Area Safety Manager

Waste Management, Inc. (WM)•Los Angeles, CA

14h•Hybrid

About The Position

At WM, safety is more than a priority; it is a core value without compromise, forming the foundation of every action we take as we value every voice, protect our communities, and ensure every team member gets home safe each day. In this field engaged role, the Area Safety Manager strengthens this culture by partnering proactively with leaders, operators, and frontline teams to align safety strategies, support compliance, and drive meaningful, data driven improvements across the Market Area. By building trusted relationships with internal customers including drivers, site managers, and senior leadership you will champion WM’s safety values through hands on engagement, coaching, and risk reduction initiatives that empower teams to work safely, confidently, and consistently. Candidates must also be comfortable traveling throughout the Market Area, which spans from San Diego County to Fresno County, to support multiple sites as needed.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree (accredited), or in lieu of degree, High School Diploma (accredited) and four (4) years of relevant work experience
5 years to seven (7) years in Safety or Operations Management (in addition to education requirements)
Strong knowledge in Safety Rules & Regulations including DOT and OSHA, strong communication and leadership skills, and public speaking experience required.

Nice To Haves

Certified Safety Professional (CSP) Preferred
Certified Industrial Hygienist Preferred
Professional Engineer (PE) License Preferred
Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP) Preferred
Registered Environmental Manager (REM) Preferred
Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) Preferred

Responsibilities

Corporate/Market Area Safety Strategy: Works closely with Corporate and Market Area Senior Leadership Teams to understand, support, and align safety strategy, goals, and objectives at both the Corporate and Market Area levels.
Drive Cam System Management: Oversees, manages, and consults with Market Area and Site leaders on Drive Cam System Management. This includes analysis, reporting, coaching, interventions and may include ride alongs with site managers and or front-line drivers.
Serious Injury and Fatality (SIF) Prevention Program Management: Identify, reduce, and ultimately eliminate tasks that present a high risk for serious injury and or fatality. Apply SIF logic to identify job tasks, activities, and situations that present a high SIF risk. Conduct Protection Validation Studies on each SIF situation to identify and close protection gaps.
Safety Communications: Works closely with EH&S team to ensure appropriate dissemination and implementation of EH&S policies, corporate safety communications, and initiatives. Assesses risks and monitors Market Area safety trends to create and deploy appropriate safety awareness messaging.
Incident Management: Determines severity and initiates formal investigation as necessary. Ensures all relevant incident data is captured in the WM EH&S portal. Creates and disseminates both qualitative and quantitative reports on Site and or Market Area incidents analyses. Works closely with Third Party Risk Administrator to ensure all required information is documented and transferred appropriately. Determines level of Root Cause Analysis to be performed. Works with People Team as required.
District Specific Safety Plan: Analyzes incident trends and works closely with both Market Area and Site Leadership to ensure DSSP is in place and operational.
Hazardous Energy Control Program: Has oversight of the WM Hazardous Energy Control Program and is able to direct, train and coach others on the relevant topics to ensure HECP protocols are being followed.
Regulation (DOT, OSHA, etc.) Management: Has knowledge of Federal, State/Provincial DOT/OSHA regulations as they pertain to WM operational requirements. Works closely with internal and external Subject Matter Experts to ensure WM is in adherence to all required standards and regulations.
WM / Customer Facilities Compliance Management: Management capabilities to oversee site/safety management systems (e.g., fire protection/detection/alarms (burglar, CNG, etc.)). Can conduct reviews of new equipment installs. Ensures inclement weather / natural disaster preparedness plans are in place. Conduct Safety Audits / Inspections and assist with commercial insurance management issues.
Safety Recognition Program Management: Establish performance criteria/thresholds and feedback mechanism for effectiveness evaluation.
Employee Health Management: Works closely with Corporate Subject Matter Experts to ensure all sites are following the Medical Monitoring Program and are in adherence to the WM Industrial Hygiene Program Management.
Personal Protective Equipment Management: Considered the SME on WM PPE policies and procurement for their Market Area. Works closely with corporate supply chain to ensure Market Area is supplied appropriately.
People Development (Safety specific): Must be able to constructively develop and coach others on overall risk management and safety topics. Provide developmental opportunities based upon incident investigations, DriveCam events, Employee Observations, SIF Observations, etc. to improve and advance their safety, skills, knowledge and performance.
Employee Observations: Can coach and train Market Area Safety Specialist, market area leaders (DMs, RMS, etc.) on safety trends from EH&S Portal, DriveCam, and SIF data to be use in conducting effective employee observations and coaching conversations.