Prepare for your Environmental Health and Safety Manager interview. Understand the required skills and qualifications, anticipate the questions you may be asked, and study well-prepared answers using our sample responses.
The interviewer may ask this question to see if you have experience with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. The OSHA is a federal agency that regulates safety in the workplace. It publishes a comprehensive list of regulations for different industries, including environmental health and safety. If you are not familiar with the OSHA regulations for your industry, take time to research them before your interview.
Answer Example: "I am very familiar with the OSHA regulations for my industry. I have been working in environmental health and safety for over five years, so I am very familiar with the different regulations. In fact, I recently completed a training course on OSHA compliance."
This question can help the interviewer understand your experience with environmental health and safety and how you implement safety procedures. Use examples from your past work to explain what you did, why you did it and what the results were.
Answer Example: "At my last job, I implemented a new policy that required all employees to wear safety goggles when working with hazardous materials. Before this policy, some employees would forget to wear goggles or leave them at their stations, which could lead to eye injuries. After implementing the policy, I noticed a decrease in eye injuries by 50%."
This question can help the interviewer determine how you would handle a challenging situation. Use your answer to highlight your problem-solving skills and ability to collaborate with others.
Answer Example: "I would first meet with the employee to discuss their violations and ensure they understood the importance of following safety protocols. If they continued to violate safety rules, I would issue a written warning and provide them with additional training on proper protocol. If they continued to disregard safety regulations, I would terminate their employment."
This question can help the interviewer understand your experience with environmental health and safety management. Use examples from your past to highlight your skills and abilities in this area.
Answer Example: "In my previous role as an environmental health and safety manager, I was responsible for managing our company’s hazardous waste disposal. We had several procedures in place for handling hazardous waste, including an approved list of disposal facilities and procedures for tracking disposal records. We also had an employee training program in place to educate employees about the dangers of hazardous waste and how to safely handle it."
The interviewer may ask this question to assess your knowledge of environmental health and safety regulations. Use your answer to highlight your understanding of the regulations and how you’ve applied them in your previous role.
Answer Example: "Yes, I am very familiar with the OSHA regulations regarding hazardous materials. I have been working in the environmental health and safety field for over 10 years, so I have a deep understanding of these regulations. In my current role as an environmental health and safety manager, I ensure that all employees are aware of these regulations and follow them consistently. We also have an extensive training program in place to ensure that everyone understands their responsibilities when it comes to handling hazardous materials."
This question can help the interviewer understand how you use your environmental health and safety management skills to improve a company’s safety practices. Use examples from your experience to highlight your problem-solving skills, communication abilities and ability to work with others.
Answer Example: "At my last job, I noticed that our employees were having trouble remembering all of the safety protocols for each machine they operated. To solve this problem, I created a list of all the safety procedures for each machine and posted it near the machine itself. This helped our employees remember all of the necessary steps and reduced accidents in the workplace."
This question can help the interviewer determine how you would handle a challenging situation. Use your answer to highlight your problem-solving skills and ability to collaborate with others.
Answer Example: "I would first meet with the employee to discuss their violations and provide them with training on how to comply with safety protocols. If they continue to violate safety regulations, I would hold a second meeting where we discuss their performance and determine if they are fit for the job. If not, I would help them find another position within the company where they can thrive."
The interviewer may ask you this question to learn about your experience with managing and updating safety and health policies. This question can help the interviewer understand how you use your skills and knowledge to ensure that a company’s safety and health policies are effective and up to date. In your answer, try to highlight any specific experiences you have with managing and updating safety and health policies.
Answer Example: "In my previous role as an environmental health and safety manager, I was responsible for updating our company’s safety and health policies every year. I would meet with other managers and employees to discuss any changes they wanted to make to the policies. Then, I would write down all of the updates so we could review them before making any changes."
The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your problem-solving skills and how you apply them in the workplace. Use examples from previous jobs that show your ability to solve problems, analyze data and make decisions based on the results.
Answer Example: "At my previous job, I noticed that our employees were experiencing more accidents than normal. After investigating the cause, I found that we were using outdated equipment that was not up to safety standards. We spent money on new equipment and training for our employees so they could use the new tools safely. This helped reduce the number of accidents at our company."
This question can help the interviewer understand how you prioritize your work and what your priorities are. Your answer should show that you value safety above all else, but it can also show that you are willing to make tough decisions when necessary.
Answer Example: "My top priority after any accident would be to ensure that everyone involved is safe and receives medical attention if necessary. Then, I would investigate the cause of the accident and take steps to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. Finally, I would work with management to create a plan for training employees on safety procedures and protocols."
This question can help the interviewer understand how you would handle a conflict with your employees. Your answer should show that you are willing to confront others and encourage them to follow company policies.
