WHAT DOES A SAFETY OFFICER DO?

Updated: Dec 18, 2025 - The Safety Officer prepares and enforces emergency plans, safety regulations, and conducts site inspections and toolbox talks to ensure compliance with company and HSE standards. This role monitors safety practices, equipment, and facilities, coordinates corrective actions, and maintains incident records. The officer also promotes continuous improvement, mentors staff, and ensures adherence to all safety, health, and environmental policies.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Safety Officer

1. Safety Officer Details

  • Dive Coordination: Coordinate and oversee dive activities on the property
  • Equipment Maintenance: Perform maintenance and preventative maintenance on all equipment, including SCUBA Dive Compressor and gear
  • Regulatory Compliance: Ensure compliance with government regulations
  • Record Management: Maintain and oversee daily dive logs, dive maintenance records, compressed air sampling, safety, and training records
  • Manual Update: Maintain and update the departmental Dive Safety Manual per the Dive Control Board’s consent
  • Safety Training: Train staff and coordinate department and hotel-required safety programs to meet compliance
  • Animal Care Operations: Assist in the safe restraint of dolphins for veterinary procedures and transports, as well as operate, control, maintain, and retrofit the life support and water process piping system and controls
  • Motor and Pump Repair: Maintain and repair electric motors ranging in size from ¼ horsepower to 25 horsepower and pumps up to 1,500 GPM
  • System Troubleshooting: Maintain and troubleshoot plumbing and electrical systems

2. Safety Officer Responsibilities

  • Safety Culture Promotion: Promote and assist all employees in building and engaging in a proactive safety culture
  • Training Management: Recommend and ensure additional individual and/or group training
  • Safety Reporting Oversight: Oversee the safety reporting process for the assigned area
  • Regulatory Compliance Support: Assist management in communicating, implementing, and clarifying federal-state regulations, ESHQ programs, policies, and training requirements
  • Inspection and Audit Assistance: Assist facility site leadership with HSE inspections, checklists, audits, and Positive Communication to improve safety compliance requirements
  • Employee Mentorship: Be responsible for observing and mentoring employees performing critical and instructional type job tasks, evaluating the performance and the effectiveness using Best Practices, JSA’s and Safety Tools
  • Job Intervention: Stop the job and educate the workers, clarification and correction of the procedure or recommended practice
  • Incident Investigation: Assist Operations Management in conducting investigations, identifying corrective actions, and creating reports for Near Misses
  • Environmental Compliance: Assist with environmental audits and assessments to ensure regulatory compliance
  • Incident Data Monitoring: Monitor Incident Management Data
  • Emergency Response Support: Ensure site safety and needed support for emergency response
  • Safety Leadership: Lead safety meetings with plant crew members and contractors
  • Policy Training: Provide on-site training to assist Operations Management with clarification of policies and procedures, best practices, and perform competency evaluations
  • Safety Coaching: Coach team members and management to improve safety culture

3. Safety Officer Job Summary

  • Site Inspection: Complete daily checklists and site walks, looking for hazards, checking fire extinguishers, and other site equipment
  • Risk Assessment: Carry out risk assessments and deal with any hazards, or escalate to the HSEQ Manager to assist in the creation/modification of action plans
  • Incident Support: Support HSEQ Officers to respond to and investigate incidents
  • Best Practice Promotion: Promote and demonstrate HSEQ best practice across the site
  • Cordon Enforcement: Create and enforce cordons
  • Training Facilitation: Help to facilitate training requirements for the wider site, supporting the HSEQ Officers
  • Compliance Assurance: Ensure all measures are adhered to
  • Cultural Leadership: Demonstrate culture and values, including excellence, integrity, passion, proactivity, togetherness, and trust

