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From the Staffing Experts

ResponsAble Safety Staffing From the Staffing Experts blog archives.

Qualified Turnaround Safety Professionals – The Key to Success

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Turnaround Safety Professionals

If you have ever staffed safety projects of any kind, then you are fully aware of the safety challenges that come with executing a turnaround. A turnaround of any scale will introduce a totally different dynamic into the workplace and many of the safety challenges accompanying a turnaround are unique. One of those challenges is staffing the turnaround itself.

Hiring Quality Turnaround Safety Professionals

Logistical issues aside, let us consider the human factors and challenges that come with a turnaround. If you choose to do your own staffing, in order to find quality people you would need to:

  • Run the employment ads
  • Staff the job fairs
  • Interview more people because you don’t have a database to pull from
  • Pay for the short-term administrative costs of adding all of the people as employees
  • Pay for the workman’s comp
  • Replace the employees that don’t work out
  • And more…

Not to mention that turnarounds inherently involve a long period of pre-planning. It can take months, even years, in the planning stage to assess every detail associated with a turnaround of any scale. So, how can you find quality safety professionals for your turnaround AND effectively manage the project at the same time? Outsource your turnaround crew from a safety staffing agency, like ResponsAble.

Outsourcing Your Turnaround Safety Staff

Using an outside safety staffing company can ultimately reduce your risk and costs. When you outsource your safety staff with ResponsAble, we will:

  • Give you access to our database of already interviewed and selected candidates.
  • Handle the payroll administration.
  • Provide the workman’s compensation insurance for these employees.
  • Handle any and all communication regarding logistics, hiring and termination.If someone isn’t working out, they will communicate for you, and also replace the position so you do not have an unfilled hole in your team.
  • Take care of all the details that come with the hiring process so you can focus on effectively planning and managing your turnaround.

At ResponsAble, our safety professionals stay consistently employed so they stay sharp in their training and skill level. We don’t supply you with just warm bodies; we have a ready pool of trained and reliable safety personnel that have years of experience.

ResponsAble Safety Staffing provides critical safety-related personnel across a broad range of industries including Oil & Gas, Chemical Processing, Construction, Power, Nuclear, and General Industries. Get connected with a project manager to explore solutions and options for your upcoming project or job. We exist to make things happen for your team. Let’s talk at (225) 753-1909.

EHS Recruitment in a Tough Market

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EHS Recruitment

We are in a tough market for finding quality EHS talent.  It’s pretty easy to point out reasons for the current labor market being so tight but much harder to know how to overcome it.  Let’s look at a couple of causes for the limitations on available talent and move on to how to succeed in spite of the short supply.

The Current EHS Labor Market

The value and associated need for pro-actively manage workplace safety and health has become clear to employers over the past several decades.  Investment in Environmental Health & Safety positions continues to increase by businesses across broad industry segments.  

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. OS&H positions are projected to grow at a 7% average annual rate over the coming years of 2020 – 2030.  The projected growth rate translates to approximately 8,800 additional positions / year nationally.  Simple math produces an estimated employer demand of 88,000 new OS&H professionals over the coming decade.  

The most recent National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health, NIOSH, study on safety related education provides some insight into the supply pipeline of available safety professionals.  Total graduates from all OS&H related disciplines during the 5 year period of 2011 – 2015 was 12,000 graduates.  Simple math reveals an average annual graduation rate of 2,400 OS&H graduates / year.  

Contrasting the projected demand for OS&H professionals with the average annual supply of OS&H professionals may shed light on why the current EHS labor market is tight.  BLS data projects a demand of 8,800 position average adds / year while NIOSH data shows a supply of 2,400 average graduates / year.  There is a potential 6,400 shortfall in available OS&H professionals / year as we look forward.  

Recruiting EHS Professionals

How do you overcome a tight market supply for any professional?  

