Building a Safer Tomorrow: Career Pathways and Progression in Construction Safety

Working in the profession of construction safety offers many advantages: It provides meaningful and impactful work, a dynamic and unconventional work environment and presents a substantial opportunity to grow and advance a career.

Whether as an individual contributor or as a people manager, the role’s most important aspect — and likely the most rewarding — is making sure workers can do what they love and are empowered to be safe while doing it.

This article explores how to pursue a career in construction safety, including the various roles, responsibilities and skills required and how to advance in the profession.

Entering the Safety Profession

If a professional is interested in breaking into a safety role, there are many entryways available. The two most common ways to open the door into construction safety include taking an academic route or pursuing the profession while earning experience in the field. 

Of course, other circumstances can successfully lead to a fulfilling safety career. For example, there are instances where individuals enter into a safety role after experiencing an injury that temporarily or permanently prevents them from performing their job duties. Safety is also a great vocation for an individual who desires to stay in the construction industry but without the physical stress of manual labor.

While there is no “right” way to enter the profession of safety, there are many advantages to various avenues. 

Entering the profession after earning a safety degree means professionals have deep knowledge and extensive training that will set a very successful foundation. During their education, these professionals can seek out opportunities like internships that will earn them firsthand experience on a construction site. 

On the other hand, entering a role in safety after working in construction allows professionals to acquire a background of hands-on, practical knowledge. These professionals have the opportunity to build relationships with safety staff and “test” if safety is an area of interest that they wish to pursue, before they begin to pursue education.

Role Structures and Career Progression in Safety

Construction sites are extremely diverse. Similarly, there is a lot of diversity in the creation and execution of safety programs as well as how sites are staffed for safety. However, leaders at well-established construction firms understand that safety titles should match the existing framework of the staffing hierarchy at the organization.

Early-Career Roles

Site safety coordinator and site safety manager are early-career roles in construction safety. In these positions, individuals are responsible for maintaining safety at a specific jobsite, and their responsibilities are bound to that area. Personnel in site-specific roles usually report to a safety manager or a safety director.

No matter what level, the responsibility of a site-specific safety person is managing safety on a specific job. It's like a microcosm that provides a snapshot of safety at a company. When training for potential growth opportunities, site safety managers might cross-train at other sites to see different construction environments or scenarios of risk.

Mid-Level Roles

Mid-level safety roles in construction include safety manager and regional safety manager. In these roles, professionals may be responsible for overseeing safety at multiple jobsites or overseeing and managing other safety professionals. In some cases, they may do both.

Transitioning from site-specific responsibilities to managing multiple sites and personnel is a significant shift, requiring additional skills in building effective teams and employee development. Safety managers usually report to a director or VP-level role.

Senior and Leadership Roles

Traditionally, a safety director is the highest position a safety professional can hold in construction. However, depending on the size and sophistication of a construction firm, advancement into higher-level roles like vice president of safety or chief safety officer is possible. In these roles, professionals are responsible for broader oversight and strategic-level coordination of safety.

Alternative Roles in Construction Safety

There are a diverse range of roles available in the field of safety beyond those at a traditional construction site. These roles include areas of risk control, insurance, instructional design, safety training, technology and more.

Evolution and Current Trends in Safety Roles

While the title of safety director has historically been the most senior level in construction safety roles, the industry has recently seen a trend of new, more advanced roles in leadership emerging. The presence of a chief safety officer or similar high-level role is now a strategic decision by a company to demonstrate its commitment to safety at the executive level.

This trend has been in parallel with a growing emphasis on construction safety as well as an integration of safety across all aspects of construction beginning at preconstruction. In parallel, safety budgeting and funding has also seen an upward shift. 

Responsibilities Across Safety Roles

The job description of a construction safety manager will look different from one organization to another because the job entails keeping workers healthy and safe, as well as maintaining a safe environment free of potential hazards. However, the basic responsibilities of safety roles in construction are detailed below.

Site-Level Responsibilities

Site-specific safety personnel are responsible for managing many aspects of day-to-day safety on the jobsite.

• Executing Specific Site Safety Plans

  Site safety coordinators make sure that safety strategies are effective, make adjustments as necessary and manage resources accordingly. They also carry out any safety requirements outlined in the project’s contract.

• Conducting Safety Training With Workers

  Site safety coordinators make sure workers have necessary training for the type of work being performed, and they provide refresher courses as needed.

• Performing Inspections

  Site safety coordinators must complete jobsite inspections to identify hazards and prevent injury or damage.

• Keeping Records

  Site safety coordinators are responsible for keeping accurate and up-to-date records on the jobsite.

• Ensuring Compliance

  Site safety coordinators should have a deep understanding of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations along with city and state laws, and they make sure their workers and jobsite are in compliance.

Typically, these responsibilities will be carried out with advice and oversight from a safety director or higher-level safety professional at a construction firm.

Safety workers must also be "students" of their construction firms — continuously learning about their company and field. For example, if a company builds wastewater treatment plants, anyone working in safety for that firm would need to learn as much as possible about the process of water treatment and all the structures involved. Understanding the scope of work on projects, who the major players are and what overall culture is like will help any safety professional embed safety into all those areas.

Manager-Level Responsibilities

Safety managers and safety directors have the same responsibilities as site-specific safety professionals, but they take on a broader, more comprehensive role. In most cases, the difference between a site safety coordinator/manager and a safety manager is the responsibility for managing others. 

Manager-level responsibilities can include the following.

• Safety Coordination Across Multiple Sites

  Safety managers execute consistent implementation of safety protocols and standards across multiple job sites.

