Environmental Health & Safety Manager

wen Steel Company
Position Title: Environmental, Health & Safety Manager
Location: Columbia, SC
Department: Operations / Safety
Reports To: Senior Operations Leadership / Plant Leadership
Employment Type: Full-Time

Company Overview

Owen Steel Company is a premier structural steel contractor with more than 90 years of experience delivering structural steel fabrication, engineering, project management, and high-quality steel structures for major construction projects. Owen Steel operates one of the largest fabrication plants in the eastern United States in Columbia, South Carolina, along with a fabrication facility in Wilmington, Delaware.

Position Summary

The EHS Manager is responsible for leading and managing Owen Steel’s environmental, health, and safety programs across fabrication, warehouse, yard, maintenance, and field-support operations. This role ensures compliance with OSHA, EPA, DOT, state, local, and company safety requirements while building a strong safety culture focused on prevention, accountability, training, and continuous improvement.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on safety leader with experience in manufacturing, steel fabrication, construction, heavy industrial operations, or related environments.

Key Responsibilities

Develop, implement, and maintain companywide EHS policies, procedures, programs, and training.

Ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, DOT, state, local, and company safety and environmental regulations.

Conduct regular safety inspections, audits, risk assessments, and job hazard analyses.

Lead incident investigations, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and follow-up tracking.

Manage safety training programs, including new hire orientation, equipment safety, hazard communication, PPE, lockout/tagout, confined space, fall protection, forklift/crane safety, hot work, and emergency response.

Partner with plant leadership, supervisors, maintenance, quality, production, and field teams to identify and reduce workplace hazards.

Maintain OSHA logs, safety records, environmental documentation, inspection records, SDS files, permits, and compliance reports.

Monitor leading and lagging safety indicators and prepare reports for leadership.

Support workers’ compensation claims management, return-to-work processes, and injury prevention initiatives.

Lead safety meetings, toolbox talks, and employee engagement efforts.

Manage environmental programs related to waste handling, stormwater, air quality, spill prevention, recycling, and hazardous materials.

Coordinate with third-party safety consultants, regulatory agencies, insurance carriers, and vendors as needed.

Promote a proactive safety culture where employees are empowered to identify hazards and stop unsafe work.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Science, Industrial Hygiene, Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience may be considered.

EHS experience in manufacturing, steel fabrication, construction, industrial, or heavy operations environment is a plus.

Working knowledge of OSHA general industry and/or construction standards.

Experience conducting safety audits, incident investigations, training, and compliance documentation.

Strong communication, leadership, coaching, and problem-solving skills.

Ability to work effectively with employees at all levels, from shop floor personnel to executive leadership.

Proficiency with Microsoft Office and safety reporting systems.

Ability to walk production areas, climb stairs/ladders as needed, and work in an active industrial environment.

Preferred Qualifications

ASP, CSP, CHST, OHST, or similar safety certification.

Experience in steel fabrication, welding, crane operations, rigging, heavy equipment, or construction environments.

Knowledge of environmental compliance programs, including stormwater, hazardous waste, air permits, spill response, and EPA reporting.

Experience managing multi-site safety programs.

Bilingual English/Spanish communication skills a plus.

Core Competencies

Safety leadership
Regulatory compliance
Incident investigation
Training and coaching
Risk assessment
Communication
Accountability
Continuous improvement
Team collaboration
Hands-on problem solving

Work Environment

This position works in both office and industrial fabrication settings. The role requires regular presence on the shop floor, yard, and operational areas where PPE is required. Occasional travel may be required between company facilities or project-related locations.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Owen Steel Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.