Safety Specialist

Department: Safety / Operations
Location: Gastonia North Carolina
Shift: First Shift
FLSA Status: Exempt or Non-Exempt (based on final company classification)
Reports To: Safety Manager

The Safety Specialist supports IFAB Corp.s workplace safety compliance and environmental efforts in a first-shift single-location manufacturing operation in Gastonia North Carolina. IFAB operates a large metal fabrication business with capabilities that include press brakes stamping laser cutting welding coating tube bending and cutting machining and assembly which makes this role highly focused on practical manufacturing safety leadership.

This position partners with production maintenance quality and leadership to maintain a safe work environment reduce injuries support workers compensation follow-up and strengthen day-to-day safety engagement on the floor. The Safety Specialist also leads safety committees and safety champions while contributing to environmental compliance activities that support the facility.

• Support the administration and continuous improvement of IFABs safety programs policies procedures and training processes.
• Conduct routine safety inspections floor audits hazard assessments and follow-up activities across the facility.
• Identify unsafe conditions and behaviors and work with supervisors and employees to implement corrective actions.
• Assist with incident investigations near-miss reviews root-cause analysis and corrective action tracking.
• Manage workers compensation follow-up activities including injury reporting support return-to-work coordination and communication with internal stakeholders.
• Maintain safety records training documentation incident logs inspection reports and other compliance-related files.
• Help coordinate OSHA compliance activities and support required recordkeeping and reporting.
• Lead safety committees and engage designated safety champions to improve employee involvement and accountability.
• Deliver or coordinate new-hire safety orientation refresher training toolbox talks and topic-specific safety communication.
• Support core manufacturing safety programs such as lockout/tagout machine guarding PPE hazard communication forklift safety ergonomics hot work and emergency response.
• Participate in audits of equipment work areas and processes involving fabrication welding material handling coating and assembly operations.
• Work closely with operations and maintenance to promote safe practices involving presses laser cutting equipment welding areas powered industrial trucks and other plant machinery.
• Contribute to environmental activities such as chemical-management support waste-handling practices spill response readiness and related compliance tasks as assigned.
• Track corrective actions to closure and report progress to the Safety Manager.
• Support special projects and other duties related to employee safety compliance and environmental stewardship.

• Associate degree or bachelors degree in occupational safety environmental health and safety industrial technology human resources or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• Three to five years of safety experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of OSHA requirements and general manufacturing safety practices.
• Experience with incident investigation corrective actions and safety training.
• Experience supporting workers compensation follow-up and injury case management.
• Strong communication organization and follow-through skills.
• Ability to build relationships with employees supervisors and plant leadership.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office including Excel Word and PowerPoint.
• Ability to work on the production floor and wear required personal protective equipment.

• OSHA 30 certification.
• First Aid and CPR certification.
• Experience in metal fabrication welding machining stamping coating or similar industrial operations.
• Experience participating in safety committees employee engagement efforts or safety-culture initiatives.
• Exposure to environmental compliance activities within a manufacturing setting.

• Ability to stand walk climb stairs and move throughout the manufacturing facility for extended periods.
• Ability to work in an industrial environment with exposure to noise heat machinery forklifts welding operations and metal fabrication processes.