What are the responsibilities and job description for the Safety Director position at Lou Rich Inc.?
Description
Innovance, Inc.
Innovance is the holding company for a family of five, 100% employee-owned, Midwest-based manufacturing companies (Lou-Rich, ALMCO, Panels Plus, Mass Finishing, Jorgensen). Our mission is to lead, nurture, and grow a team of industrial manufacturing companies committed to making our OEM customers’ products better.
About Lou-Rich
Lou-Rich is a fully integrated contract manufacturer specializing in complex projects. We provide precision machining, metal fabrication, assembly, and sourcing solutions to a variety of industries, including some of North America’s largest OEMs. Companies of all sizes, from Fortune 500 companies to small, fast-growing operations trust Lou-Rich with their most vital and complex manufacturing projects.
Cultural Alignment
Lou-Rich is an employee-owned manufacturing company and a proud Innovance business. The Safety Manager exemplifies our values of ownership, accountability, and quality, helping ensure that every employee goes home safe each day. We believe 'Precision is our Product — Quality is our Culture,' and safety is foundational to both.
Position Description:
The Safety Manager is responsible for developing, implementing, and sustaining comprehensive environmental, health, and safety (EHS) programs that ensure compliance with all applicable OSHA, MNOSHA, and environmental regulations at Lou-Rich facilities. This role leads proactive safety initiatives that promote a strong culture of employee ownership, continuous improvement, and injury prevention. The Safety Manager partners closely with production leadership, maintenance, and corporate Innovance Safety to drive safety performance and maintain certification programs such as MNSHARP.
Requirements
Key Responsibilities:
Regulatory Compliance & Program Management
· Maintain compliance with OSHA and MNOSHA standards, including recordkeeping, inspections, and corrective actions.
• Manage and maintain MNSHARP certification through tri-annual audits and abatement tracking.
• Conduct and document Job Safety Hazard Analyses (JSHAs), PPE assessments, and Change Analyses.
• Identify and implement engineering controls and enforce PPE usage policies.
• Coordinate industrial hygiene testing and ensure SDS availability and first aid supplies compliance.
• Prepare and maintain OSHA 300 logs and ensure readiness for inspections and enforcement visits.
Safety Committees & Employee Engagement
• Lead the facility Safety Committee, recruiting members, setting agendas, and maintaining minutes.
• Conduct facility safety walkthroughs and lead near-miss reviews and hazard abatement discussions.
• Develop and maintain site-specific safety and security protocols.
• Foster an ownership culture by encouraging employee participation in safety initiatives and audits.
Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) & Confined Space Safety
• Oversee and audit the LOTO program; train authorized employees and maintain required documentation.
• Conduct annual machine procedure reviews and ensure proper lock/tag availability and tracking.
• Coordinate confined space assessments and training as applicable.
Fire Prevention & Emergency Preparedness
• Maintain and test fire prevention and life safety systems including sprinklers, lighting, and extinguishers.
• Coordinate third-party inspections and corrective actions.
• Maintain and update emergency maps, evacuation rosters, and ensure AED maintenance and availability.
• Lead and document emergency response drills (weather, fire, and active threat).
Incident Investigation & Reporting
• Oversee all incident and near-miss investigations to determine root cause and implement corrective/preventive actions.
• Ensure timely reporting of injuries and incidents to the Innovance Corporate Safety Manager.
• Manage first aid and medical case tracking; monitor employee recovery and work restrictions.
• Maintain injury, PSIF, and abatement documentation within established timelines.
Hazard Identification & Abatement
• Develop and maintain site-specific safety walkthrough checklists.
• Conduct and document departmental inspections and ensure closure of abated hazards.
• Review and track near-miss and safety suggestions to identify trends and prevent recurrence.
Fleet & Environmental Management
• Administer the Fleet Safety Program including driver qualification, insurance compliance, and vehicle maintenance.
• Manage hazardous and solid waste programs in accordance with federal and state regulations.
• Maintain manifests, coordinate waste pickups, and ensure proper documentation and labeling.
Training & Continuous Improvement
• Maintain the written safety program and ensure accessibility for all employees.
• Coordinate and document required training including Annual AWAIR, Hazard Awareness, and Right-to-Know programs.
• Conduct safety training audits to ensure completion and effectiveness.
• Partner with corporate EHS to develop and deliver continuous improvement initiatives.
Other Duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Health, or related field preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of EHS or industrial safety experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of OSHA regulations, MNSHARP, LOTO, and environmental compliance.
• Demonstrated ability to lead safety initiatives and train employees at all organizational levels.
• Excellent communication, documentation, and analytical skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and EHS management systems.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands or fingers and talk and hear.
Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those and employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Americans With Disabilities Act:
If you are a qualified individual with a disability, you have a right to request that the Authority make reasonable accommodations in order to help you accomplish your work, which must still be performed in all essential functions.