Safety Specialist

Description

Company Background

Alta Forest Products, in collaboration with Itochu Building Products, proudly stands as the world's largest producer of wood fence boards. Our specialization lies in Western Red Cedar fence pickets and other premium products from the forests of the Pacific and Inland Northwest. In addition to manufacturing fence boards and lumber, Alta's advanced sawmills operate with zero wood waste, efficiently producing valuable by-products such as wood chips, sawdust, mulch, and biofuel. 

Headquartered in centrally located Chehalis, Washington, Alta operates fence board sawmills, reload facilities, and log yards in various Northwest rural communities..

The Role

Are you ready to elevate your career in safety and training? We’re seeking a dedicated individual to fill the vital role of Safety Specialist at our Shelton, WA mill site. In this position, you’ll partner with leadership and crew to ensure compliance with safety regulations and company standards. Your expertise will help conduct audits and identify potential hazards before they arise.

Bring your experience and passion for safety to a team that values your insights! You’ll play a key part in fostering a culture of safety while helping to train and empower employees to make informed decisions. If you have a solid understanding of safety regulations and best practices, and if you thrive in an environment where your contributions matter, we want to hear from you

This position will be full-time, onsite at the facility and requires attention to detail, strong communication skills, and a solid understanding of safety regulations and best practices.

Responsibilities

• Assist in creating and implementing safety policies and procedures for sawmill operations within the facility.
• Communicate and coach safety initiatives effectively to coordinators and mill personnel.
• Help ensure compliance with federal, state, and local safety regulations.
• Perform regular site audits to monitor safety practices and address EHS functions as needed.
• Track and manage workplace incidents and workplace safety records.
• Provide training to employees in both group settings and one-on-one regarding safety policies and procedures.
• Collaborate closely with management to integrate safety measures with production processes effectively.
• Investigate accidents, property damage, fires, and environmental incidents, applying root-cause analysis to develop risk mitigation strategies.
• Participate in the onboarding process for new hires regarding safety training.
• Conduct regular assessments and audits of air quality and water quality management practices at the mill site to ensure compliance with Washington State regulations.
• Monitor and report on emissions, effluents, and other environmental impacts related to mill operations, ensuring all data meets regulatory reporting requirements.
• Collaborate with environmental agencies and industry experts to stay updated on changes in environmental laws and best practices applicable in Washington State.
• Provide training and resources to employees on environmental stewardship, including proper waste management, spill response, and pollution prevention strategies.
• Investigate any environmental incidents, such as spills or emissions exceedances, and develop corrective actions to prevent future occurrences.
• Act as a liaison with environmental auditing parties to ensure compliance with air and water quality regulations and engage in continuous improvement initiatives.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Qualifications

• Proven experience in safety protocols and practices in a manufacturing setting.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to interact effectively with employees at all levels of the organization.
• Proficient in Microsoft Suite and industry-related software; experience with EHS software and database management is a plus.
• Detail-oriented and self-disciplined with strong organizational and analytical abilities.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing

Work Environment & Physical Demands

This role will operate in a professional office, log yards, and sawmills. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties o