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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.  

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. 

Working With ResponsAble: Employees and Employers

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qualified safety professionals

Are you interested in using ResponsAble for your next project? Want to be included in our database of desired workers and experience the consistency that working with our distinct agency can bring? We’re here to tell you where to start!

Employees

Apply online for one of our current job openings! Each applicant must have a basic orientation from the safety council and TWIC credential to complete the application process. Qualified applicants will be contacted by a member of the ResponsAble team to schedule an interview at our office.

Through our interview process and assessment of their hard and soft skills, we’re able to appropriately qualify a candidate’s true safety knowledge and capability outside of just “safety certifications”. This allows us to match the right candidate to the right job and customer.

We maintain and manage an ever-growing database of qualified and experienced staff. Once an applicant’s paperwork is completed, they become a part of this incredible group. We frequently contact eligible candidates within our database who are not working. We look for opportunities to engage with them and maintain communication and interest/availability status. 

Employers

When you’re pressed for time and you need to fill positions quickly to ramp up for a job, don’t hire just anyone; it’s not worth the risk. As tempting as it may be to make the fast and easy hires, it’s better for you to be picky in the selection of your safety professionals.

When you hire ResponsAble to take over your safety hiring process, you get access to that continually growing pool of highly qualified safety professionals. 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. This continuously growing database of talent is an ongoing stream for companies like yours that need safety staff to ramp up new jobs quickly:

We take what we do very seriously. Our safety personnel are better screened, trained, and more experienced because we are 100% focused on safety staffing. We want to provide the best match for every job and be a resource to support your safety needs.

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!

Workplace Safety Resolutions for the New Year

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Workplace Safety Resolutions

Each new year brings about new resolutions that range from the achievable to the downright absurd. Most resolutions tend to center around personal well-being, such as promising to spend more time at the gym to get fit and setting goals to achieve professionally. However, very few take the time to ponder on how to improve health and safety while in the workplace. If you find yourself belonging to the majority who don’t make resolutions concerning workplace safety, then why not make this year the time to start making them?

After all, health and safety should always come first. Create resolutions to act on improving health and safety in the workplace. They not only ensure personal safety but also make the environment safe and ideal for others as well.

Here are some resolutions that focus on workplace safety for the New Year.

1. Review Company Policies on Health and Safety.

Take some time to look through the company policies, and review health and safety rules and regulations. Check if there are ample facilities that can prevent any hazardous substances and materials from sticking to skin and hair. Know your rights as an employee, and find out if the company that you’re working for has provided sufficient information on keeping safe in the workplace.

2. Inspect Personal Safety Equipment and Gear.

Is the safety vest still properly fitted, or have the boots lost their non-skid ability? Do the safety glasses still allow clear vision, or does the helmet need replacement? Don’t skimp on this resolution, and ensure that all your safety equipment and gear are in tip-top shape before starting work on the New Year. Otherwise, it’s out with the old, and in with the new.

3. Acknowledge Distractions – and Throw Them Away.

Distractions take away the concentration that should be poured into the task at hand. One seemingly small slip may have serious repercussions in the form of health risks, or worse, loss of life. Keep these distractions at bay when working, and focus on the job that needs to be done.

4. Know Who to Call in an Emergency.

For any workplace safety-related concerns, knowing who to call or approach is as vital as knowing how to avoid hazardous situations. Emergency situations call for immediate action, so it’s best to find out beforehand who to turn to for those times when safety is compromised at work.

Even though you’re most likely have regular safety check-ups, there’s never any harm in taking extra precautions. The New Year can bring new regulations and changes so make sure you are keeping up with current OSHA policies and rules.

Be proactive in your safety measures and remind employees of seasonal safety tips. At ResponsAble, we believe having well-trained, high quality, experienced safety professionals on a job site is the best way to cultivate a positive safety culture. Give us a call at 225-753-1909 to talk with us about your upcoming projects.