| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Environment, Health and Safety |
| Level | Entry level |
| Reports to | Safety Supervisor |
| Direct reports | None |
| Experience | Fresher or up to 2 years in a safety support role |
Safety Steward job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Safety Steward
Department: Environment, Health and Safety
Reports to: Safety Supervisor
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Safety Steward is a frontline safety marshal on the shop floor or construction site, helping keep work safe hour by hour. They watch for unsafe acts and conditions, remind workers on protective equipment, help with permits and barricading, and support the safety officer. The role reports to the Safety Supervisor or Safety Officer. A good safety steward is a constant safety presence at the workface, stops small unsafe acts before they become incidents, keeps barricades and signage in place, and reports hazards quickly.
Key responsibilities
- Watch the work area for unsafe acts and conditions through the shift.
- Remind workers to use protective equipment and follow safe methods.
- Help set up and maintain barricades, signage and safety displays.
- Support permit to work by checking basic controls at the workface.
- Guide workers to safe access, exits and assembly points.
- Watch high risk jobs such as work at height and lifting closely.
- Report hazards and unsafe conditions to the supervisor promptly.
- Help during emergencies and drills with evacuation and headcount.
- Keep fire points, first aid points and access ways clear.
- Encourage workers to report near misses and unsafe conditions.
Requirements
- Tenth pass with a safety awareness course
- Fire or safety steward training is an advantage
- Fitness for site work
- Fresher or up to 2 years in a safety support role
KRAs and KPIs for a Safety Steward
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Unsafe act control | Unsafe acts corrected at the workface before they cause incidents |
| PPE compliance | Protective equipment use in the area kept above the target |
| Barricading | Barricades, signage and access controls maintained on every check |
| Hazard reporting | Hazards reported promptly to the supervisor as they arise |
| High risk watch | High risk jobs attended and watched as assigned |
| Emergency support | Evacuation and headcount supported effectively in drills |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Barricading and signage, Personal protective equipment, Whistle and safety flags, Hazard report cards, First-aid basics.
Reporting line and career path
Interview questions for a Safety Steward
- What would you do if you saw a worker not wearing a helmet at height?
- How do you set up barricading around a hazardous job?
- How do you watch a high risk job like a lifting operation?
- How do you report a hazard you cannot fix yourself?
- What do you do during a fire drill or emergency?
- Tell me about an unsafe act you stopped at work.
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What does a safety steward do?
A safety steward is a frontline safety marshal on the shop floor or construction site. They watch for unsafe acts and conditions, remind workers on protective equipment, help with permits and barricading, watch high risk jobs, and support the safety officer. They stop small unsafe acts before they become incidents and report hazards quickly.
What qualifications do you need to be a safety steward?
Most safety steward roles ask for a tenth pass with a safety awareness course, and fire or safety steward training is an advantage. Fitness for site work is needed. Employers look for alertness, the confidence to correct unsafe acts, care in barricading and signage, and the discipline to report hazards. It is a common entry into safety.
How do you become a safety officer from a safety steward?
A safety steward can grow into a safety officer by learning permits, inspections and risk assessment, and by completing a recognised safety qualification such as an Advanced Diploma in Industrial Safety. Taking on more responsibility, showing sound safety judgement, and building knowledge of regulations open the way to a safety officer role.