What does a safety engineer do?

Safety engineers are responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining safety protocols to ensure a secure working environment. They assess potential hazards, develop risk mitigation strategies, and enforce compliance with occupational health and safety regulations.

These professionals work across industries, such as manufacturing, construction, energy, and technology, ensuring that workplaces, machinery, and processes meet safety standards. Safety engineers conduct risk assessments, investigate accidents to ensure workplace safety and manage employees during safety training.

Safety engineers are crucial in preventing accidents, protecting employees, and ensuring regulatory compliance. Through proactive risk assessment and hazard identification, they optimise and implement effective safety measures in an organisation.

Please note that the role of safety engineers differs from that of safety officers. While the former is involved in developing and strategically planning safety protocols, the latter focuses more on implementing safety policies and day-to-day safety operations.

Safety engineers are also called health and safety managers, or simply, safety managers.

Job Description: Template

We’re seeking a proactive safety engineer to join our team at [Company X].

In this role, you will identify workplace hazards, implement safety standards, and ensure compliance with safety regulations. Your expertise in risk assessment, accident prevention, and safety training will help us maintain a secure and efficient working environment. You will work closely with operations, engineering, and compliance teams to create a safer work environment, prevent accidents, and improve overall safety performance.

The ideal candidate has a strong understanding of occupational health and safety, engineering principles, safety regulations, and risk assessment methodologies. If you are passionate about workplace safety and have a keen eye for hazard identification, we encourage you to apply.

We offer an attractive remuneration package with a collaborative work environment, professional growth opportunities, and employee benefits like health insurance, flexible work arrangements, and continuous learning programs.

Objectives of the role

  • Developing and implementing safety policies, procedures, and best practices in compliance with industry regulations.
  • Conducting risk assessments and hazard analysis to identify potential safety risks in the workplace.
  • Investigating workplace incidents, near-misses, and safety concerns to determine root causes and corrective actions.
  • Ensuring compliance with safety regulations such as OSHA, ISO 45001, and other industry-specific standards.
  • Designing and overseeing safety training programs to educate employees on workplace safety and emergency procedures.
  • Collaborating with engineers and operations teams to integrate safety measures into product designs, equipment, and processes.
  • Monitoring workplace conditions, conducting safety audits, and recommending improvements to enhance safety performance.
  • Working with external safety agencies, regulatory bodies, and certification organisations.
  • Maintaining safety records, incident reports, and documentation for audits and compliance tracking.
  • Leading emergency preparedness and response planning, including fire safety and evacuation procedures.

Your tasks

  • Perform regular safety inspections and audits of facilities, equipment, and work environments.
  • Implement engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements.
  • Evaluate and approve safety equipment, tools, and machinery to ensure compliance with safety standards.
  • Conduct job hazard analysis (JHA) and failure mode and effects analyses (FMEA) to assess risks.
  • Develop and implement workplace ergonomics programs to minimise strain-related injuries.
  • Analyse accident trends and develop strategies to reduce workplace injuries and incidents.
  • Ensure proper handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials.
  • Provide technical guidance to teams regarding safety-related aspects of projects and operations.
  • Stay updated with evolving safety laws, industry standards, and emerging safety technologies.

Required skills and qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Safety Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Occupational Health and Safety, or a related field.
  • 3-5 years of demonstrable experience in safety engineering, risk management, or workplace safety roles.
  • Strong knowledge of occupational safety standards (OSHA, ISO 45001, NFPA, etc.) and local safety regulations.
  • Experience with safety audits, risk assessments, accident investigations, and risk assessment methodologies like HAZOP, FMEA, and JSA.
  • Familiarity with industrial safety systems, fire protection systems, and hazardous material handling.
  • Familiarity with safety management systems and data analysis tools.
  • Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills to assess and mitigate risks.
  • Strong communication skills to educate and collaborate with teams on safety best practices.
  • Attention to detail and proactive approach to workplace safety improvements.
  • Ability to work both independently and as part of a cross-functional team of engineers, operations teams, and regulatory authorities.

Preferred skills and qualifications

  • Relevant safety certifications, such as Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), or similar.
  • Knowledge of safety engineering principles in hazardous materials, machine safety, electrical safety, or fire prevention.
  • Experience in construction, manufacturing, oil & gas, energy, or other high-risk industries.
  • Hands-on experience with safety data analysis, risk modelling, or ergonomics assessments.
  • Strong background in emergency response planning, disaster management, and first-aid training.
  • Familiarity with emerging safety technologies, such as IoT-based safety monitoring systems.