Safety Manager

Job Description: Safety Manager

Position Summary

Field

Detail

Job title

Safety Manager

Department

Corporate

Reports to

TBD

Level

Individual contributor, mid-level (not entry level, no direct reports)

FLSA status

Exempt (confirm with HR/Legal)

Location

Corporate office, supporting all branches

Travel

Regular travel to branches, estimated 30-50%

Works closely with

Branch Managers, Warehouse Managers, Warehouse Associates, Corporate Trainer, HR, Leadership team

Role Purpose

The Safety Manager makes sure Lehman’s corporate safety program is actually working at every branch, not just written down. This is a hands-on, corporate-level role that turns core safety initiatives into consistent practice across warehouses, yards and counters. Just as important, this person builds a culture where safety is part of how work gets done every day, not a compliance exercise, and earns buy-in from the floor up.

The role supports the branches by managing safety programs rollout, branch safety audits, training, emergency preparedness, running safety committee meetings, lead incident/accident investigations and corrective actions. It also supports Lehman's ESG reporting on safety and environmental performance. Success means fewer injuries, faster closure of corrective actions and branches that are audit-ready at any time.

Key and Essential Responsibilities

1. Safety Program Implementation

• Roll out corporate safety policies, procedures and initiatives to every branch with a clear plan, timeline and owner at each site.
• Conduct scheduled and unannounced branch safety inspections using standard checklists; score and report results.
• Verify branches follow core programs: hazard communication, PPE, lockout/tagout, walking-working surfaces, fall protection, fire prevention, among other applicable programs.
• Maintain written programs and keep them current with OSHA, state and local requirements.
• Act as the first point of contact for branch managers on day-to-day safety questions.

2. Powered Industrial Trucks and Warehouse Safety

• Manage the forklift and powered industrial truck program in line with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.178: operator training, refresher training after incidents or near misses, and operator authorization records.
• Make sure pre-shift equipment inspections happen and defective equipment is tagged out.
• Assess warehouse and yard hazards: racking and storage of pipe, valves and fittings, load securement, pedestrian and truck traffic, dock safety, cranes and hoists, and manual material handling.
• Partner with operations on traffic flow plans, racking inspections and safe stacking standards.

3. Hazardous Materials and Hazard Communication

• Maintain the chemical inventory and Safety Data Sheet library for every branch.
• Ensure proper labeling, storage, segregation and spill response for chemicals on site

4. Safety Training Coordination

• Partner with the Corporate Trainer to build an annual safety training calendar by role and branch.
• Deliver or co-deliver safety training: new-hire safety orientation, forklift, hazcom, PPE, emergency response and toolbox talks.
• Track completions, flag overdue training and keep training records audit-ready.
• Provide branch supervisors with monthly toolbox talk topics and materials.

5. Emergency Action Plans and Drills

• Make sure every branch has a current, site-specific Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and Fire Prevention Plan, as required by OSHA 29 CFR 1910.38 and 1910.39.
• Review and update each EAP at least annually and whenever layout, staffing or operations change.
• Schedule, run and document drills (fire evacuation, severe weather/hurricane, shelter-in-place, chemical spill, medical emergency) at each branch.
• Confirm evacuation maps, assembly points, emergency contacts, fire extinguishers, eyewash stations and first aid kits are in place and inspected.

6. Safety Committee

• Run the corporate safety committee and support branch-level committees or safety champions.
• Prepare agendas, data and trend reports; record minutes and action items.
• Track committee action items through to completion and report status.

7. Incident Investigation and Corrective Actions

• Investigate injuries, near misses, vehicle and property-damage incidents together with the direct manager and branch leadership.
• Use root-cause methods (5 Whys, fishbone) to find the real cause, not just the person involved.
• Own the corrective and preventive action (CAPA) log: assign owners and due dates, follow up and verify each action is closed and effective.
• Close out findings from audits, inspections, insurance loss-control visits and regulatory inspections.
• Maintain OSHA 300, 300A and 301 injury and illness records and support annual posting and electronic submission.
• Support workers' compensation claims and return-to-work coordination with HR, when required.

8. ESG and Reporting

• Collect and report safety and environmental data for ESG reporting: TRIR, DART, lost-time cases, near misses, training hours, and environmental metrics such as waste, spills and energy where requested.
• Support ESG initiatives such as recycling, waste reduction and sustainability programs at branches.
• Build a monthly safety scorecard by branch for leadership.

Scope and Decision Authority

The Safety Manager influences without direct authority over branch staff, so credibility and follow-through matter more than title.

Can decide or act independently:

• Stop work when there is an imminent danger to people.
• Tag out unsafe equipment, including forklifts that fail inspection.
• Schedule audits, drills and training at branches.
• Assign corrective-action owners and due dates, and escalate overdue items.

Recommends and leadership decides:

• New or changed safety policies and programs.
• Capital spending on safety equipment, racking or facility changes.
• Disciplinary action tied to safety violations (with HR).
• Regulatory responses, OSHA inspections and citations.

Not part of this role: people management, budget ownership, or leading regulatory negotiations on its own.

Qualifications

Required:

• 3-5 years of hands-on safety experience in distribution, warehousing, logistics, manufacturing or construction supply.
• Working knowledge of OSHA general industry standards (29 CFR 1910), especially powered industrial trucks, hazard communication, emergency action plans, LOTO and recordkeeping.
• OSHA 30-Hour General Industry certification (or ability to complete within 6 months).
• Experience leading incident investigations and closing corrective actions.
• Experience delivering safety training to frontline employees.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel to branches, including overnight trips.

Preferred:

• Associate's or bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Health and Safety, or a related field.
• Professional credential such asCertified Safety Professional (CSP), or progress toward one.
• Forklift train-the-trainer certification.
• DOT hazmat training and familiarity with 49 CFR.
• Experience with multi-site organizations.
• Experience with ESG or sustainability reporting.
• Bilingual English/Spanish (not required)

Ongoing KPIs

Metric

Target

Frequency

Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR)

Year-over-year reduction (e.g., 10-15%)

Monthly

DART rate (days away, restricted or transferred)

Year-over-year reduction

Monthly

Lost-time incidents

Downward trend; zero serious injuries

Monthly

Near-miss reports submitted

Increase reporting (a leading indicator)

Monthly

Corrective actions closed on time

90% or higher

Monthly

Average days to close a corrective action

30 days or less

Monthly

Incident investigations completed

Within 48-72 hours of the incident

Per incident

Average branch audit score

90% or higher

Quarterly

Required safety training completion

95% or higher

Monthly

Forklift operator certifications current

100%

Monthly

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

• Work is split between the corporate office and branch warehouses, yards and loading docks.
• Regular exposure to warehouse conditions: heat, cold, noise, moving forklifts and trucks, and outdoor weather.
• Must walk, stand, climb stairs and ladders, bend and stoop for extended periods during audits and drills.
• Occasionally lift up to 50 lbs.
• Must wear required PPE (safety shoes, high-visibility vest, hard hat, safety glasses, hearing protection) on site.
• Occasional after-hours response to serious incidents.

Lehman Pipe & Supply is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected characteristic. Reasonable accommodations are available to individuals with disabilities.

This job description is not an exhaustive list of duties. Responsibilities may change based on business needs.