Answer Example: "If I noticed that several employees were not wearing their safety gear, I would first talk to them about the importance of wearing it. If they continue to ignore the policy, I would hold a meeting with all of my employees to discuss the consequences of not wearing their safety equipment. If after all of this, they are still not wearing their safety gear, I would take disciplinary action against them."
The interviewer may ask this question to gauge your ability to adapt to changing environments and ensure the company remains compliant with all safety regulations. Use examples from previous experience where you successfully adapted to new regulations or standards, or how you would go about doing so in your current role.
Answer Example: "I think I can adapt well because I’m a highly motivated person who loves learning new things. I’m always looking for ways to improve my skills and knowledge, so I try to take advantage of any training or educational opportunities that come my way. In my last position, we had to implement new safety regulations due to an expansion project. I took the time to learn about the new requirements so I could help train other employees on them."
This question can help the interviewer understand your experience with writing and editing safety manuals. If you have previous experience, share what you wrote and how you helped improve the company’s safety practices.
Answer Example: "In my last role as an environmental health and safety manager, I wrote and edited all of our company’s safety manuals. Each year, I would update the manuals with new policies and procedures to ensure everyone was aware of the latest regulations and best practices. I also made sure that the information was easy to understand so everyone could follow it easily."
The interviewer may ask you this question to assess your understanding of risk assessment and how it applies to environmental health and safety management. Your answer should include a few examples of the factors you consider when performing risk assessments and how those factors impact the organization’s safety practices.
Answer Example: "I consider the type of hazard, the likelihood of it occurring and the severity of the potential consequences if it does occur. I also take into account any existing controls in place to prevent the hazard from occurring and whether those controls are effective. For example, if I’m performing a risk assessment for a chemical spill, I would consider the type of chemical, how likely it is to spill and the severity of the consequences if it does spill. I would also consider any existing controls in place to prevent spills, such as training employees on proper handling techniques."
This question is a great way to show your ability to improve company processes and procedures. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention specific strategies you have used in the past that were successful.
Answer Example: "I believe that improving safety record starts with having an awareness of hazards in the workplace. I would implement safety meetings where employees could share any concerns they have about safety in their department or area of the building. This allows me to address any issues before they become bigger problems."
The interviewer may ask you this question to assess your ability to conduct a hazard analysis and determine the risks associated with a workplace environment. Use examples from previous experiences where you conducted a hazard analysis, analyzed the results and implemented measures to reduce risks or eliminate hazards altogether.
Answer Example: "I start by identifying all potential hazards in the workplace, such as chemicals, machinery, equipment and tools. Then, I determine the likelihood of each hazard occurring and rank them based on their severity if they occur. Next, I assess the current safety measures in place to prevent these hazards and determine if there are any gaps in the system. Finally, I develop a plan to address any risks or vulnerabilities."
Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you can contribute to their company. Before your interview, make a list of all the skills and experiences that qualify you for this role. Focus on what makes you unique from other candidates and highlight any transferable skills or knowledge you have.
Answer Example: "I believe my experience and qualifications make me stand out from other candidates for this position. I have been working in environmental health and safety for over 10 years, and during that time I have developed strong relationships with other professionals in the industry. I also have a deep understanding of the regulations surrounding environmental health and safety. Finally, I have experience managing teams of professionals and overseeing large projects. These skills and qualifications make me an ideal candidate for this position."
This question can help the interviewer understand your background and how it relates to their company. Use this opportunity to highlight any experience you have that is relevant to the position, such as knowledge of industry-specific regulations or safety protocols.
Answer Example: "I’ve worked in both manufacturing and construction industries, so I’m familiar with many of the regulations and procedures that apply to both. In my current role as environmental health and safety manager, I’ve worked with companies in both sectors to create effective safety programs that meet regulatory requirements."
This question can help the interviewer determine your priorities and how you approach environmental health and safety. Your answer should show that you understand the importance of all aspects of EHS, but you can also highlight one or two that are most important to you.
Answer Example: "I think communication is the most important aspect of environmental health and safety because it’s essential that everyone knows what they’re supposed to be doing to keep the workplace safe. If employees aren’t aware of their responsibilities or if they have questions about safety procedures, it could lead to problems later on. I always make sure my team has the information they need so they can do their jobs properly."
The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your inspection process and how often you perform them. Use your answer to highlight your ability to follow safety protocols in the workplace, as well as your ability to communicate those requirements to other employees.
Answer Example: "I perform workplace inspections at least once per month, although I may increase this frequency if I notice any areas of concern during my monthly inspections. During each inspection, I walk through each department of the facility to look for any potential hazards or violations of company policy. If I find any issues, I work with the appropriate teams to resolve them as quickly as possible. In addition to my monthly inspections, I also perform surprise inspections once per quarter to ensure that employees are following safety protocols."
