Industrial Trucks (Forklifts)
Fall Protection
Confined Space Entry
Hot Work Permitting
Hazard Communication
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Contractor Safety
Ergonomics
Emergency Response Preparedness
Operational Partnership
Partner with Operations and Maintenance to identify and eliminate workplace hazards.
Participate in capital projects, equipment installations, and process changes to ensure safety considerations are incorporated.
Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on reducing risk and improving operational performance.
Tier 2 yearly chemical paperwork
SWPPP testing and inspection, City water permit paperwork including tracking water usage

Qualifications

Required

Bachelor's degree in Safety, Engineering, Occupational Health, Industrial Technology, or related field, or equivalent experience.

Minimum 5 years of safety leadership experience in a manufacturing environment.

Strong working knowledge of OSHA regulations and compliance requirements.

Experience conducting incident investigations and root cause analysis.

Experience developing and delivering safety training programs.

Preferred

Experience in glass manufacturing, fabrication, tempering, lamination, or other industrial manufacturing environments.

Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Occupational Health & Safety Technician (OHST), ASP, or similar certification.

Experience with Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.

Experience with workers' compensation case management and return-to-work programs.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Strong knowledge of industrial safety systems and risk management practices.
Excellent communication and presentation skills.
Ability to influence employees and leaders at all levels of the organization.
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Ability to lead change and drive accountability.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and professionalism.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and safety management systems.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
OSHA Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR)
Lost Time Incident Rate
Near Miss Reporting Participation
Completion of Corrective Actions
Safety Training Completion Rates
Audit Findings Closure Rate
Workers' Compensation Costs
Safety Observation Participation
Regulatory Compliance Performance

Leadership Expectations

The Technical Safety Manager must demonstrate:

Visible Leadership – Maintains a strong presence on the production floor and actively engages employees and leaders.

Accountability – Holds self and others accountable for safe behaviors and compliance.

Proactive Risk Management – Identifies and addresses hazards before incidents occur.

Continuous Improvement Mindset – Seeks opportunities to improve safety performance and operational effectiveness.

Collaborative Partnership – Works effectively across departments to achieve safety and business objectives.

Ideal Candidate Profile

A successful candidate will be a hands-on safety leader who is comfortable spending significant time on the production floor, partnering with operations, investigating incidents, coaching employees, and driving a world-class safety culture in a fast-paced glass manufacturing environment. They will balance technical expertise with the ability to influence behavior and build strong working relationships throughout the organization.