Safety Knights

I wouldn't worry about the OSHA 30 course. It doesn't expire, it's just awareness level, and doesnt meet any OSHA training requirements at all. It doesn't hurt to have the OSHA 30 on your resume, but I would go for the OSHA 510 or 511, depending on which industry you're wanting to get into.

As far as your resume, you need to cater that to each job application. Look at the job description, then insert key words from the job description into your resume. For example, if the job description states "must have OSHA 500", don't put "able to teach OSHA 10-/30-hour courses" (or vice versa). Although they're the same thing, the applicant tracking systems (ATS) looks for key words, and if it doesn't find those key words, your resume gets rejected - even if you met the qualifications.

A safety-related degree would help tremendously, too. Depending on the college/university, they may accept some of your job-related certifications and apply credit hours. I knocked almost 2 years off my bachelor's degree by submitting hours from technical college and various certifications I had obtained from my career at the fire department.

To build on what Drew said, I would establish a resume for what you do now, then tailor it to safety toward the position you want, then you'll have something to customize for a job ad like he said. I said start by drafting a good resume for what you do now, to have a starting pointing that builds to learn the process. There is plenty of information online about how to write a good resume. If you know someone whose good at it, utilize them. You can find a services that will help for $. Given your hoping industry's, don't be discouraged. Some of the best safety people I know came from operations/supervision of said operations. I would tailor your resume to safety, I would recommend a short cover letter stating the strength of your experience highlighting it's relation to safety and a statement about why you want to get your first position. I would get references who would speak well of you and make sure they can speak to your knowledge of safety. Maybe even have a letter or two of recommendation from colleagues that could write the letter reflective of your experience but leaning toward safety. Shake the tree on your friends/network, most people who come from operations end of working for someone they used to know who can get them in the door somewhere. As far as education, your good in the experience arena and hazard identification from what I read. I would focus on acquiring knowledge to flesh your resume. This depend on what industry or niche in safety you want. I would go full osha training institute if one is in your area. Most of them stick to online these days because of covid. Mine in tampa hasn't resumed in person. If you go construction, get your 510, then 500. At the OTI, take classes on large targets (fall protection, trenching/excavation, confined space, heat illness, scaffolding, etc.). Get your first aid/cpr/aed. Take any competent person courses you can find.

All the advice is great from the others. I am a Safety Guy, but also, HR (recruiting), and Manufacturing (Leadership/Management).
I am definitely old school. Lots and lots has changed in my fields since my start in the 70s!! I have seen lots and lots of former Blue Collar guys attempt to cross over the White Collar. Some made it but many failed. I think in large part many failed because they still thought like workers not managers! There is a big difference. It is all through the job down to very basics, how you look at your work day! When I worked as a machinist at the start of the day I knew I was going to work 8 hours and go home at 3:00PM. When the “horn” went off I went home. But as a manager at the start of the day I really had no idea when I would go home. My day was over when I got the job done!! My job was never managed by the clock for the last 45 years of my career!
I recruited for a large Corp. If I was hiring for a new manager the very first thing I looked for was a 4-year degree! It didn’t matter what experience or training the person had, they didn’t even get to first base without that degree. No degree the resume went directly into the “Thanks but No Thanks Pile!” Sometimes current workers could make the transition but they had to be actually working on a degree. And to be honest it didn’t matter what that degree was in!!!

As project Foreman, I worked hand in hand with our safety representative. Ensuring worker safety through enforcement of PPE use and correcting safety hazards on the spot resulting in Zero OSHA reportable mishaps. I also was involved with the creation of the safety plan in order to ensure I understood the hazards at each stage of construction and reviewed them prior to the start of each task with my workers. (this was during my time in the Navy Seabees.)

If I were you, I'd start networking with safety professionals. In Ohio (for example), there are monthly safety meetings held by the Bureau of Workers Comp that I would regularly attend. Start explaining that you're looking for an entry level position and would welcome advice.

What you will hopefully find is that someone has an opening and will encourage you to apply. It's so hard to get through the online application process many companies use these days. An in person connection will be so much more effective.

Best of luck to you! my 2 cents - you don't need a degree and the right company will hire you for your ability to learn vs. some degree that means nothing. Trainings and certs go a LONG way. And if there's a local safety group where you live, they may even have free/discounted training to beef up your resume.

I recommend joining any local safety organizations such as ASSP if they have a local chapter near you. Depending on the industry, there are some even tailored to that industry. Helps with networking. I was able to get my current job due to I had joined a SHRM (Society of Human Resource Management) after I was laid off from my previous transportation safety manager job and had gone back to school to get a degree in Human Resources. There I became friends with the society president and when a job came open here where she was the HR Manager, for a Safety and HR Coordinator position, she recommended me for it. Rest is history. Getting to know some other safety folks in those settings can help open doors. It also allows you to learn by attending their meetings.

As far as showing your past in your resume, as foreman, I am sure you still had a role in keeping your team safe. Check with your local state workforce department to see if they assist with resume creation. A good resume person should be able to spin it to show your safety work even as a foreman. Kevin mentioned competent person trainings. Check also with your closest state National Safety Council chapter. They many times have train the trainer and competent person trainings they put on.