4. Safety Officer Accountabilities

  • Safety Expertise: Provide expertise and support to the team on matters affecting safety
  • Safety Inspection: Perform safety inspections/audits to verify compliance and identify deviations and risks affecting safety
  • Incident Investigation: Operate the accident and near-miss incident investigation, complete or verify accident and investigation reports
  • Corrective Action Support: Support the team in defining and implementing corrective and preventive actions from audits and investigation findings
  • Stakeholder Coordination: Interact with external stakeholders (i.e., clients and authorities) in matters affecting safety, under direction from the Safety Manager
  • Environmental Management: Ensure plant-wide sound environment (i.e., water, air, noise, and traffic)
  • OSH Promotion: Promote a comprehensive OSH program
  • Health and Safety Prevention: Prevent adverse health and safety effects of the working conditions
  • Fire Equipment Maintenance: Ensure the upkeep of firefighting equipment

5. Safety Officer Functions

  • WHS System Implementation: Implementation of the Project WHS Management System and its compliance
  • Safety Enforcement: Enforcement of the safety practices to be carried out in the Project as stated on the WSH Acts, Singapore Code of Practices, Singapore Standards, Code of Practices, and OHSAS 18001
  • WHS Planning: Be responsible for Project WHS Management Planning and Implementation of Programs and Systems to continually improve WHS performance
  • WHS Advisory: Advisory on project management on matters about WHS
  • Risk Assessment Review: Review and advisory on the formulation of risk impact assessments
  • Permit Assessment: Act as a safety assessor for permit to work systems as per requirements from WSH (Construction) Regulations
  • Safety Program Organization: Organize WHS programs and activities to promote safe and healthy conduct of workers
  • Incident Reporting: Report and liaise with the Management and relevant authorities on incident occurrence
  • Environmental Monitoring: Assist in monitoring of environmental issues and implement the necessary system for improvement

6. Safety Officer Job Description

  • Emergency Planning: Prepare emergency plans and ensure their implementation as per the company's policies and procedures
  • Safety Regulation Preparation: Prepare safety regulations and guiding signs
  • Safety Reporting: Prepare a summary report of Safety Patrol and Barricade Information of each region, and coordinate with the responsible line manager if deviations from Mitsubishi standards are observed
  • Safety Communication: Conduct safety Toll Box Talks during site visits and ensure safety instructions are cascaded, understood, and followed by field technicians
  • Record Management: Keep accurate records
  • Safety Monitoring: Monitor the overall safety procedures in the company/Project, including equipment safety and professional clothing compliance
  • Fire Safety Maintenance: Conduct periodic maintenance and inspections of the fire extinguishers
  • Site Safety Oversight: Monitor sites' security and safety
  • Hazard Correction: Examine potential unsafe working conditions and take corrective action
  • Welfare Inspection: Check first aid kit expiry dates, including welfare facilities' condition, and ensure that procedures appropriate to the contract or clients’ requirements are implemented
  • Safety Inspection: Perform safety inspections
  • Worksite Observation: Observe crews at work and report a lack of discipline in safety precautions, such as failure to use goggles, rubber gloves, and other safety devices
  • Safety Instruction: Instruct workers in the use of safety equipment and safe work methods
  • Facility Inspection: Conduct inspection with own facility, including rented facility, e.g., warehouse, office, and accommodations for HSE issues
  • Equipment Inspection: Inspect the vehicle, including heavy equipment’s e.g., boom truck, forklift, etc.
  • HSE Improvement: Identify good HSE practices as well as find the ways and means for improvement
  • Corrective Action Coordination: Coordinate the completion of all corrective actions with the line manager resulting from safety patrols
  • Policy Improvement: Recommend improvements to HSE Department policies, and direct the implementation of procedures and controls covering all areas of activity so that all relevant procedural/legislative requirements are fulfilled while delivering high-quality and cost-effective results
  • Continuous Improvement: Stimulate subordinates and contribute to the identification of opportunities for continuous improvement of systems, processes, and practices, taking into account HSE leading practices, improvement of business processes, cost reduction, and productivity improvement
  • Compliance Monitoring: Monitor day-to-day activities to ensure compliance with stipulated policies and procedures
  • Work Authority: Have the authority to stop the work if an imminent danger situation/condition is present and the worker/personnel are directly exposed
  • Safety Compliance: Ensure compliance with all relevant safety, health, and environmental management policies, procedures, and controls across activities to guarantee employee safety, legislative compliance, and responsible environmental behaviours
  • Incident Reporting: Report on incident and accident occurrences to the concerned parties to address current and mitigate future risks
  • Legislation Monitoring: Monitor changes to legislation and Mitsubishi activities, and ensure such changes are covered within all relevant safety, health, and environmental management policies, procedures, and controls
  • Talent Recruitment: Participate in the identification and recruitment of key talent for the HSE Department
  • Team Management: Manage, guide, and assist direct reports to perform their functional operations in accordance with set policies and procedures
  • Performance Management: Set performance objectives, provide necessary support, evaluate/appraise the team, and provide regular feedback on performance
  • Performance Culture Promotion: Promote a high-performance working environment and promote values

