Job Overview
We are looking for a proactive and detail-oriented Safety Manager to join our team. The Safety Manager is responsible for developing, implementing, and continuously improving comprehensive health and safety programs across California-based manufacturing facilities and agricultural operations. This multi-site, travel-intensive role requires a seasoned safety professional who can navigate the unique regulatory environments of both industrial manufacturing and agricultural settings while building a strong culture of safety at every level of the organization. Your expertise will help prevent accidents, promote occupational health, and foster a safety-first culture. The ideal candidate is passionate about safety, possesses strong analytical skills, and is committed to continuous improvement in safety standards.
This candidate will bring deep knowledge of Cal/OSHA Title 8 and OSHA 29 CFR 1910/1926 standards, pesticide safety regulations, and agricultural worker protection requirements, along with the leadership skills to influence field supervisors, production teams, and seasonal workers.
Responsibilities
Program Development & Compliance
- Design, implement, and manage a unified EHS management system covering both manufacturing and agricultural operations.
- Ensure ongoing compliance with Cal/OSHA Title 8, OSHA 29 CFR 1910 (General Industry), OSHA 29 CFR 1926 (Construction), California Code of Regulations (CCR) Title 3 (Agriculture), and EPA/CDPR pesticide regulations.
- Develop, maintain, and annually review written safety programs including IIPP (Injury and Illness Prevention Program), Heat Illness Prevention Plan, Hazard Communication, Lockout/Tagout, Confined Space, WVPP, and Machine Guarding.
- Monitor regulatory changes at the federal, state, and local level and update programs accordingly.
Multi-Site Operations & Travel
- Conduct regular scheduled and unannounced safety audits, inspections, and observations at manufacturing plants and agricultural worksites throughout California.
- Serve as the primary on-site safety resource during new equipment installations, harvest operations, and high-hazard activities.
- Coordinate safety initiatives across geographically dispersed teams, adapting programs to site-specific hazards and workforce demographics.
- Maintain a reliable travel schedule to ensure equitable safety coverage across all locations; travel up to 50–70% of the time, including seasonal surge periods.
Training & Culture
- Develop and deliver multilingual safety training programs (English and Spanish required) for office staff, production workers, and seasonal agricultural laborers.
- Facilitate new-hire safety orientation, annual refresher training, and specialized task-specific training (e.g., forklift operation, pesticide handler certification, heat illness prevention).
- Champion a proactive safety culture by coaching supervisors and front-line employees in hazard identification and near-miss reporting.
- Lead Safety Committee meetings and drive employee engagement in safety programs.
Incident Management
- Investigate all workplace incidents, near-misses, and property damage events; perform root cause analysis (RCA) and implement corrective/preventive actions (CAPA).
- Prepare and submit required regulatory reports, including Cal/OSHA Form 300/300A logs, serious injury/illness notifications (SB 553 compliance), and workers' compensation first reports.
- Track incident trends, analyze leading and lagging indicators, and report KPIs to leadership.
- Coordinate with HR and workers' compensation carriers on claims management and return-to-work programs.
Agricultural Safety Specifics
- Oversee compliance with the California Agricultural Worker Protection Standard (AWPS) and the federal Worker Protection Standard (WPS).
- Manage safe pesticide and chemical handling procedures, field re-entry intervals (REIs), and PPE programs in coordination with licensed Pest Control Advisors (PCAs).
- Implement and enforce Heat Illness Prevention standards (CCR Title 8, Section 3395) including shade, water, rest protocols, and emergency response procedures for outdoor agricultural workers.
- Ensure compliance with field sanitation standards (29 CFR 1928.110) and ergonomic programs for repetitive harvest activities.
Manufacturing Safety Specifics
- Oversee machine guarding, energy control (LOTO), electrical safety, and process safety management (PSM) as applicable.
- Manage industrial hygiene programs including noise exposure monitoring, respiratory protection, and hazardous chemical exposure assessments.
- Coordinate WVPP, fire prevention, emergency evacuation, and emergency response plans with facility managers.
- Support capital project reviews to integrate safety-by-design principles into new equipment and facility modifications.
- Develop and enforce comprehensive safety policies aligned with OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) regulations and industry best practices.
- Conduct regular safety audits and inspections across all facilities to identify potential hazards and recommend corrective actions.
- Lead incident investigations by performing root cause analysis to determine underlying issues and prevent recurrence.
- Provide training and development programs on safety procedures, emergency response, first aid, CPR, and workers' compensation law compliance.
- Maintain accurate report writing for safety incidents, inspections, and compliance documentation.
- Collaborate with management to implement occupational health initiatives that promote worker well-being and safe manufacturing practices.
- Stay updated on EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) regulations related to environmental safety and ensure adherence across operations.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety & Health, or a closely related field preferred.
- Minimum 5 years of progressive human safety experience, with at least 2 years in both manufacturing and agricultural environments.
- Thorough knowledge of Cal/OSHA Title 8 regulations, OSHA 29 CFR 1910/1926, and California agricultural safety regulations.
- Demonstrated experience managing multi-site safety programs with regular travel.
- Proficiency in incident investigation methodologies
- Professional fluency in English and Spanish (written and verbal) — preferred for effective communication with diverse agricultural and manufacturing workforces.
- Valid California driver's license and ability to operate personal or company vehicles to travel between sites.
Preferred
- Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Associate Safety Professional (ASP), or Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) designation.
- Familiarity with OSHA PSM (29 CFR 1910.119) and Cal/OSHA PSM regulations.
- Proficiency with EHS management software (e.g., Alchemy, Safety Chain or similar).
Physical Requirements & Work Environment
This role requires the physical ability to perform safety inspections and respond to emergencies across varied work environments including warehouse floors, processing facilities, open fields, orchards, and cold storage areas. The following physical demands are regularly required:
- Ability to stand, walk, and traverse uneven terrain for extended periods (up to 8+ hours during field visits).
- Ability to lift and carry up to 40 lbs for equipment inspections and emergency response.
- Exposure to outdoor agricultural environments including heat, sun, dust, and pesticide-treated areas (appropriate PPE provided).
- Exposure to industrial environments including noise, chemical odors, moving machinery, and varying temperatures.
- Valid driver's license required; reliable transportation or company vehicle used for inter-site travel.
- Must be able to respond to after-hours emergencies and incidents as needed.
Pay: $80,000.00 - $95,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
