NAVIGATING TALENT SHORTAGES: HOW SAFETY STAFFING SERVICES CAN HELP
In today's competitive industrial landscape, finding and retaining skilled safety professionals is becoming increasingly challenging. Talent shortages, coupled with the critical need for safety expertise, pose significant obstacles for industries striving to maintain optimal workplace safety standards.
The Challenge of Talent Shortages
Across industries such as power, construction, petrochemical, refining and more, the demand for qualified safety professionals far outweighs the available talent pool. As a result, companies often find themselves struggling to fill critical safety positions, leading to delays in project timelines, increased operational costs and heightened safety risks.
Addressing the Scarcity: Reports and Statistics
The extent of the talent shortage has been intensifying, as exhibited by numerous reports, statistics and surveys:
- Nearly 13 years ago, as covered in an OH&S article, a report from NIOSH predicted that the national demand for occupational safety and health services will far exceed the number of professionals with the necessary training, education and experience to provide them.
- Five years ago, the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) stated the United States was already experiencing a shortage of safety professionals. At this year’s OH2023: The Workplace Health Protection Conference, organized by the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS), with whom AIHA maintains a close partnership, attendees addressed the continued shortage of qualified OEHS professionals in the United Kingdom and the United States.
- Sixteen months ago, IOSH magazine published an article stating, “There is a severe shortage of OSH professionals versus current demand, with the number of health and safety opportunities increasing by 58% in the first half of 2022 but applications decreasing by almost 75%...” The article claimed the shortage “applies across all sectors and most regions globally, continuing even into the beginnings of an economic slowdown.”
- Safety+Health’s 2023 Job Outlook survey revealed 62% of its subscribers who responded have personally observed a shortage of qualified occupational safety and health professionals. As a potential precursor to addressing this scarcity, 70% of those respondents anticipate an uptick in employers resorting to internal candidates to fill safety and health roles—even in cases where these employees lack significant safety experience.
It should therefore come as no surprise that according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
- Overall employment of occupational health and safety specialists and technicians is projected to grow 13 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
- About 17,200 openings for occupational health and safety specialists and technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Code Red Safety’s Tailored Solutions
Despite these challenges, Code Red Safety provides a suite of safety staffing services crafted to meet the specific demands of the diverse industries it serves. This suite involves sourcing candidates, vetting them to ensure they meet the necessary qualifications and certifications, and ultimately providing them for deployment on projects as required by our clients.
Benefits of Code Red Safety's Staffing Services
- Access to a diverse pool of safety professionals: Code Red Safety's extensive contract database contains over 15,000 certified safety directors, supervisors and technicians, ensuring access to the right talent for every project requirement.
- Seamless integration of new workers: By matching clients with safety contractors based on experience and project-length requirements, Code Red Safety facilitates seamless integration of new workers into existing teams, minimizing disruptions and maximizing productivity.
- Local staffing capabilities: With the ability to staff up to 85% of jobs on a local level, Code Red Safety streamlines the hiring process, saving valuable time and resources for clients.
- Compliance with industry standards: All safety professionals provided by Code Red Safety possess the necessary OSHA, NFPA and ANSI certifications, ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations.
- Exclusive focus on safety staffing: Unlike regular staffing agencies that fill various positions, Code Red Safety exclusively focuses on safety staffing, providing specialized expertise tailored to the unique requirements of safety-critical industries.
As industries grapple with the challenges of talent shortages, Code Red Safety stands ready to offer tailored staffing solutions designed to alleviate the burden and enhance workplace safety. With a commitment to excellence and a proven track record of success, Code Red Safety remains a trusted partner in navigating the complexities of talent acquisition in today's dynamic industrial landscape.