7. Safety Officer Details and Accountabilities

  • Compliance Auditing: Identify and inform management of compliance issues, safety risks, and improvement opportunities through the conduct of daily, weekly, and monthly audits
  • Incident Investigation: Facilitate the incident investigation process
  • Regulatory Documentation: Maintain required paperwork to comply with local laws and regulations
  • Incident Data Entry: Enter Safety Incident Information in the internal database promptly
  • Safety Observation: Perform safety observations and audits
  • Safety Training Support: Train and assist others (Operation Managers, safety team members, etc.) to complete their safety responsibilities (Audits, Follow Safety Rules, etc.)
  • Site Training: Perform specific safety training by the Site Director
  • Safety Activity Management: Be responsible for fire prevention, hazardous waste management, or other safety-related activities, depending on the business unit and location
  • Process Improvement: Participate in process improvement activities and manage actions to completion

8. Safety Officer Additional Details

  • Substance Screening: Performs drug and alcohol screens in accordance with the company's substance abuse policies and procedures
  • Safety Training: Conducts employee safety and health training
  • Site Inspection: Conducts moderately detailed site safety and health inspections
  • Security Implementation: Implements project security programs and procedures
  • Record Management: Performs record-keeping/filing functions
  • Incident Investigation: Conducts incident and injury/illness investigations
  • Report Writing: Writes detailed injury/illness reports
  • Documentation Completion: Completes all appropriate company safety and health program documents
  • First Aid Provision: Act as an on-site first aid provider
  • Claims Communication: Communicates with the company's workers' compensation manager
  • Team Leadership: Acts in the capacity of a lead person
  • Work Direction Responsibility: Be responsible for the people to whom they provide work direction
  • Intern Supervision: Directs the Safety Intern and the Safety

9. Safety Officer Essential Functions

  • Safety Program Development: Compile safety programs
  • Safe Work Practices: Practice safe working techniques
  • Health and Safety Implementation: Implement and maintain health and safety standards
  • Employee Relations: Establish a cordial and professional relationship with employees
  • Regulatory Compliance: Maintain compliance with all safety regulations
  • Safety Meetings: Conduct regular staff meetings to share best practice techniques
  • Safety Standardization: Standardize health and safety to remain consistent
  • Hazardous Waste Management: Identify hazardous waste and ensure its correct disposal
  • Safety Promotion: Promote safety initiatives
  • Compliance Documentation: Compile and maintain relevant registers to ensure compliance
  • Record Keeping: Document staff information, minutes of meetings, and reports compiled for management
  • Equipment Inspection: Regularly inspect equipment

