What does a Safety Manager do?
A Safety Manager ensures a company’s health and safety policies are thorough, efficient, and compliant with local, regional, and industry guidelines and regulations. They review production and other activities, and work with employees to decrease risks. This position falls under human resources in most businesses.
Depending on the industry, a Safety Manager may run safety inspections in warehouses, train employees in safety protocol, review legislation, and create safety monitoring systems. The variety of responsibilities of the Safety Manager ultimately relies on the type of industry or work environment.
Safety Manager skills and qualifications
A successful Safety Manager candidate will have a strong understanding of the policies and procedures governing health and safety in your industry. They will need to be a problem-solver and critical-thinker, along with having management skill if they are required to also manage other people. Other relevant skills and qualifications include:
- Understanding of relevant health and safety regulations and guidelines
- Familiarity with terms and policies of your firm’s industry
- Sound judgment and decision-making skills
- Good written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to influence strategy and collaborate with company leadership
- Comfortable multi-tasking, working under pressure, and managing tight timelines
- Technical writing skills and proficiency with Microsoft Office applications or similar software
- Familiarity with project management and budgeting
- First aid, CPR and any other relevant medical training
Safety Manager experience requirements
Depending on the level of seniority of the Safety Manager role, ideal candidates should have five to ten years of experience in health and safety. Candidates with experience conducting risk assessments, managing a team, teaching first aid, and ensuring legal compliance are ideal.
Safety Manager education and training requirements
In Canada, most job descriptions for Safety Manager include a requirement of education or training in health and safety, such as through a Certified Health and Safety Consultant (CHSC) or Canadian Registered Safety Technician (CRST) certification. Safety Managers are typically required to have a Bachelor’s degree in safety, health, or another related field.
It may also be important to find a candidate with specific first aid or emergency response training, depending on the industry and the types of safety concerns the candidate will be managing. A strong candidate will also know federal laws, legislation, and other relevant guidelines for your industry. Other training may be required per province.
Safety Manager salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Safety Manager in Canada is $76,809 per year. It is important to note that salary is dependent on experience, location, and company.
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