2027 Entry Level - Associate Safety Specialist - Johnson City, TN

Day in the Life of a Associate Safety Specialist

The Associate Safety Specialist supports Bell Piney Flats’ Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) programs by helping to ensure a safe, compliant, and engaged workplace for all team members. This role provides hands‑on support across machining, composite fabrication, assembly, MRO/repair operations, and engineering test environments. You will assist in implementing safety systems, performing risk assessments, supporting regulatory compliance, and partnering with cross‑functional teams to drive continuous improvement.

This early‑career position is ideal for candidates who are passionate about safety, comfortable on the shop floor, and eager to learn and grow within an aerospace manufacturing environment.

As an Entry Level Associate Safety Specialist at Bell, you can expect to:

• Support day‑to‑day EHS activities across the Piney Flats site, including shop floor walkthroughs, job hazard analyses, corrective action follow‑up, and incident response support.
• Assist with OSHA compliance efforts and internal EHS standards, including recordkeeping, inspections, and audits.
• Conduct basic risk assessments for machining, mechanical assembly, composite work, material handling, chemical use, and equipment processes.
• Partner with manufacturing, maintenance, and engineering teams to identify hazards and recommend practical risk‑reduction solutions.
• Support creation, review, and implementation of Standard Work, Lockout/Tagout procedures, and Job Safety Analyses.
• Participate in incident investigations and help develop preventative actions and lessons learned.
• Contribute to training content and deliver portions of required EHS training to new hires and employees.
• Assist with safety committee activities, safety communications, and employee engagement initiatives.
• Help maintain EHS data systems, metrics, and documentation for the site.
• Support continuous improvement projects related to ergonomics, chemical management, machine guarding, and industrial hygiene.
• Champion Bell’s safety culture by coaching safe behaviors and reinforcing expectations on the shop floor.
• Other duties as assigned.

What You’ll Need

• Bachelor’s degree in Safety Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Environmental Health, Occupational Safety, or a related technical discipline required.
• 0–2 years of relevant experience.
• Strong communication skills and comfort working with employees at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to learn regulations and apply them in practical, production‑focused settings.
• Basic analytical skills and ability to interpret and communicate safety data.
• Curiosity, initiative, and willingness to be present on the shop floor daily.
• Familiarity with manufacturing or industrial environments through internships, projects, or coursework (preferred but not required).

What Will Make You Stand Out

• Internship, co‑op, or project experience in aerospace, automotive, machining, or industrial manufacturing.
• Familiarity with OSHA standards, hazard recognition, and structured risk assessments.
• Experience with root cause analysis methods such as 5 Why, Fishbone/Ishikawa, or TapRooT fundamentals.
• Exposure to EHS software systems or digital tools for data tracking, incident management, or inspections.
• Demonstrated ability to build rapport and influence safe behaviors in production environments.
• Passion for safety culture, employee engagement, and continuous improvement.