10. Safety Officer General Responsibilities

  • Resident Care Focus: Encourages and ensures a focus on resident-focused care to meet proper IPAC practices, direction, and guidelines
  • Best Practice Development: Participates in the development of tools reflecting IPAC best practices, such as education or audit materials
  • Protocol Compliance: Works with staff to ensure that PPE, hand hygiene, and other IPAC protocols are followed
  • Process Monitoring: Works to ensure proper monitoring of IPAC processes and protocols through routine auditing
  • Education Support: Supports opportunities for education, re-education, and demonstration to ensure IPAC protocols are adhered to
  • Visitor Education: Greets visitors and provides education on proper PPE use and other IPAC control measures
  • Protocol Reporting: Reports breaches in PPE and hand hygiene, or other IPAC protocols, by team members, essential caregivers, and family members to Leadership
  • Infection Control Rounds: Completes routine rounds to provide education, on-the-spot audits, and education to ensure proper Infection Control principles are adhered to

11. Safety Officer Key Accountabilities

  • OHS Policy Development: Support the development of OHS policies and programs
  • Safety Advising: Advise and instruct on various safety-related topics (noise levels, use of machinery, etc.)
  • Risk Assessment: Conduct risk assessment and enforce preventative measures
  • Policy Review: Review existing policies and measures and update them according to legislation
  • OHS Training: Initiate and organize OHS training of employees and executives
  • Worksite Inspection: Inspect premises and the work of personnel to identify issues or non-conformity (e.g., not using protective equipment)
  • Safety Oversight: Oversee installations, maintenance, disposal of substances, etc.
  • Unsafe Act Intervention: Stop any unsafe acts or processes that seem dangerous or unhealthy
  • Incident Investigation: Record and investigate incidents to determine causes and handle workers’ compensation claims
  • Safety Reporting: Prepare reports on occurrences and provide statistical information to upper management

12. Safety Officer Roles and Details

  • Safety Management: Be responsible for all safety and fire safety matters
  • Regulatory Compliance: Maintain safety in accordance with all statutory and regulatory regulations
  • OHSAS Management: Manage OHSAS 18001:2007/SS 506: Part 1:2009, BizSAFE Level Star and Level 3
  • Accident Investigation: Conduct accident investigations, report, and liaise with appropriate agencies
  • Committee Oversight: Conduct monthly WSH Committee meetings and inspections
  • Safety Training: Conduct in-house safety and fire safety training, promote a positive safety culture by conducting regular safety campaigns in the company
  • Process Review: Review work processes, hazard identification, and implement safety measures in the workplace
  • Fire Drill Management: Conduct a fire drill to comply with the Fire Safety Act
  • Fire Safety Inspection: Conduct fire safety inspections and meetings
  • Agency Liaison: Liaise with government agencies on safety and fire safety matters
  • Safety Reporting: Prepare and submit a monthly safety report on work safety accidents/incidents, trends, and data analysis
  • Policy Review: Review and update the Safety Policy and Management System
  • Regulation Enforcement: Ensure all Statutory acts and regulations, company safety rules and regulations, and code of practice are implemented and complied with by all staff
  • System Improvement: Review the safety management system and recommendations for improvement
  • Workplace Monitoring: Maintain and monitor the achievement of a safe and healthy working environment
  • Safety Audit Management: Manage Safety Audits on-site

13. Safety Officer Responsibilities and Key Tasks

  • Safety Plan Management: Develops, implements, and maintains Center Safety Plans consistent with applicable statutes and Center policies to ensure the safety of students and staff at all times
  • Safety Training: Develops and provides training to staff in all fire and safety aspects, Blood Borne Pathogens, and AIDS/HIV awareness at all Center locations
  • Safety Inspection: Performs fire, work area, and safety inspections in accordance with regulations
  • Corrective Action Planning: Writes corrective action plans
  • Incident Investigation: Conducts and documents investigations on all Center accidents or safety-related complaints
  • Accident Reporting: Prepares all necessary reports involving student accidents
  • Regulatory Reporting: Prepares reports and maintains files on all DOL, OSHA, FDA, EPA, and other federal agency required reports related to safety
  • Regulatory Compliance: Ensures Center compliance with OSHA and other health and safety regulations
  • Safety Orientation: Designs and implements orientation programs for all new staff and students on safety matters
  • Safety Education: Provides training for Center staff and students to ensure that safety and security policies and practices are understood