The levers you should pull to attract quality talent of course apply.  Competitive pay, benefits, culture, and opportunity will play a big role in how attractive your position will be to candidates.  All employers are competing with these tools for the prospective employees.  We’re not going to dwell upon these fundamental employment elements as they are foundational to all positions whether Safety Professional related or otherwise.  In short you probably already know to carefully evaluate all of these elements for all recruiting.  

What can you do with recruiting that is unique to Safety Professionals?

There are a few actions that if sustained over time will greatly improve your ability to source and hire EHS Professionals.  

Define the Position

As a company that specializes in Safety Staffing and Recruiting, we see major gaps in published job descriptions and actual employer expectations All-The-Time.  Safety related positions are very diverse and the professionals who fill them are not a one size fits all solution.  It is critical that the recruiting function do the work to understand the role, what’s required, what’s expected and the associated qualifications that will make a candidate successful in the specific role.  

Network

It’s a cliché because it works.  The safety community can be a tight knit circle and there is no better way to find good candidates than a strong personal referral from someone with knowledge of a candidates past performance and capabilities.  Interact with safety related trade organizations and social media boards to both publish your organization’s priority on safety and advertise career opportunities.  

Include Experience/Experts

By this we mean someone with expertise in the role as defined actively participates in the recruiting and interviewing process.  Including a subject matter expert in recruiting accomplishes two major objectives.  First, you minimize the risk that the candidate cannot perform up to their resume.  Second, you put your best foot forward as an employer when you can “talk shop” in a meaningful way with recruits.  

If you actively work the three bullets above in concert with a sound foundation of good employment benefits as described, you will improve your performance with EHS recruitment for your team.  

You’re not alone if you’ve read this post and feel that the principles make sense but you don’t have the time or resources to pursue making sure you accurately Define the Position, Network, Include Experience in Recruiting and cover all the employment fundamentals that you have to for all your positions.  

How ResponsAble Helps With EHS Recruitment

ResponsAble Safety Staffing has been successfully filling a wide variety of safety roles, writing Position Descriptions, Networking with Safety Professionals, and employing Experienced Safety Professionals for over a decade.  Our team of knowledgeable Safety Staff Recruiters and Safety Project Managers will provide any level of service you need staffing a temporary role, placing a temp to hire or serving as a turn key Direct Hire Placement Recruiter.  

Please contact ResponsAble Safety Staffing for any safety related staffing need.  

OSHA Inspection Process: What to Expect

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OSHA inspection processs - responsable safety staffing

Most employers dread the realization that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) may knock on their workplace door at any time. In many ways, it can be comparable to getting an IRS audit letter in the mail. Here is a walkthrough of the OSHA inspection process so you know what to expect if a compliance safety and health officer (CSHO) drops by for a surprise inspection.  

OSHA Inspection Process: On-Site Steps

Preparation

Before conducting an inspection, the OSHA inspector will research the inspection history of a worksite using various data sources, review the operations and processes in use, and the standards most likely to apply. They gather appropriate personal protective equipment and testing instruments to measure potential hazards.

Presentation of Credentials

The on-site inspection begins with the presentation of the compliance safety and health officer’s credentials, which include both a photograph and a serial number.

Opening Conference

The compliance officer will explain why OSHA selected the workplace for inspection and describe the scope of the inspection, walkaround procedures, employee representation and employee interviews. The employer then selects a representative to accompany the compliance officer during the inspection. An authorized representative of the employees, if any, also has the right to accompany an inspector. The compliance officer will consult privately with a reasonable number of employees during the inspection.

Walkaround

Following the opening conference, the compliance officer and the representatives will walk through the portions of the workplace safety areas covered by the inspection, inspecting for hazards that could lead to employee injury or illness. The compliance officer will also review worksite injury and illness records (as required by OSHA) and the posting of the official OSHA poster.

The Closing Conference

The inspector is required to have a closing conference, jointly or separately, with company and employee representatives at the end of the inspection. If management wants separate closing conferences, OSHA will hold the employee representative conference first to allow for any more employee input.

