How to hire a safety assistant

How to hire a safety assistant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step safety assistant hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a safety assistant job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new safety assistant
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a safety assistant do?

Post a safety assistant job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a safety assistant, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a safety assistant to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a safety assistant that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of safety assistant salaries for various roles:

   Type of Safety Assistant	Description	Hourly rate
   Safety Assistant	Occupational health and safety specialists analyze many types of work environments and work procedures. Specialists inspect workplaces for adherence to regulations on safety, health, and the environment... Show more	$12-25
   Public Health Internship	A public health internship provides students with a great learning opportunity to put into practice those educational principles and skills learned in the classroom. They will gain a better understanding and appreciation for the duties and responsibilities of full-time professionals in public health... Show more	$12-26
   Health And Safety Coordinator	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... Show more	$17-36

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • Patient Care
   • Patient Safety
   • CPR
   • OSHA
   • Safety Audits
   • Vital Signs
   • DOT
   • Safety Standards
   • Safety Procedures
   • EHS
   • Safety Program
   • Ladders
   • Emergency Situations

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Maintain and manage training records relate to MSHA compliance, ATF compliance and company-requir training.
   • Manage and facilitate extensive Safety/Security and HAZMAT training for all personnel.
   • Assist patients with daily hygiene, also assist nurses with patients periodically; distributing medication and direct observation
   • Work as one-to-one patient safety assistant worker providing supervision to patients who suffer from physical, mental and psychological conditions.
   • Organize CPR trainings and hearing tests for employees.
   • Train in the use of the Autopulse CPR machine.

   More safety assistant duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your safety assistant job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A safety assistant salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, safety assistants' average salary in tennessee is 48% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level safety assistants earn 49% less than senior-level safety assistants.
   • Certifications. A safety assistant with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a safety assistant's salary.

   Average safety assistant salary

   $38,077yearly

   $18.31 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level safety assistant salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average safety assistant salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Alaska	$58,970	$28
   2	New York	$45,047	$22
   3	Massachusetts	$43,890	$21
   4	California	$43,042	$21
   5	Michigan	$39,739	$19
   6	Illinois	$36,985	$18
   7	Ohio	$36,614	$18
   8	North Carolina	$33,253	$16
   9	Iowa	$33,065	$16
   10	Missouri	$32,961	$16
   11	Arizona	$32,683	$16
   12	Indiana	$32,488	$16
   13	Minnesota	$32,248	$16
   14	Texas	$31,818	$15
   15	Florida	$31,354	$15

   Average safety assistant salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Capco	$54,305	$26.11
   2	Dickinson College	$52,481	$25.23
   3	General Dynamics	$51,899	$24.95	7
   4	Turner Construction	$49,871	$23.98	61
   5	Erlanger Health System	$48,294	$23.22
   6	ENSTAR Natural Gas	$47,629	$22.90
   7	Universal Engineering Sciences	$43,539	$20.93
   8	Hospital Sisters Health System	$42,178	$20.28	1
   9	Post Holdings	$40,711	$19.57	6
   10	HealthTrust	$40,249	$19.35
   11	BAE Systems	$39,953	$19.21	9
   12	Projects	$39,421	$18.95
   13	The City University of New York	$39,045	$18.77
   14	CoxHealth	$38,455	$18.49	1
   15	Nes Holdings	$38,066	$18.30	5
   16	Cambrian	$38,017	$18.28
   17	Federal Aviation Administration	$37,953	$18.25
   18	Nash Holdings	$37,953	$18.25
   19	Poly-America	$37,890	$18.22	1
   20	Samaritan Health Services Inc	$37,669	$18.11

4. Writing a safety assistant job description

   A good safety assistant job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a safety assistant job description:

   Safety assistant job description example

   This position is responsible for providing exemplary service to the patients and visitors of Foundation Health Partners. It is the responsibility of this role to ensure patients and visitors who enter the facility each day are screened. This process includes asking screening questions, recording responses, taking temperatures, and providing additional instructions to the patient and/or associate per safety and procedure guidelines. Additionally, this position will also provide safety monitoring to a patient or a group of patients with the responsibility to communicate with the Registered Nurse (RN) upon arrival, departure, and as appropriate throughout the shift. Instruction will come from RN as to the expectations and any pertinent patient information.
   About Fairbanks Memorial Hospital
   Fairbanks Memorial Hospital is a non-profit facility owned by the Greater Fairbanks Community Hospital Foundation. A Joint Commission-accredited facility with 152 licensed beds, Fairbanks Memorial Hospital is the primary referral center for residents of Alaska's interior with a strong patient-to-nurse ratio and Shared Leadership Infrastructure. In addition to our exceptional clinical environment, our location offers incomparable lifestyle rewards away from work. In Fairbanks, small-town living, spectacular natural beauty and endless recreation combine to create a one-of-a-kind place to live, work and play. Positions Available Full-time (36 hours/week) 12 hour shifts, Varied Per Diem : Shifts as needed Responsibilities 1. Ensures outstanding customer service by greeting and acknowledging patients, visitors and co-workers as they enter and exit our facilities. Takes ownership by anticipating and responding to patient and visitor needs. Communicates courtesy and respect at all times when explaining the purpose of the point of entry screening.
   2. Provides temperature screen /monitor, per established protocols for individuals entering the facility. If a person is identified by the screening assessment to be a suspected COV19 case, follows established protocols. Contacts appropriate personnel if difficulty ensues. May practice de-escalation techniques and intervene early with approved diversional activities.
   3. Provides distribution services of requested items between various departments as needed, and in accordance with established procedures. Item distribution may include retail pharmacy orders. Performs supply restocking and/or clerical duties of assigned area as necessary.
   4. When providing safety monitoring, ensures the patient environment is safe and secure. Is aware of the patient's code status and pertinent restrictions, and reports any issues or concerns to the RN.
   5. Transports patients safely and efficiently between various departments following appropriate transfer techniques and proper isolation/infection control procedures. Assists with patient handling and lifting using appropriate patient safety equipment and procedures. Validates patients' identity based on established department protocol. Remains alert to patient condition and promptly communicates changes to clinical staff.
   6. Collects, cleans and disinfects patient care equipment and all other reusable items. Safely disposes of all disposable PPE, including single use items such as gloves. Manages all clinical waste to ensure it is disposed of properly.
   7. Follows a plan communicated by the RN when providing support services to patients. Communicates the services provided to the patient and changes in the patient's condition with the supervisor/Registered Nurse. Qualifications High school diploma/GED or equivalent working knowledge. BLS certification required upon hire.
   Requires the physical ability to stand for long periods of time.
   Requires interpersonal skills to operate in a direct patient contact environment. Ability to interpret verbal and written information/instructions and effectively communicate with others. Must demonstrate basic knowledge of computer skills, organizational skills, problem solving skills, and ability to function with minimal direction in a fast paced environment.
   PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
   Six months' previous healthcare or customer service experience preferred.
   Knowledge of medical terminology.
   Additional related education and/or experience preferred. We can recommend jobs specifically for you! Click here to get started.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find safety assistants for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any safety assistants they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level safety assistants with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your safety assistant job on Zippia to find and attract quality safety assistant candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit safety assistants, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new safety assistant

   Once you have selected a candidate for the safety assistant position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new safety assistant. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a safety assistant?