14. Safety Officer II Duties and Roles

  • Environmental Coordination: Coordinate the Environment of Care, Safety, Security, Emergency Preparedness, Medical Equipment, Hazardous Materials and Waste Management, Life Safety, and Utilities as they directly relate to the health care setting and the overall environment of care
  • Risk Identification: Identify risks based on regulatory interpretation and other methods, and apply them to policy creation
  • Safety Oversight: Oversight of EC in efforts to maintain high standards of safety, regulatory compliance, and maintain documentation of findings and improvements
  • Incident Investigation: Participate in incident investigation to identify causal factors to determine how incidents might be prevented in the future
  • Hazard Monitoring: Monitor potential and actual environmental hazards
  • Cause Analysis: Participate in root and apparent cause analysis and recommend remedial and corrective action
  • Committee Leadership: Participate in or lead internal committees on workplace safety planning, management, and initiatives
  • Safety Education Development: Develop and implement education programs and materials to train staff to detect, mitigate, and avoid workplace hazards
  • Technical Guidance: Provide technical guidance to management, surveyors, and other appropriate parties regarding occupational health and safety-related problems regarding accreditation standards
  • Regulatory Education: Develop and implement educational programs for EC regulatory readiness
  • Policy Interpretation: Provide policy and procedure interpretation and education as it applies to the EC, Life Safety, and Emergency Management Plans
  • Regulatory Research: Conduct research and applicable regulations/standards concerning workplace safety and integrate findings into policies and procedures to ensure regulatory compliance
  • Accreditation Training: Provide education and training regarding accreditation standards and regulations as they relate to Medxcel policies and procedures
  • Policy Management: Maintain the policy and procedure repository and revision process, including FMOS
  • Plan Maintenance: Maintain and continuously improve Medxcel Plans, including the EOC, Life Safety, and Emergency Management plans, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and implementation at the health care system
  • Regulatory Readiness: Maintain regulatory readiness documentation, ensuring the system is in compliance with regulatory standards and that the personnel are trained and ready for regulatory inspections
  • Documentation Management: Maintain Regulatory/Facilities SharePoint site for dashboards, safety-related events, and measurements

15. Safety Officer Responsibilities

  • Security Patrol: Foot/vehicle patrolling of resort grounds to ensure that areas are secure and free of unauthorized persons and disturbances
  • Safety Patrol: Foot patrolling of the interior and perimeter of the hotel to observe and identify potential safety and security risks or undesirable conditions
  • Situation Assessment: Evaluating situations and making logical decisions on how to proceed and direct work
  • Security Communication: Answering the security telephone and responding promptly
  • Emergency Response: Administering CPR/First Aid
  • Identity Verification: Checking the ID of visitors/employees
  • Access Control: Accessing secured areas for authorized personnel
  • Emergency Handling: Responding to emergencies, including medical, security, and guest complaints etc.
  • Incident Response: Responding to altercations and investigating
  • Hazard Inspection: Checking for safety hazards
  • Lock System Knowledge: Having knowledge of hotel and guest room locking systems
  • Incident Reporting: Completing incident/accident reports in a clear and concise manner
  • Investigation Management: Conducting investigations relative to property losses, guest and employee accidents and illnesses, and crimes against the resort
  • Escort Service: Providing escorts to persons carrying money or other requests
  • Radio Communication: Using proper radio etiquette at all times
  • Log Maintenance: Maintaining and reviewing the daily activity log
  • Confidentiality Management: Maintaining confidentiality with respect to guest and employee incidents

