Skills & Competencies for Safety Specialist

Safety Specialist job profile

JOB SUMMARY for Safety Specialist

Implements, manages and monitors safety programs, policies, and procedures that meet OSHA and other applicable requirements.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES for Safety Specialist

Evaluates the organization's procedures, facilities and equipment by conducting inspections to identify unsafe conditions and to implement safeguards and solutions. Ensures the organization complies with all current safety regulations and that all employees are aware of safety requirements and are prepared to follow safety procedures. Collects data and reports on all safety and accident events. May have additional responsibility for fire prevention, hazardous waste management, resource conservation, or other safety related activities depending on the industry and location.

Safety Specialist SALARY RANGE

BASE 50%
$89,646
TOTAL 50%
$91,609
Job Level
P02
Job Code
LE11000018
Education/Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Reports To
Manager

Safety Specialist Skills and Competencies List

Proficiency Levels and Behavioural Indicators
Salary.com identifies five increasing levels of proficiency for each skill/competency. Some jobs require only a relatively low level of proficiency in each skill/competency, while other jobs will require a more advanced level of proficiency in the same skill/competency. These levels rate the degree of proficiency (skill level, expertise) we expect the incumbent to perform in the given skill/competency for the given job. Note that we intentionally do not associate timeframes or years of experience in performing the skill/competency because that can be misleading. Proficiency levels identify what the incumbent knows and can do rather than how long they have been doing it. Also, note that the proficiency levels are cumulative, e.g., a level 4 proficiency implies the ability to perform all the behaviors at the lower levels.
Check each Safety Specialist skill and competencie below to view definitions.

15 general skills or competencies (Job family competencies) for Safety Specialist

1 Job Family Competencies – Environmental Safety
Proficiency Level -2
Skill definition-Enforcing safety guidelines, policies, and practices to prevent workplace incidents while reducing environmental toxins and spillage.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Lists the step-by-step procedures for creating environmental safety plans.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Prepares and submits incident investigation reports to senior management.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Reviews safety audits to conform with hazardous materials and waste requirements.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Reviews and modifies existing environmental policies to comply with safety standards and requirements.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Generates new techniques and strategies to optimize environmental safety management processes.
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2 Job Family Competencies – Fire Safety
Proficiency Level -2
Skill definition-Planning and implementing safety practices, policies, and procedures to significantly reduce the extent of damage that a fire can cause.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Identifies the common fire-related hazards, such as electrical faults and overheating machinery.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Supports the installation of fire detection and automatic fire alarm systems in the building.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Performs preventative maintenance on equipment to keep the workplace safe from fire hazards.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Oversees fire prevention activities to ensure safe and continuous operations.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Stays abreast with new trends and industry standards to provide expert advice on fire safety programs.
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3 Safety Specialist - Skill and Competency
Proficiency Level - 3
4 Skill and Competency - Safety Specialist
Proficiency Level - 4
5 Competency for - Safety Specialist
Proficiency Level - 5

9 soft skills or competencies (core competencies) for Safety Specialist

1 Core Competencies – Process Improvement
Proficiency Level -2
Skill definition-Analyzing and improving existing processes and workflows to minimize process errors and streamline organizational efficiency.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Lists most common tools used for process improvement.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Uses metrics to track the effectiveness of process improvement initiatives.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Utilizes tools in explaining process improvement to allow teams to clearly understand the objectives.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Presents challenges and offers solutions to overcome barriers for improvements.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Leads transformational change to restructure business processes and achieve organizational excellence.
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2 Core Competencies – Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
Proficiency Level -2
Skill definition-A set of written instructions that describes the step-by-step activities to complete tasks in compliance with business standards and industry regulations.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Lists the typical processes of SOP development.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Supports the analysis of our business and operations processes for SOP design and development.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Researches new tools and techniques for SOP daily management.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Resolves complex issues arising from SOP practices; develops preventative solutions accordingly.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Monitors industry for SOP trends and best practices; makes recommendations about those that benefit our business.
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3 Safety Specialist - Skill and Competency
Proficiency Level - 3
4 Skill and Competency - Safety Specialist
Proficiency Level - 4
5 Competency for - Safety Specialist
Proficiency Level - 5

Summary of Safety Specialist skills and competencies

There are 0 hard skills for Safety Specialist.
15 general skills for Safety Specialist, Environmental Safety, Fire Safety, HSE Compliance, etc.
9 soft skills for Safety Specialist, Process Improvement, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), Risk Management, etc.
While the list totals 24 distinct skills, it's important to note that not all are required to be mastered to the same degree. Some skills may only need a basic understanding, whereas others demand a higher level of expertise.
For instance, as a Safety Specialist, he or she needs to be proficient in Process Improvement, be proficient in Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), and be proficient in Risk Management.

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