OSHA will discuss “apparent violations” (sometimes called “alleged violations”) and ways to correct hazards, deadlines, and possible fines. A second closing conference may be held if needed information, such as sampling results were not initially available. 

OSHA Inspection Process: Violations

OSHA may choose to issue citations and financial penalties to the employer for violating specific OSHA standards or regulations. OSHA must generally issue any citations within six months of the occurrence of any violations. Citations are supposed to be mailed to employee representatives no later than one day after the citation is sent to the employer.

The best way to avoid citations and fines is to keep your work environment up to OSHA standards. You can even use your own checklist to make sure that things are running smoothly before or during an inspection. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the CSHOs are, “experienced, well-trained industrial hygienists and safety professionals whose goal is to assure compliance with OSHA requirements and help employers and workers reduce on-the-job hazards and prevent injuries, illnesses, and deaths in the workplace.” Overall, you might dread all OSHA inspections, but they are necessary to ensure that workplaces remain safe and within regulation.

Reduce Risk with ResponsAble

At ResponsAble, we believe having well-trained, experienced safety professionals on a job site is the best way to cultivate a positive safety culture. Because we are one of the only agencies that specialize in industrial safety staffing, we can provide a higher level of thoroughness and attention to your safety project. We have the ability to staff experienced Safety Professionals and Managers, Confined Space/Hole Watch Attendants, and Industrial Laborers.

Give us a call at 225-753-1909 to talk with us about your upcoming projects.

ResponsAble Safety Staffing: Your EHS Recruitment Agency

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ehs recruitment agency

Are you a safety professional looking for consistent and challenging work? Are you a hiring manager in desperate need of trained and experienced staff? As an EHS recruitment agency, ResponsAble Safety Staffing exists to make your safety staffing experience as smooth as possible. So, what does our process look like? 

ResponsAble’s Recruitment Process 

At ResponsAble Safety Staffing, we recruit based on experience, qualifications, and character. Don’t waste time searching through questionable candidates. Meet with vetted, pre-qualified applicants from a pool of primed and experienced talent.

Once you are matched with one of our project managers, we’ll handle the complete hiring process for you:

  • Screening and Hiring
  • Training and Testing
  • Placing and Support
  • HR and Payroll
  • Risk and Liability

EHS Recruitment Agency

Let’s say you need to recruit a new EHS professional. EHS recruitment is all about finding a professional who has the right industry knowledge and credentials. Our recruiters screen for EHS professionals that know where to go to find standards, how to interpret them, explain them in a way that non EHS employees will understand, and then understand how to apply them in the field. Our recruiters also look for proper Certified Safety Professional credentials. Once we find the candidates that fit your safety needs, we take care of all the new hire paperwork and on-boarding so you have more time to focus on your project.  

Stay safe by using the right tool for every job. ResponsAble Safety Staffing is the best tool for finding qualified safety professionals. You may not have time to seek out highly qualified safety professionals, or new job opportunities, in a time crunch, but we do. In fact, we don’t have to find them. We already have them, and they’re ready to go. Contact us today to learn how to outsource your safety staffing with us, the safety staffing experts. Give us a call at 225-753-1909!

Your First Step in Safety: General Labor Job Duties

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general labor job duties

The safety profession is approximately 110,000 safety professionals strong, with employment opportunities across all safety-related roles projected to increase through 2024, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. 

You might have officially decided to start or continue your career in safety, but how do you actually get started? 

Think of general laborer jobs as the entry-level jobs of the industrial safety world. These jobs are a great way to get your foot in the door and gain the experience you need. What can you expect from these types of jobs?

General Labor Job Duties and Responsibilities

Typically, general laborers are responsible for performing generic labor duties as needed to support industrial projects. These duties are to ensure that the job site runs smoothly, safely, and efficiently. Most employers require that general laborers have a valid OSHA Basic Plus and TWIC card, as well. Some jobs might require a confined space permit depending on the job itself.