16. Safety Officer Accountabilities

  • Policy Development: Develop new and revised policies and procedures affecting safety and security
  • Department Coordination: Coordinate with other departments to ensure compliance with overall objectives relating to the safety and security program
  • Community Liaison: Serve as liaison between the center and the immediate community in security, safety, and law enforcement matters
  • Safety Planning: Assist in developing and maintaining the center's master safety plan to include risk assessment, safety, and emergency disaster plans
  • Training Development: Develop and implement orientation and in-service training programs for staff and students to ensure that safety and security policies are followed
  • Committee Leadership: Conduct monthly safety committee meetings and provide all staff training
  • Fire Safety Management: Ensure fire extinguishers are available in required locations and in working condition at all times
  • Audit and Review: Review and audit all assigned areas regularly for contractual compliance and the effectiveness of delivery of services to students
  • Report Preparation: Prepare related reports
  • Safety Education: Provide fire and safety procedures and literature to staff and students
  • OSHA Training: Conduct training for staff on OSHA standards
  • Activity Reporting: Provide records and reports of departmental activities upon request by management, insurance underwriters, DOL, and other government agencies
  • Security Coordination: Coordinate with other center staff concerning safety and security matters and conduct security-related investigations
  • Preventive Inspection: Conduct preventive fire and safety inspections of facilities to identify potential hazards and initiate corrective actions
  • Compensation Program Support: Work with the human resources manager to create an effective workers' compensation and safety awareness program
  • Patrol Coordination: Coordinate security patrol functions and activities
  • Contract Liaison: Serve as security liaison with the center contractor for center coverage
  • Property Investigation: Investigate missing or stolen property
  • Law Enforcement Coordination: Coordinate the investigation with the local police department and the FBI
  • Regulatory Liaison: Act as liaison of federal, state, and local safety and fire officials, as well as local industrial safety managers
  • Community Linkage Development: Assist in the development of community linkages in the areas of safety and security
  • Student Committee Advising: Serve as staff advisor to the student government association (SGA) safety and security committee
  • Student Supervision: Supervise and evaluate students assigned to the department for on-center work experience
  • Environmental Oversight: Oversee and represent the center at quarterly environmental inspections
  • Fire Drill Coordination: Coordinate fire drills and serve as liaison to the Wilmington fire department
  • Policy Enforcement: Support, promote, and enforce the Job Corps' Zero Tolerance Policy
  • Safety Tool Provision: Provide safety tools to departments
  • Facility Inspection: Inspect classrooms and offices for adherence to safety practices and policies
  • Safety Communication: Communicate closely with logistics coordinator, business and community liaison/WBL specialist, food services supervisor, and facilities maintenance staff on issues of safety
  • Behavioral Mentorship: Promote the development of Career Success Standards by modeling appropriate behaviors, mentoring students, and monitoring both positive and negative behaviors through interventions
  • Accountability Maintenance: Maintain accountability of students and property, and adhere to safety practices

17. Safety Officer Responsibilities and Key Tasks

  • HSS Plan Implementation: Carry out his responsibilities in the Health, Safety, and Security control Plan
  • Compliance Monitoring: Monitor the implementation and compliance with the workforce, Subcontractors, Alliance partners, Shipping Captains, and Visitors
  • Legislative Compliance: Monitor compliance with National and International Health, Safety, and Security control legislation
  • Training Identification: Identify specialist advice and training requirements
  • Emergency Preparedness: Practice and be fully conversant with the emergency response and evacuation plans, and preparedness
  • Department Organization: Assist with the organization of the HSS department sufficiently to ensure that Health, Safety, and Security control protection is adequately provided to all workplace activities
  • Continuous Improvement: Provide continuous improvement initiatives to ensure that it reaches the highest professional worldwide standards of Health, Safety, and Security control protection
  • Policy Adherence: Acknowledge and understand the policy, objective, and target that the company issues, and have to follow this system to achieve the specific policy
  • Procedure Compliance: Strictly abide by any procedures and any work instructions concerned
  • Procedure Improvement: Suggest improving the procedures or work instructions properly
  • Environmental Monitoring: Monitoring and preventing the effects of working on the environment
  • Environmental Impact Reduction: Reduce the environmental impact caused by the working activities
Relevant Information
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