Safety Specialist

Company Description

Great Lakes Environmental & Safety Consultants is an environmental, health, and safety consulting firm headquartered in Buffalo, NY. Founded in 1994, we support construction, industrial, and manufacturing clients across Western and Central New York with practical, cost-effective solutions that help them reduce injuries, control workers' compensation costs, and stay ahead of regulatory requirements. As our client base grows, we're expanding our safety consulting team.

Role Description

The Safety Specialist is a full-time, client-facing role based in the Buffalo/Rochester area. You'll work directly with clients across construction, general industry, and manufacturing settings, providing hands-on safety support both on active jobsites and inside manufacturing and industrial facilities. Daily travel to client sites is expected, generally within a one- to two-hour drive. No overnight travel.

Responsibilities include:

• Conduct workplace safety audits, inspections, and risk assessments
• Develop and deliver safety training tailored to workforce level and setting
• Assist with creating and updating safety policies, procedures, and site-specific plans
• Provide guidance on OSHA and other regulatory compliance
• Lead or support accident and incident investigations, including root cause analysis
• Prepare reports, document findings, and recommend corrective actions
• Follow up with client teams to make sure corrective actions get closed out
• Partner with client leadership and project teams to implement safety initiatives and build a strong safety culture

Qualifications

We consider candidates from both traditional safety backgrounds and those with hands-on experience in construction, manufacturing, industrial operations, supervision, or the military who want to grow into a safety consulting role.

• Experience applying OSHA and workplace safety standards in construction, general industry, or manufacturing settings
• Experience leading training, meetings, crews, or teams
• Familiarity with hazard identification, risk assessment, and accident investigation
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Comfortable working on active jobsites and inside industrial facilities in a variety of conditions
• Valid driver's license
• Degree in occupational safety, environmental science, engineering, or a related field is helpful but not required
• Certifications such as CSP, ASP, CHST, OHST, or STSC are a plus

Benefits

• 401(k) with company matching
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person. Based in the Buffalo/Rochester area, with daily travel to client jobsites and facilities within approximately a two-hour drive.