17 Safety Compliance Specialist Interview Questions and Answers

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that there were nearly 3 million non-fatal workplace injuries and illnesses in the United States in 2017. Businesses of all sizes need safety compliance specialists to create and implement policies that will protect employees from potential injuries.

A safety compliance specialist job interview is your opportunity to show a potential employer that you have the knowledge and skills to keep workers safe. You’ll need to be able to answer questions about your experience with safety compliance, as well as questions about your problem-solving and communication skills.

To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of sample safety compliance specialist interview questions and answers.

Are you familiar with the safety regulations in your state or country?

Employers may ask this question to see if you are familiar with the regulations in your area. They want someone who can quickly learn about any new safety regulations that come out and implement them into their company’s compliance plan. In your answer, explain how you would go about learning about these regulations. Explain that you would research the regulations online or talk to a professional in the industry.

Example: “I am very familiar with the safety regulations in my state. I have been working as a safety compliance specialist for five years now, so I have seen many different types of regulations. If there were ever any changes to the regulations, I would definitely do some research on them. I would also reach out to professionals in the field to see what they thought about the changes. I always make sure to stay up-to-date on all relevant information.”

What are some of the most important safety protocols you have followed in your previous work?

This question can help the interviewer get an idea of your experience with safety compliance and how you apply it to your work. Use examples from your previous job that show your ability to follow protocols, such as following proper procedures for reporting incidents or ensuring all employees are trained in safety measures.

Example: “In my last position, I was responsible for making sure our facility followed OSHA regulations regarding employee training and record keeping. This included checking records to make sure we had proof of required trainings and certifications for all employees and conducting random audits to ensure these documents were up-to-date. Another important protocol I followed was maintaining a safe working environment by regularly inspecting equipment and facilities.”

How would you handle a situation where an employee was not following safety protocols?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you apply your compliance knowledge to real-world situations. Use examples from previous experience where you helped an employee understand a safety protocol and encouraged them to follow it.

Example: “In my last role, I had an employee who was not following proper lockout procedures when working on equipment. This could have led to serious injury if they were ever in a situation where they needed to use the equipment while it was still energized. After talking with the employee about why this procedure is important, they understood but said that they didn’t think it applied to their job. I explained that lockout procedures are used for all equipment, no matter what its function, so they would need to follow the rules.”

What is your process for investigating an accident or incident?

Interviewers may ask this question to assess your investigative skills and how you apply them to safety compliance. When answering, it can be helpful to describe a specific process or steps you take when investigating an accident or incident.

Example: “When I receive a report of an accident or incident, the first thing I do is gather all relevant information about the event. This includes any reports from employees, supervisors or managers who were present at the time of the event, as well as any physical evidence that was left behind. From there, I review all of the information I’ve gathered to determine if there are any patterns or trends in the data. If so, I will use those findings to create new policies or procedures to prevent similar accidents or incidents from occurring again.”

Provide an example of a time when you identified a safety risk and implemented a plan to reduce or eliminate the risk.

An interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your ability to identify and solve safety risks. Use examples from previous positions that show you can use critical thinking skills to analyze a situation, develop solutions and implement them effectively.

Example: “In my last position as a compliance specialist, I noticed some employees were not following the proper procedures for entering hazardous areas of the facility. Some workers would enter these areas without wearing protective gear or with other employees who weren’t supposed to be in those areas. I met with each employee who violated the policy to discuss why it was important to follow the rules and how their actions could put themselves and others at risk. After speaking with all the employees, I developed an online training program to educate everyone on the importance of following safety protocols.”

If you had to choose one area of safety to focus on, what would it be and why?

This question is a great way to see how the interviewer views safety compliance. It also gives you an opportunity to show your knowledge of the industry and what you value most in terms of workplace safety. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention one or two specific areas that are important to you and why they’re important.

Example: “I would choose to focus on employee training because I believe it’s essential for employees to understand their roles and responsibilities when it comes to safety. If employees know what to do and how to do it safely, then there’s less chance of accidents happening. Employee training should be ongoing so that everyone stays up-to-date with new policies and procedures.”

What would you do if you noticed that management was not complying with safety regulations?

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle challenging situations and your ability to work with management. In your answer, try to show that you are willing to speak up when necessary and explain why it’s important to comply with regulations.

Example: “If I noticed that management was not complying with safety regulations, I would first make sure that the situation wasn’t a misunderstanding or miscommunication. If I determined that management was knowingly breaking regulations, I would bring this issue to their attention in a respectful way. I would also inform my supervisor so they could address the situation.

I believe that everyone should follow safety regulations because doing so helps keep employees safe and ensures the company is operating legally. However, if management continued to ignore these rules, I would report them to the appropriate authorities.”

How well do you work with others? Can you handle constructive criticism?

The interviewer may ask you this question to learn more about your interpersonal skills. This is an important skill for a safety compliance specialist because they often work with other members of the team, such as engineers and managers. You can answer this question by explaining how you collaborate with others and accept feedback from supervisors.

