If your workplace handles hazardous materials, you probably have a Director of Environmental Health and Safety. This person is essential to help the workplace maintain a safe environment and to ensure that all workers adhere to safety procedures. A Director of Environmental Health and Safety makes sure your business is compliant with local and federal policies.
Director of Environmental Health and Safety: Duties
- Design and implement programs to ensure personal and environmental health.
- Investigate and address perceived threats to the safety of employees.
- Investigate and address workplace accidents.
- Lead team in safe, proper procedures.
- Ensure that all risks are minimized (or mitigated) through implementation of safety procedures and assurance of proper adherence.
Basically, a Director of Environmental Health and Safety is responsible to making sure that the workplace is a safe, protected space, which poses minimal risk to the health of workers, visitors, and the environment.
Required and Suggested Skills
The Director of Environmental Health and Safety is a highly sought-after, valuable asset and powerful defense against hazmat risks. As such, he or she should possess the following:
- Knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations regarding environmental and workplace safety, in order to ensure compliance.
- Skills related to maintaining the safety of workers.
- Leadership skills, to effectively implement safety procedures.
- Project management skills.
- Investigative skills required for investigations into workplace accidents.
- Communication skills required for communicating with officials, management, and workers.
- Knowledge of safety procedures pertaining to various types of hazardous materials.
- Any additional skills required by employer.