Safety Officer

Safety Officer

San Angelo, TX Area

The Company

Our client is a high-growth startup in one of the most critical pockets within the defense industry: explosives production. They are further increasing our country’s capacity to provide the energetic materials necessary for the numerous defense systems that keep us safe; both here at home and around the world. Now more than ever, explosives production is an extremely crucial component, while also being a major bottleneck, in the deployment and utilization of defense systems. Our client is leveraging decades of industry expertise to alleviate this concern and help the United States maintain its military excellence.

The Job

The Safety Officer supports the day-to-day implementation, monitoring, and enforcement of the organization's safety, health, environmental, and regulatory compliance programs across explosives manufacturing operations. Working under the direction of the Director of Safety and Compliance, the Safety Officer provides an active, on-the-floor safety presence responsible for conducting routine inspections, monitoring compliance with established procedures, responding to and documenting incidents, delivering assigned training, and maintaining safety and regulatory records. The Safety Officer serves as a frontline resource for production and support personnel, promotes a strong safety culture, and helps ensure that daily operations conform to company policy, ATF and OSHA requirements, and applicable contractual and industry standards.

Functions

Daily Safety Operations and Inspections

• Conduct daily and shift-based safety walkthroughs and inspections of manufacturing areas, process bays, storage magazines, and support facilities; document findings and report deficiencies to the Director of Safety and Compliance.
• Verify that engineering controls, exclusion zones, grounding and bonding connections, and static-control measures are in place and functioning before and during operations.
• Confirm that in-process explosive limits, magazine occupancy, and quantity-distance (Q-D) requirements are observed in operating and storage areas.
• Monitor employee adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs), PPE requirements, and safe handling practices; provide immediate, on-the-spot correction and coaching.
• Exercise stop-work authority when an imminent hazard or unsafe condition is observed; secure the area and escalate to supervision and the Director without delay.
• Perform routine checks of fire suppression systems, emergency and first-aid equipment, eyewash and safety showers, exit routes, and alarm systems; report deficiencies for corrective action.
• Support housekeeping and good-order standards throughout the facility to minimize fire, explosion, and trip hazards.

Incident Response and Investigation Support

• Respond to accidents, injuries, near-misses, spills, and other emergencies on site; provide initial response coordination within the scope of training and authorization.
• Assist the Director of Safety and Compliance in investigating accidents, incidents, and near-misses; collect facts, photographs, witness statements, and physical evidence, and help identify root causes.
• Prepare draft incident reports and support the development, assignment, and tracking of corrective actions through to completion.
• Participate in and help coordinate emergency drills, evacuations, and after-action reviews.

ATF Recordkeeping and Explosives Compliance Support

• Assist in maintaining ATF-required records, including acquisition and disposition (A&D) records and daily summaries for explosive materials, in accordance with 27 CFR Part 555.
• Conduct and document routine and daily inventory checks of explosive materials; reconcile counts and promptly report any discrepancy, and any suspected theft or loss, to the Director of Safety and Compliance.
• Perform and log scheduled magazine inspections; verify that magazine security, housekeeping, storage compatibility, and construction requirements are maintained under 27 CFR §§ 555.201–555.220.
• Help ensure storage areas and records are inspection-ready and support the Director in preparing for and hosting ATF compliance inspections.
• Verify that only authorized, eligible personnel handle or access explosive materials; report any eligibility or access concern to the Director. (This position is expected to qualify as an ATF employee possessor; Responsible Person duties remain with the Director.)

OSHA and Regulatory Compliance Support

• Support day-to-day compliance with applicable OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910 standards, including Lockout/Tagout, Hazard Communication, Respiratory Protection, Hearing Conservation, and Process Safety Management where applicable.
• Promptly report and document recordable injuries and illnesses to the Director to support accurate maintenance of the OSHA 300 Log, 300A Summary, and 301 reports.
• Maintain Safety Data Sheet (SDS) files and chemical inventories in coordination with production and supply chain personnel.
• Perform or coordinate routine industrial hygiene monitoring tasks (e.g., noise, air, and exposure sampling) as directed, and maintain the associated records.
• Support OSHA and other regulatory inspections by accompanying inspectors, retrieving requested records, and documenting walkthroughs as directed by the Director.
• Track assigned corrective actions and abatement items to closure and verify that measures remain effective.

Hazardous Materials Transportation and Shipping

• Support compliance with the U.S. Department of Transportation Hazardous Materials Regulations (49 CFR Parts 171–180) for the offering, marking, labeling, placarding, and transport of Class 1 (explosive) materials and other hazardous materials.
• Prepare, review, and verify shipping papers, bills of lading, and hazardous materials documentation for accuracy and completeness prior to shipment.
• Support the assignment and documentation of hazard classifications, including interim hazard classifications (IHC) for new or developmental energetic items, in coordination with the Director of Safety and Compliance and cognizant authorities.
• Verify proper packaging, compatibility grouping, and DOT-approved container and marking requirements for explosive materials offered for transport.
• Monitor on-site movement and transfer of explosive materials to ensure compliance with quantity-distance, routing, and vehicle safety requirements.
• Confirm that employees who prepare or handle hazardous materials shipments have received required DOT hazardous materials (hazmat employee) training and that training records are current.
• Verify that transport vehicles, containers, and drivers meet applicable safety, placarding, and documentation requirements before explosive materials leave the facility.

