A safety supervisor ensures safety in workplaces, including food service organizations, factories, hospitals, and construction companies. They enforce legal regulations, establish effective procedures, and possess problem-solving, writing, and verbal communication skills. Requirements vary, but most have a bachelor’s degree and experience in the industry.
A safety supervisor inspects workplaces and directs employees to ensure people and property are kept safe at all times. He or she may work for food service organizations, factories, hospitals, construction companies, or one of many other industries where health and safety are top priorities. Many safety supervisors regularly visit facilities to enforce legal regulations and help establish more effective procedures. To work as a safety supervisor, an individual is generally required to possess strong problem-solving, writing, and verbal communication skills.
Attentive safety supervisors are essential members of the construction crews and plant workforce. Industry and construction supervisors oversee the work performed by workers to ensure that they are following company safety and legal guidelines. A safety supervisor at a construction site also regularly inspects construction equipment, tools and materials to ensure quality and safety. Factory supervisors ensure that machines are properly maintained and that workers wear proper safety equipment, such as hard hats and goggles, at all times.
Ensuring the health of employees and customers in foodservice facilities is a safety supervisor’s primary responsibility. Restaurants, cafeterias and food processing plants often hire safety supervisors to supervise food preparation. Professionals work in kitchens, making sure ingredients are stored properly to avoid contamination. They check freezers and refrigerators, as well as cookware and ovens to help prevent spoilage and potentially devastating bacterial outbreaks.
Some safety supervisors work for government regulatory agencies. Also called health and safety inspectors, government safety supervisors visit workplaces to assess working conditions. They visit facilities to inspect equipment and processes. A safety supervisor is authorized to issue warnings or fines when he discovers violations of safety codes, such as improper food storage or blocked fire exits. When violations are discovered, the supervisor explains the issues to employees and managers and tells them how they can get their establishment back up to code.
The requirements to become a security supervisor vary between different locations, industries and specific companies. Most workers have at least a bachelor’s degree in occupational health and safety, industrial hygiene or related fields. Many employers promote workers to the ranks of safety supervisor after they gain several years of experience in an industry and show strong leadership potential. Generally, food safety supervisors are expected to complete detailed training programs covering safe food handling and preparation strategies. Professionals who want to work for government organizations are often required to take certification exams that test their understanding of complex laws and procedures.
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