• Managing Dedicated Safety Staff

  Safety managers oversee and support dedicated safety staff, providing guidance and training and ensuring alignment with company safety goals and policies.

• Budgeting

  Safety managers plan, allocate and manage financial resources for safety initiatives, equipment, training and staffing. In addition, they collaborate internally to incorporate safety into the overall construction budget.

Executive-Level Responsibilities

Executive-level safety professionals, such as vice presidents and chief safety officers, integrate safety into the strategic framework of a company. Their presence helps elevate safety from a compliance-focused function to an integral part of business operations, enhancing the company’s reputation and its ability to consistently deliver projects with a superb safety track record.

A vice president or chief-level role is a positive indicator of reputable operations and safety maturity. Companies that have safety at the executive level are the ones that consider the safety discipline as a key advisor for the broader company strategy and vision.

Responsibilities of executive-level safety professionals include:

• Overseeing Corporate-level Safety and Risk Management

  Safety directors and VPs develop, implement and evaluate comprehensive safety programs including workplace safety, compliance and risk management.

• Strategic Involvement

  Depending on the company's maturity, safety directors engage in strategic planning and report safety metrics to executives or managers regularly, focusing on budgets, records and training effectiveness.

• Cross-functional Collaboration

  Safety directors work closely with others in various departments — estimators, project engineers, project managers, financial personnel and HR — to integrate safety across operations.

• Employee Lifecycle Involvement

  The safety director's role spans the entire employee lifecycle, influencing policies and practices at each stage.

• External Relationships

  At the director and VP levels, there is significant interaction with external partners, emphasizing the company's safety reputation and marketing its safety credentials.

Education and Certification for Safety Roles

Safety-inclined individuals who want to explore a career in safety can gain entry in the profession via a site-specific role. In the roles of site safety coordinator and site safety manager, practical experience coupled with training and certification can serve as a successful starting point.

To advance to a manager-level role or higher, a formal degree becomes more necessary. A bachelor's degree is typically required and is often supplemented by safety-specific certifications. 

Degree Options

There are several degrees in safety and construction that provide a formal education in the field.

• Associate of Applied Science in Occupational Safety and Health

  This introductory program covers the basics of safety management and compliance.

• Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety and Health

  This degree typically covers topics such as workplace safety regulations, risk assessment and accident prevention.

• Bachelor of Science in Construction Management with a Focus on Safety

  Professionals can pursue a construction management degree that includes a safety focus with courses on construction safety standards and safety program implementation and management.

• Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health and Safety

  This degree provides instruction across industries and covers environmental regulations, industrial hygiene and safety management systems.

• Master of Science in Safety Management

  This advanced degree focuses on strategic safety management, safety leadership and risk management.

• Master of Science in Environmental Health and Safety

  This degree often includes advanced coursework in safety regulations, environmental science and industrial hygiene.

A safety-specific degree is not required to get into the profession of construction safety. A bachelor’s degree in a related field can be paired with additional certifications and credentials to create success in a safety career.

Certifications and Credentials

By earning additional credentials and completing professional development courses, safety professionals can enhance their education and further demonstrate their qualifications to set themselves apart in a competitive job market.

Professional development courses from professional societies such as the National Safety Council (NSC), American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) and OSHA are extremely valuable because they provide highly specialized skills in the area of safety.

Going further, credentials from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) are widely recognized as an indication of advanced professionalism. Many of the credentials offered by BCSP require a related college degree, but some do not. Requirements are outlined in the Credentials-at-a-Glance page published on the BCSP website.

The Construction Health and Safety Technician® (CHST) and Safety Trained Supervisor Construction®  (STSC) are credentials in the construction industry that don’t require a bachelor’s degree but indicate a level of prestige.

Networking and Continuous Learning

Membership with specific industry associations like Association of General Contractors (AGC), Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), National Safety Council (NSC),and American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) will provide a substantial platform for continuing education. Resources and courses with associations like these offer a way to stay informed in an evolving environment like construction, which helps safety professionals disseminate up-to-date knowledge effectively.

Networking with other association members and other safety workers at similar organizations within the community will also go a long way in supporting career advancement and building professional relationships.

Skills and Traits for Success in Safety

To be successful, construction safety professionals must become deeply familiar with the complexities of construction risk and understand the necessary strategies to mitigate risk and keep workers safe. 

In addition to this, there are many soft skills that leaders look for in a safety professional:

• Strong communication skills
• Interpersonal collaboration 
• Ability to positively influence others
• Critical thinking and problem-solving
• An understanding of the industry and best practices
• Technical knowledge of regulations and safety standards
• Time management and prioritization
• Curiosity and willingness to learn
• Strategic mindset and tendency toward data analysis
• Follow-through on worker concerns and feedback

Because safety professionals are tasked with enforcing safety compliance and practices on the job site, they must rely on building relationships and influencing others, including operations managers, foremen, superintendents and project managers.

Some safety professionals, especially site safety managers, often have responsibility without direct authority over the workers. That’s why communication, relationship-building, collaboration and influence are so important.

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Navigating the Safety Profession

When safety is recognized as a discipline that enhances productivity, quality and culture, construction firms are better positioned to achieve business outcomes. The integration of safety into leadership roles at construction companies signifies a growing recognition of the importance of safety and its favorable impact on a company's reputation and operational effectiveness. 

This trend, coupled with advancements in safety technology and the increasing diversity of roles available, offers safety professionals numerous opportunities for achieving professional growth and making a personal impact at a company. Embracing continuous learning and building strong professional networks will be crucial for those looking to advance in this dynamic and rewarding field.

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