Example: “I am very comfortable working in teams. In my previous role, I was part of a small safety committee that met once a month to discuss any issues we noticed on site. We also discussed ways to improve our processes so we could keep everyone safe. I enjoy collaborating with others and learning new ideas from them. My last supervisor always encouraged us to speak up if we had any concerns or suggestions.”

Do you have any experience using safety compliance software?

Employers ask this question to see if you have experience using the software they use in their company. If you do, share your experience and how it helped you complete your job duties. If you don’t have any experience with safety compliance software, explain what other types of software you’ve used and how that helped you perform your job.

Example: “I haven’t had any experience using safety compliance software before, but I am familiar with several different types of software programs. In my last position as a safety compliance specialist, I used Microsoft Office for all of my projects. I also used Google Drive to collaborate with my team members on our projects.”

When performing an investigation, what is your process for gathering and analyzing evidence?

The interviewer may ask you a question like this to assess your investigative skills and how they apply to the role. Use examples from past experiences to explain how you gather evidence, analyze it and make conclusions based on your findings.

Example: “I start by identifying what I need to investigate and then researching any relevant information about the site or facility. Next, I perform an inspection of the area in person to see if there are any safety concerns that require my attention. After inspecting the area, I take notes and photos of anything that stands out as a potential risk. Then, I review all of my notes and photos to determine whether there is a violation of company policy or OSHA standards.”

We want to improve our safety record. What are some of the strategies you would use to implement an effective safety improvement program?

An interviewer may ask this question to assess your experience with safety improvement programs and how you would apply those skills in their organization. Use examples from previous roles to explain the steps you would take to develop a successful program that meets an organization’s needs.

Example: “I have worked on several projects where we needed to improve our safety record, so I know it can be challenging to implement effective strategies. In my last role, for example, we had a high number of accidents due to human error. We implemented a new training program to help employees understand the importance of following procedures and improving communication between departments. After implementing these changes, we saw a significant decrease in accidents.”

Describe your experience with writing reports and presenting information to large groups.

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your communication skills and how you present information. Use examples from past experience to highlight your presentation skills, public speaking abilities and ability to write reports that are easy to understand.

Example: “In my last role as a safety compliance specialist, I had to give presentations to large groups of employees at least once per month. I always prepared for these meetings by reading through the latest safety regulations and researching any questions or concerns my team members might have. During my presentations, I would explain new policies and procedures in an engaging way so everyone could understand them. After each meeting, I would send out a brief email with links to resources I mentioned during the meeting.”

What makes you stand out from other candidates?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you can contribute to their company. When answering, it can be helpful to highlight a skill or experience that makes you unique from other candidates. You can also mention any certifications you have.

Example: “I am certified in OSHA regulations and safety procedures for construction sites. I also have five years of experience working as a compliance specialist. These skills make me an excellent candidate because they allow me to understand the importance of following these guidelines and ensure my employer is doing so too.”

Which industries or sectors do you want to work in?

This question can help the interviewer determine if your skills and experience are a good fit for their company. Use this opportunity to show that you have done research on the company and its industry. You can also use this as an opportunity to highlight any transferable skills or experiences you have that would be beneficial in this role.

Example: “I am passionate about working in construction, but I am open to other industries. My background is in construction safety compliance, so I know how important it is to follow regulations and keep workers safe. In my previous position, I worked with several different companies within the construction industry, including general contractors, subcontractors and material suppliers.”

What do you think is the most important aspect of safety?

This question can help the interviewer determine your priorities and how you might approach compliance. Your answer should show that you value safety, but it also gives an opportunity to highlight a specific skill or experience related to this role.

Example: “Safety is the most important aspect of any job because it’s what keeps employees safe and healthy while they’re on the job. I think the most important part of safety is communication. If everyone knows about the risks involved in their work environment and understands how to mitigate them, then we can avoid accidents before they happen. In my last position, I helped develop a new training program for our forklift operators that included information about all aspects of forklift operation, including maintenance and safety.”

How often do you update your knowledge of relevant safety regulations?

Employers want to know that you’re committed to staying up-to-date on the latest safety regulations. They also want to ensure that you have a passion for your work and are willing to learn new things. Your answer should show that you’re dedicated to learning about new developments in your field, including any changes to existing regulations or the introduction of new ones.

Example: “I subscribe to several industry publications and regularly attend conferences and seminars related to my field. I find this is an excellent way to keep up with the latest news and developments in the world of occupational health and safety. I also make it a point to read relevant articles from reputable journals and websites.”

There is a new safety regulation that applies to your industry. What is your process for making sure your organization follows it?

This question can help an interviewer understand how you apply your knowledge of industry regulations to ensure the safety of their organization. Use examples from previous experience in explaining your process for following new regulations and ensuring compliance.

Example: “In my last role, I was responsible for making sure our company followed all applicable federal regulations. When a new regulation is introduced, there are several steps that I take to make sure we follow it. First, I read through the regulation to get a better understanding of what it entails. Then, I discuss the regulation with my team so everyone understands its requirements. Finally, I develop a plan for implementing the regulation within our organization.”