Site Safety and Health Plan (SSHP)

• Assist the Director of Safety and Compliance in drafting, reviewing, and maintaining the facility's Site Safety and Health Plan (SSHP) and related site-specific safety plans.
• Keep the SSHP current by incorporating changes in operations, facility conditions, hazard analyses, regulatory requirements, and lessons learned from incidents and near-misses.
• Ensure that site-specific hazard controls, emergency procedures, exclusion zones, and personnel and explosive limits defined in the SSHP are communicated to and understood by affected personnel.
• Verify that daily operations are conducted in accordance with the SSHP; identify and report deviations to the Director for resolution.
• Maintain the SSHP and supporting documentation in a readily accessible, inspection-ready condition for internal reviews and regulatory or customer audits (ATF, OSHA, DCMA).

PPE and Program Administration

• Issue, inspect, and track personal protective equipment (PPE); maintain inventory and ensure the availability of flame-resistant (FR) clothing, anti-static footwear, and other required equipment.
• Administer day-to-day, operating-level elements of written safety programs, including Lockout/Tagout, Hazard Communication, confined space entry, and hot work.
• Manage permit systems for hot work, confined space entry, and energized work; verify that permits are properly issued, controlled, and closed out.
• Support Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) reviews for routine and non-routine tasks; help ensure JHAs are current, understood, and followed in the field.

Training and Safety Communication

• Deliver assigned safety and compliance training, including new-hire safety orientation, toolbox talks, and periodic refresher sessions.
• Maintain accurate training attendance and completion records; flag upcoming certification and refresher due dates to the Director.
• Post, distribute, and communicate safety bulletins, signage, and regulatory notices in work areas.
• Serve as a frontline resource for employee safety questions and concerns; actively encourage the reporting of hazards and near-misses.

Recordkeeping and Reporting

• Maintain safety, inspection, training, and regulatory records within the organization's document control system in accordance with applicable retention requirements.
• Compile inspection findings, incident data, and daily compliance metrics for review by the Director of Safety and Compliance.
• Enter and maintain data in the safety management information system (SMIS) and regulatory tracking tools.
• Prepare routine logs and reports that support internal and external audits and regulatory submissions.
  

Qualifications

Education

• Associate's degree in Occupational Safety & Health, Industrial Hygiene, Chemistry, a physical science, or a closely related technical field required; Bachelor's degree preferred. Equivalent relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.

Experience

• Minimum three (3) years of occupational safety experience, with at least one (1) year in an explosives manufacturing, ordnance, ammunition, energetic materials, or comparable high-hazard manufacturing environment.
• Familiarity with ATF recordkeeping (A&D logs, magazine inspections) and OSHA recordkeeping and inspection practices.
• Hands-on experience conducting facility safety inspections, incident investigations, and delivering safety training preferred.
  

Certifications (Required or Preferred)

• OSHA 30-Hour General Industry Outreach Training – Required (or to be obtained within six (6) months of hire).
• Associate Safety Professional (ASP) or Occupational Health & Safety Technologist (OHST) – Preferred, with commitment to pursue certification; progression toward Certified Safety Professional (CSP) encouraged.
• First Aid / CPR / AED certification – Required or to be obtained shortly after hire.
• HAZWOPER (29 CFR 1910.120) training – Preferred.
• DOT Hazardous Materials (49 CFR) function-specific and general-awareness training for hazmat employees – Required or to be obtained within ninety (90) days of hire and maintained current (recurrent training at least every three (3) years).
• Must satisfy ATF eligibility requirements to serve as an employee possessor of explosive materials under 27 CFR Part 555.
  

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Working knowledge of 27 CFR Part 555 (Commerce in Explosives) and general ATF storage, security, and recordkeeping requirements.
• Working knowledge of OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910 standards, including Lockout/Tagout (1910.147), Hazard Communication (1910.1200), and Respiratory Protection (1910.134).
• Working knowledge of DOT Hazardous Materials Regulations (49 CFR Parts 171–180) as applied to Class 1 explosives, including shipping papers, marking, labeling, placarding, packaging, and compatibility requirements.
• Familiarity with safe handling, storage, and processing practices for explosive and energetic materials, and with industry guidance such as IME and ISEE publications.
• Ability to read, interpret, and apply SOPs, JHAs, and regulatory requirements in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong observation, documentation, and communication skills; ability to correct unsafe conditions tactfully and effectively at the frontline.