What does a health and safety coordinator do?
A health and safety coordinator is responsible for identifying the potential safety risks of an organization, recommending solutions to mitigate hazards that may affect the company's operational performance and productivity. Health and safety coordinators inspect the safety and security of the facilities, including the production tools, equipment, and machinery, and analyze findings to develop procedures that would eliminate work-related threats. They also facilitate safety training and programs for the employees, as well as emergency drills and reiteration of safety policies and protocols for strict compliance.
Health and safety coordinator responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real health and safety coordinator resumes:
- Interview, hire, train, and manage all CPR instructors.
- Manage and implement a regional EHS program for multiple lumber manufacturing facilities.
- Develop an incentive program to promote and cultivate a safety culture through EHS activities participation.
- Maintain relationship with governmental agencies and corporate regulatory department staying abreast with OSHA and EPA regulations and standards.
- Determine requirements for personal protective equipment (PPE) and safety devices.
- Have advised on training requirements to sample or remove asbestos containing material and PPE requirements.
- Organize company events, file timely reports with EPA and BLM, and track leading/lagging indicators.
- File all environmental permitting for EPA, NCDENR, and local authorities including SPCC and SWP3.
- Authore safety data sheets for raw material and finish procedures, ISO procedures, and NAFTA certificates for non-domestic customers.
- Certify ISO and quality/environmental auditor.
- Conduct frequent facility and workstation inspections to ensure OSHA compliance, ergonomic suitability, and appropriate usage of personal protective equipment.
- Provide safety and health coaching, mentoring and training to all staff, including MSHA new hires and annual refresher instruction.
- Maintain photographic and written documentation of acceptable procedures and management practices not specifically outline by MSHA and CFR manuals.
Health and safety coordinator skills and personality traits
We calculated that 9% of Health And Safety Coordinators are proficient in OSHA, EHS, and Environmental Health. They’re also known for soft skills such as Ability to use technology, Detail oriented, and Physical stamina.
We break down the percentage of Health And Safety Coordinators that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- OSHA, 9%
Maintained relationship with governmental agencies and corporate regulatory department staying abreast with OSHA and EPA regulations and standards.
- EHS, 5%
Developed an incentive program to promote and cultivate a safety culture through EHS activities participation.
- Environmental Health, 5%
Investigated and submitted written reports and recommendations on incidents involving environmental health and safety matters.
- Rehabilitation, 4%
Supported and developed environmental conservation and rehabilitation projects.
- Corrective Action, 3%
Conducted accident-incident investigations and implemented corrective actions.
- Safety Program, 3%
Manage facility behavioral/people-based safety program.
Common skills that a health and safety coordinator uses to do their job include "osha," "ehs," and "environmental health." You can find details on the most important health and safety coordinator responsibilities below.