If you apply to be a general laborer through us, here are some of the duties you can expect: 

  • Physically capable of performing all duties and responsibilities assigned; specifically, lift up to 50 lbs, stand, walk, climb, balance, bend/stoop, and kneel continuously. 
  • Physical and emotional capability to work in confined spaces
  • General housekeeping of work area; assists in maintaining a safe, clean workplace
  • Assists in the operation of equipment or power tools
  • Assist in the inspection of equipment, hoses, connections, pumps and general work area prior to starting any job
  • Performs hazard recognition awareness to remove or identify for removal of all hazards from the workplace
  • Follow direction from superiors

Occasionally, general laborers take up tasks like handling chemicals or removing lead from buildings. In these cases, you might be required to schedule training sessions on working with hazardous materials safely.

How Will You Be Compensated?

We provide competitive wages and career advancement opportunities for all our employees. According to Indeed, laborers in the United States make about an average of $12.83 per hour. Depending on the location and job, you could potentially earn more in addition to overtime.

Start Your Safety Career

Why spend hours sifting through job postings when you already have a pool of opportunities right in front of you? We are currently seeking applicants for a variety of positions so take that first step to launch your safety career, or to move up in your career path. If you are still searching for that perfect opportunity, check on our website regularly or call 225-753-1909 for updated job listings and opportunities. 

Available Careers in Safety: Choose Your Path

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careers in safety

Why Choose from Careers in Safety?

Occupational safety and health (OSH) professionals have very fulfilling jobs. They are the ones that create safe work environments by preventing workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses. But choosing to be a safety professional isn’t only about that rewarding feeling. It is also a practical decision. Careers in safety offer job availability, excellent salaries and career advancement, and leadership opportunities.

Your Career Path in Safety 

It doesn’t matter if you’re just starting out, or have years of experience, there are always options with a career path in safety. If you are just starting out, make sure to have your Basic OSHA Plus certification and TWIC card. Most safety jobs require you to have these before applying. Here are a few jobs that can kickstart careers in safety, starting at any level:

  • Confined Space Attendant/ Fire Watch: A CSA/Fire Watch personnel may be cross-trained and considered qualified for performing regulatory required confined space attendant and fire watch duties/responsibilities. Responsibilities include monitoring who goes in and out of the job site to ensure their safety, monitoring atmospheric conditions in the space prior to and during entry, assessing hazards in and around the space, and keeping detailed records of work done in and around the confined space.
  • Heavy Industrial Laborer: A heavy industrial laborer is responsible for performing general labor duties as needed to support industrial projects. A strong work ethic, mind, and body are required for these positions. Some typical responsibilities include having the ability to lift up to 50 lbs, assisting with the operation, cleaning, and inspection of equipment, hoses, connections, pump, and the general work area prior to starting any job, and performing hazard recognition awareness to remove or identify any hazards to the work area. Industrial labor job responsibilities can vary from job to job, but one thing remains the same: you must have strong physical capabilities, as well as mental skills in order to get the job done the right way.
  • Safety Technician: A safety tech primarily prevents accidents from happening by inspecting the workplace and analyzing potential hazards. Responsibilities include advising all employees on remaining compliant to OSH regulations and company standards, providing a high level of visibility in the field to ensure safe work practices are adhered to, conduction safety audits and inspections, assisting with incident reporting and investigating, conducting new hire orientations, and attending any client HSE required meetings to represent your company.      
  • Safety Manager: A safety manager works on job sites and in businesses to prevent accidents much like a risk manager. Common responsibilities include establishing and monitoring systems, policies, and procedures to comply with state and federal regulations, facilitating monthly safety meetings, reviewing incident and audit findings, resolving unsafe/non-compliance situations and practices, and providing consultation and expert advice to the company on all safety and health matters. 

The Occupational Safety & Health Training (OSHAcademy) offers further information on all levels of safety jobs so make sure you know all your options when choosing a career in safety. 

We are currently seeking applicants for all three of these positions so take that first step to launch your safety career, or to move up in your career path. If you are still searching for that perfect opportunity, check on our website regularly or call 225-753-1909 for updated job listings and opportunities.