ResponsibilitiesCore responsibilities for both Fort Payne, AL and LaGrange, GA:- Champion a proactive safety culture focused on hazard awareness, near-miss reporting, and consistent reinforcement of safe work practices in a high-energy recycling environment.
- Provide daily floor presence across sorting, shredding/grinding, washing, extrusion, and pelletizing operations to identify risks and coach employees.
- Lead risk assessments (TRAs) for high-hazard equipment, including grinders, shredders, conveyors, balers, silos, and extruders.
- Oversee combustible dust prevention and control programs, including dust sampling, housekeeping protocols, and engineering controls.
- Ensure compliance with machine guarding, LOTO, confined space, fall protection, and mobile equipment (forklifts, skid steers, loaders) requirements.
- Lead incident and near-miss investigations using structured RCA methods (5-Whys, Fishbone, PDCA).
- Oversee completion, verification, and effectiveness checks of corrective and preventive actions.
- Develop and deliver EHS training programs for PPE use, plastics-processing hazards, chemical handling, forklift operation, hot work, and emergency response.
- Manage new-hire orientation tailored to recycling facility hazards, including pinch points, dust, heat, noise, and chemical exposure.
- Ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, state environmental agencies, fire marshal requirements, and recycling-specific regulatory frameworks.
- Maintain OSHA recordkeeping, injury/illness logs, and required environmental reporting obligations.
- Conduct internal audits and coordinate external regulatory inspections.
- Oversee air, water, and waste compliance programs, including stormwater, SPCC, SWPPP, wastewater discharge, and air emissions from extrusion and thermal processes.
- Manage plastics waste streams, universal waste, hazardous waste, and recycling-specific environmental controls.
- Oversee environmental inspections, sampling, reporting, and documentation aligned with DEQ/EPA expectations.
- Manage chemical safety related to wash-line chemicals, detergents, lubricants, hydraulic fluids, and facility cleaning agents.
- Oversee noise monitoring, respiratory protection, heat-stress controls, and ergonomics for sorting and repetitive material handling tasks.
- Ensure proper functioning of engineering controls, including ventilation, dust collection, guarding, and interlocks.
- Maintain and improve EHS programs, including LOTO, Hazard Communication, Emergency Action Plan, hot work permitting, contractor management, and mobile equipment safety.
- Audit SOPs and ensure hazard analyses are current for all manufacturing, processing, and recycling equipment.
- Oversee emergency drills, spill response readiness, alarm systems, and fire-prevention programs specific to plastics operations.
- Work with local emergency responders and fire departments to review site hazards and emergency access considerations.
- Manage EHS performance metrics, analyze trends, and provide regular reporting to leadership.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives using data-informed decision making.
- Support sustainability efforts through tracking of key environmental KPIs such as waste reduction, recycling efficiency, energy use, and water usage.
- Collaborate with operations to reduce contamination, improve recovery efficiency, and optimize material flow.
- Oversee site security processes including access control, contractor compliance, and coordination with facilities and third-party security providers.
- Apply strong ISO management system expertise to manage and sustain ISO 14001 certification and support alignment with ISO 9001 requirements.
EDUCATION:- Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety & Health, Environmental Science, Industrial Hygiene, or related discipline.
QUALIFICATIONS (must have): - Minimum 3 years of professional EHS experience in an industrial or manufacturing environment.
- Demonstrated ability to create and deliver safety training programs.
- Strong initiative with the ability to influence, coach, and facilitate change across diverse teams.
- Capable of working independently with limited direction while maintaining strong cross-functional partnerships.
- Excellent organizational habits with consistent follow-through.
- Valid U.S. Driver's License.
- Ability to travel domestically up to 10%.
QUALIFICATIONS (beneficial): - Strong interpersonal communication, project management capability, and structured problem-solving skills.
- Effective presentation skills to support training delivery at all organizational levels.
- Proficiency in interpreting and applying OSHA, EPA, DEQ, and other regulatory standards.
- Skilled in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Teams) and EHS management systems.
- Professional safety certifications such as ASP, CSP, CHMM
Company Benefits:Health & Welfare Benefits: Medical and prescription drug plans, telemedicine (with medical plan), High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) and Health Savings Account (HSA), dental and vision plans, virtual physical therapy*, an employee assistance program (EAP)*, and voluntary accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnification programs.
Financial Benefits: Retirement 401k program with company match, an employee stock purchase plan (voluntary), financial wellness planning*, paid parental leave*, flexible spending accounts (FSA) for child care and health care, short-term and long-term disability*, basic life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D)*, adoption financial reimbursement*, tuition reimbursement*, voluntary life insurance (for employees, spouses, and children), and voluntary identity theft and fraud protection.
*100% paid by ADS.
