The position of safety director is an important one. In some construction firms
the safety director may be an officer or senior manager of the company. The
safety director's primary responsibility is to keep the loss of human and property
resources to a minimum. The safety director is an individual capable of managing
job site safety by providing safety training for employees, inspecting job sites,
correcting safety hazards found during regular inspections, managing worker's
compensation insurance processes, and ensuring that the company is in compliance
with required Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety and
health standards.
A college education is not essential although pertinent safety training courses
are desirable. A good safety director understands OSHA regulations and how they
work in construction. He or she should also have basic knowledge of construction operations,
materials, and methods. Most safety directors have previous construction experience
and a keen interest in construction safety.
