Jessica Swartz
Jessica Swartz is an accomplished Safety Manager at McAirlaid's, Inc., bringing over 18 years of experience in manufacturing, production supervision, and workplace safety. With a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene from Columbia Southern University, she combines formal expertise with hands-on experience to create safer, more efficient work environments. Jessica’s leadership is defined by her ability to communicate clearly, educate employees effectively, and lead by example, earning her a reputation for building trust and fostering a culture of safety across organizations.
Prior to her current role, Jessica spent nearly a decade at Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Virginia, LLC, where she served as Environmental Health Safety Specialist. She managed compliance training for over 600 associates, led initiatives that reduced injuries by 65% over five years, and oversaw a $400,000 security budget while serving as Logistics Officer for a 32-member state-certified industrial rescue squad. Her experience also includes production supervision, where she implemented Kaizen initiatives to boost throughput by 50%, improved machine capability by 30%, and strengthened safety engagement among associates.
Throughout her career, Jessica has consistently demonstrated expertise in workplace safety, OSHA compliance, emergency response, incident reduction, and leadership development. She is a certified CPR, First Aid, AED, and BBP trainer through the American Heart Association and has achieved a 100% success rate as Lead Auditor for Safety, Environmental, and Quality audits. Her proudest accomplishment is reducing her company’s OSHA recordable rate from five to six incidents per month to just one incident in nearly 20 years, reflecting her dedication to persistent communication, rigorous training, and fostering a safer workplace culture.
• Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response
• Safety Compliance Management
• OSHA 510
• National Register EMT
• Columbia Southern University - BS
What do you attribute your success to?
Jessica attributes her success to strong communication, consistency, and her ability to educate employees in ways they understand. With six years in the safety field following several years in production supervision, her hands-on leadership style and commitment to leading by example have built trust and significantly improved workplace safety. She specializes in workplace safety and OSHA compliance, with extensive experience in emergency response, incident reduction, production supervision, and developing safety protocols across multiple departments. Her proudest accomplishment is reducing her company’s OSHA recordable rate from five to six incidents per month to just one incident in nearly 20 years, a testament to her persistent communication, training, and dedication to fostering a safer workplace culture.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Her father has been her strongest mentor, teaching her to set goals, stay self-driven, and never rely on others to create opportunity for her. Those lessons shaped her determination and confidence in her safety leadership roles.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Jessica encourages young women entering safety to stand firm, ask questions, and trust their knowledge even in male-dominated environments. She believes every woman should advocate confidently for proper safety procedures, even when it means challenging long-standing habits.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge she sees is helping employees truly understand why safety matters beyond compliance. The greatest opportunity is ongoing education: improving training, communication, and awareness so safety becomes a natural part of the workplace culture rather than an obligation.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
She values integrity, accountability at every level (from employees to owners), and self-motivation. At home, she prioritizes being present with her children, living a healthy lifestyle, and setting a strong example in both discipline and kindness.