Risk & Safety Consultant – Supply Chain Operations

Career Guide
Advises warehouses, distribution centers, and logistics teams on reducing operational risk and preventing injuries. Conducts safety and regulatory audits, designs controls and training, investigates incidents, and helps build resilient, compliant supply chain operations.

Key Responsibilities

  • Conduct risk assessments of warehouses, DCs, and transport operations
  • Audit OSHA, DOT/FMCSA, and HAZCOM compliance; develop corrective actions
  • Design and implement safety programs, SOPs, and frontline training
  • Investigate incidents and lead root-cause analysis with CAPAs
  • Advise on supplier/carrier risk, continuity, and contingency planning
  • Analyze safety KPIs, loss data, and near-misses; brief leadership
  • Specify and verify engineering/admin controls for material handling

Career Progression

Can Lead To
Senior Safety Consultant
EHS Manager
Director of EHS
Transition Opportunities
Risk Engineer (Insurance)
Business Continuity Manager
Logistics Compliance Manager
Operations Manager (Warehouse/Distribution)

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills
In-depth OSHA/DOT regulatory knowledgeStructured incident investigation and RCAISO 45001 implementation and internal auditingQuantitative risk assessment and controls designHazardous materials and HAZCOM compliance
Development SuggestionsComplete OSHA 30 and a DOT/FMCSA compliance course; arrange shadow audits via an ASSP chapter or mentor.

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range
Entry Level$70,000-$90,000
Mid Level$90,000-$120,000
Senior Level$120,000-$150,000
Growth Trend
growing

Companies Hiring

Major Employers
ERMLiberty Mutual InsuranceZurich North America
Industry Sectors
Logistics & TransportationWarehousing & DistributionManufacturingInsurance

Recommended Next Steps

1
Earn OSHA 30-Hour General Industry; add HAZWOPER 40 if handling hazardous materials; take a DOT/FMCSA course (e.g., J. J. Keller).
2
Create a portfolio: perform a mock warehouse risk assessment (JHA/JSA), draft SOPs, and build a simple safety KPI dashboard.
3
Join ASSP and WERC; attend facility tours, request audit ride-alongs, and pursue short-term consulting or volunteer safety projects.