| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Environment, Health and Safety |
| Level | Entry level |
| Reports to | Safety Officer |
| Direct reports | Safety Steward |
| Experience | 2 to 5 years in site safety |
Safety Supervisor 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 Supervisor
Department: Environment, Health and Safety
Reports to: Safety Officer
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Safety Supervisor oversees safe working on the shop floor or construction site during a shift, leading safety stewards and enforcing safe practice hands on. They brief the crew, check permits and controls, inspect the area, and stop unsafe work. The role reports to the Safety Officer or Safety Manager. A good safety supervisor keeps a shift running without incident, makes sure controls are actually in place before hazardous work, leads stewards well, and reports and helps investigate anything that goes wrong.
Key responsibilities
- Brief the shift on the day's safety priorities and high risk jobs.
- Assign and lead safety stewards across the work areas.
- Check permits to work and verify controls before hazardous jobs start.
- Inspect the shift's work areas and correct unsafe conditions.
- Enforce protective equipment and safe work methods on the floor.
- Stop unsafe work and escalate serious hazards to the safety officer.
- Monitor high risk activities such as work at height and confined space.
- Support incident and near miss reporting and initial investigation.
- Coordinate the emergency response and worker headcount during the shift.
- Record safety observations, permits and all shift safety events accurately.
Requirements
- Tenth or twelfth pass with a safety diploma or course
- Diploma in Industrial Safety is an advantage
- Site safety experience
- 2 to 5 years in site safety
KRAs and KPIs for a Safety Supervisor
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 |
|---|---|
| Shift safety | Shifts run with lost time injuries within the target |
| Permit checks | Permits and controls verified before every hazardous job on shift |
| Inspections | Shift area inspections completed with unsafe conditions corrected |
| PPE compliance | Protective equipment compliance on shift kept above the target |
| Steward leadership | Safety stewards deployed and effective across the shift |
| Reporting | Near misses and shift safety events reported and recorded |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Permit to work forms, Inspection checklists, Personal protective equipment, Gas detector, Incident report forms.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Safety Officer, Senior Safety Supervisor, EHS Executive
Interview questions for a Safety Supervisor
- How do you brief a shift crew on safety at the start of the day?
- How do you check that controls are in place before a hazardous job?
- How do you lead safety stewards across a busy shift?
- How do you handle a supervisor who wants to skip a permit to save time?
- How do you coordinate an emergency and headcount during a shift?
- Tell me about an unsafe situation you managed on your shift.
Managing a Safety Supervisor in ZeniaHR
Hire and manage your environment, health and safety team in one place
Post the role, onboard the new hire, and track attendance, leave and KRAs in ZeniaHR. Free for your first 50 employees.
Book a free demoSee pricingFrequently asked questions
What does a safety supervisor do?
A safety supervisor oversees safe working on the shop floor or construction site during a shift. They brief the crew, lead safety stewards, check permits and controls, inspect the area, enforce protective equipment, and stop unsafe work. They keep the shift running without incident and support reporting and investigation when something goes wrong.
What is the difference between a safety supervisor and a safety officer?
A safety supervisor leads safe working on a shift, hands on, and manages safety stewards. A safety officer is a qualified professional responsible for safety across an area or site, including permits, inspections, compliance and investigation. The supervisor enforces safety on shift, while the officer owns the area's safety and standards.
What qualifications do you need to be a safety supervisor?
Most safety supervisors hold a tenth or twelfth pass with a safety diploma or course, and a Diploma in Industrial Safety is an advantage. Site safety experience is valued. Employers look for the ability to check permits and controls, lead stewards, enforce safe practice firmly, and report and support investigation of incidents.