Ability to use technology. One of the key soft skills for a health and safety coordinator to have is ability to use technology. You can see how this relates to what health and safety coordinators do because "occupational health and safety specialists and technicians must be able to use advanced technology." Additionally, a health and safety coordinator resume shows how health and safety coordinators use ability to use technology: "provide administrative and clinical support to the safety manager, director of occupational health & hr dept. "
Detail oriented. Many health and safety coordinator duties rely on detail oriented. "occupational health and safety specialists and technicians need to understand and follow safety standards and complex government regulations.," so a health and safety coordinator will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways health and safety coordinator responsibilities rely on detail oriented: "instituted realistic corrective actions with detailed instructions, deadlines, and champions. "
Physical stamina. health and safety coordinators are also known for physical stamina, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to health and safety coordinator responsibilities, because "occupational health and safety specialists and technicians must be able to stand for long periods and be able to travel regularly." A health and safety coordinator resume example shows how physical stamina is used in the workplace: "perform hse inspections and audits of physical conditions, safe work practices and environment policies. "
Communication skills. A big part of what health and safety coordinators do relies on "communication skills." You can see how essential it is to health and safety coordinator responsibilities because "occupational health and safety specialists and technicians must be able to communicate safety instructions and concerns to employees and managers." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical health and safety coordinator tasks: "establish and implement the company safety program develop written programs including bloodborne pathogens, lockouttagout, hazard communication, etc. "
Problem-solving skills. Another crucial skill for a health and safety coordinator to carry out their responsibilities is "problem-solving skills." A big part of what health and safety coordinators relies on this skill, since "occupational health and safety specialists and technicians must be able to solve problems in order to design and implement workplace processes and procedures that help protect workers from hazardous conditions." How this skill relates to health and safety coordinator duties can be seen in an example from a health and safety coordinator resume snippet: "assessed health, safety and environmental risks and provided hse solutions for subsidiary of leading international engineering and construction contracting company. "
The three companies that hire the most health and safety coordinators are:
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Health and safety coordinator vs. Ehs manager
An environmental health & safety (EHS) manager is in charge of developing and implementing safety programs for a company's workforce and work environment. Their responsibilities revolve around conducting regular inspections to ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations, devising preventive measures, spearheading training and seminars, and investigating workplace accidents and identify causes to ensure that it would not happen again. Furthermore, as a manager, it is essential to lead and encourage the team to reach goals, all while implementing every policy and safety regulation of the company.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, health and safety coordinator responsibilities require skills like "osha," "ehs," "rehabilitation," and "state regulations." Meanwhile a typical ehs manager has skills in areas such as "oversight," "workers compensation," "environmental regulations," and "contractor safety." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Ehs managers tend to reach higher levels of education than health and safety coordinators. In fact, ehs managers are 7.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Health and safety coordinator vs. Environmental health specialist
An Environmental Health Specialist is responsible for determining the existence of possible health hazards and taking measures to prevent or corect them. They monitor health and safety conditions in resedential, industrial, commercial, and recreational settings.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that health and safety coordinator responsibilities requires skills like "safety procedures," "epa," "cpr," and "powerpoint." But an environmental health specialist might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "public health," "air quality," "excellent interpersonal," and "environmental regulations."
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Environmental health specialists tend to reach similar levels of education than health and safety coordinators. In fact, they're 3.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for health and safety coordinators in the next 3-5 years?
Linsay Hale
Professional Standards Director/Interim Training Division Director, IADLEST Member - International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training
Health and safety coordinator vs. Safety officer
A safety officer specializes in maintaining a safe and healthy work environment for employees in a building or establishment. Aside from adhering to the safety standards and regulations within a company, a safety officer also has to craft and improve policies that prioritize the physical and mental health of workers. Furthermore, it is essential to implement safety programs by educating workers on various precautionary measures, performing regular inspections of equipment and machines, and ensuring the proper disposal of any hazardous waste materials.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a health and safety coordinator is likely to be skilled in "environmental health," "rehabilitation," "state regulations," and "epa," while a typical safety officer is skilled in "patients," "patrol," "risk management," and "customer service."
Most safety officers achieve a similar degree level compared to health and safety coordinators. For example, they're 1.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Health and safety coordinator vs. Safety supervisor
A safety supervisor is responsible for monitoring the overall operations of a production, ensuring the safety and security of everyone, and enforcing strict regulations and protocols. Safety supervisors organize safety orientations and training for the workers, as well as reiterating disciplinary measures and policies and procedures during meetings. They inspect the workplace, including the maintenance of tools and equipment, immediately calling for repair for any defective items found. A safety supervisor also assists with the investigation of workplace hazards to prevent such complications in the future.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between health and safety coordinators and safety supervisors, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a health and safety coordinator might have more use for skills like "environmental health," "rehabilitation," "state regulations," and "powerpoint." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of safety supervisors require skills like "patrol," "site safety," "safety rules," and "incident investigations. "
In general, safety supervisors hold similar degree levels compared to health and safety coordinators. Safety supervisors are 2.9% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of health and safety coordinator
Updated January 8, 2025
