Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Permit to Work • Toolbox Talks • Fire Safety

Safety Controls

Term from Safety industry explained for recruiters

Safety Controls are methods and systems put in place to prevent accidents and protect workers in the workplace. Think of them as protective layers that companies use to keep their employees safe. These can be physical barriers (like machine guards), written procedures, warning systems, or training programs. Safety professionals often talk about a "hierarchy of controls" which is basically a step-by-step approach to dealing with workplace hazards, starting with the most effective methods (removing the danger completely) down to the basic ones (like wearing protective equipment).

Examples in Resumes

Implemented Safety Controls that reduced workplace accidents by 45%

Developed and maintained Safety Control systems for chemical handling operations

Led monthly audits of Safety Controls and emergency response procedures

Updated Safety Control Measures across 5 manufacturing facilities

Typical job title: "Safety Professionals"

Also try searching for:

Safety Manager EHS Specialist Safety Coordinator Risk Manager Safety Officer Occupational Health and Safety Specialist HSE Manager

Where to Find Safety Professionals

Professional Organizations

Online Communities

Job Boards

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you develop and implement a comprehensive safety control program for a large facility?

Expected Answer: A strong answer should include conducting risk assessments, involving stakeholders, setting clear procedures, training programs, regular evaluations, and continuous improvement processes. They should mention budget considerations and how to get management buy-in.

Q: How do you measure the effectiveness of safety controls?

Expected Answer: Should discuss various metrics like incident rates, near-miss reporting, audit results, employee feedback, and cost-benefit analysis. Should emphasize the importance of both leading and lagging indicators.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What steps would you take to investigate a safety control failure?

Expected Answer: Should explain gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, analyzing root causes, documenting findings, and developing corrective actions. Should mention the importance of preventing similar incidents in the future.

Q: How do you ensure employee compliance with safety controls?

Expected Answer: Should discuss training methods, clear communication, regular monitoring, positive reinforcement, and addressing non-compliance. Should emphasize building a safety culture.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What are the different types of safety controls?

Expected Answer: Should be able to explain basic types like elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment (PPE), with simple examples of each.

Q: How do you conduct a basic safety inspection?

Expected Answer: Should describe using checklists, looking for obvious hazards, checking equipment condition, reviewing safety signs and PPE use, and reporting findings to supervisors.