Safety & Environmental Health Specialist

Grade 19 - Starting Hourly Rate: $29.86. Rate of pay depends on qualifications.

Job Description

JOB SUMMARY

The Safety & Environmental Health Specialist is responsible for developing knowledge of safety and health aspects as they relate to SAWS through standards and program review. Provides interface between division or department management and SAWS organizations or external entities. Participates on project teams, leads investigations, and provides safety and health support to accomplishing SAWS safety and health objectives. Supports SAWS safety and environmental health policies by participating in associated program activities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

- Reviews proposed and existing standards and procedures, performs research to determine if present policies, practices, and protocols are in compliance and assesses the impact to SAWS; participates in written program planning, authoring, and revision.

- Represents SAWS’ safety and environmental health interests by participating in external meetings and conferences, providing support to peer and community groups, and by interacting with external entities, including regulatory agencies. Uses safety and health knowledge to provide technical support to SAWS departments. Performs research to identify procedure and protocol needs, drafts procedures, and gains agreement leading to implementation and training.

- Develops and maintains the safety and environmental health database, which provides information and input to partnerships with stakeholders. Plans and coordinates field safety and health activities with stakeholders.

- Conducts safety and environmental health-related assessments, participates in post-audit monitoring to create action planning, or determining the plan’s status through evaluations including research, field testing and analysis, and documents findings for inclusion into subsequent reports and recommendations.

- Evaluates contractor safety and environmental health qualifications including due diligence records review, pre-qualification assessments, evaluation of Requests for Proposal’s, providing recommendations; participates in pre-bid and pre-construction meetings, and reviews, monitors, audits, and supports contractor site safety and environmental health plans. Participates in contractor meetings and workshops.

- Documents contractor’s safety and environmental health performance for future contract qualification.

- Develops safety and environmental health performance reports and communicates results as well as developing recommendations.

- Performs or supervises testing, monitoring, and inspection protocols dealing with safety and environmental health, including supporting industrial hygiene-related activities.

- Performs research, defines, and communicates mandated safety and environmental health training requirements to affected organizations. Determines resources required to deliver training. Develops and delivers selected training programs to stakeholders. Coordinates contracted, or SAWS Training Division, resources to ensure delivery of mandated technical training.

- Participates in Safety and Environmental Health Steering Committee meetings and Products Standards Committee meetings, conducts technical review of plans and projects scopes, identifies design safety and environmental health issues, as well as resolving construction and installation safety and environmental health issues.

- Evaluates Hazardous Materials and other strategic compliance issues, and assists with providing personal protective equipment specifications, develops and provides testing and inspection specifications for approval. Performs field confirmation of HAZMAT, HAZWOPER, HAZCOM, and emergency response protocols.

- Conducts gap analyses, formats, and recommends revision of the Employee-driven Safety Program (ESP), performs program audits, interfaces with representatives from SAWS departments, manages data / reporting software systems, assesses ESP effectiveness and consistency with SAWS safety and environmental health policy. Identifies appropriate measures, reports results to internal customers for local department action plans.

- Identifies staff training and certification needs, and assesses work environment and equipment need with the team.

- Participates in safety and environmental health activities for the department such as associated investigations, administering the SAWS driving policy, prescription eyewear, protective footwear, hazard analysis, coordinates fire / evacuation drills, and trains all Emergency Coordinators.

- Participates in safety and environmental health guideline development and statistical reports, including preparation of departmental spreadsheets, calculates frequency and severity rates, on a monthly basis.

- Responsible for individual elements of the division’s Operating Expense budget.

- Applies principles of physical sciences, safety and environmental health regulations, safety and health management principles for the protection of personnel at SAWS.

- Applies basic water and wastewater system operating principles as necessarily related to safety and environmental health and acts as a resource for other professionals in the field.

- Performs other duties as assigned.

DECISION MAKING

- The Safety & Environmental Health Specialist works under limited supervision.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

- Bachelor’s Degree in Safety, Engineering, Engineering Technology, Natural or Physical Sciences, Industrial Technology, Psychology, or related field from an institution accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency.

- Three years’ experience with a safety or risk management program.

- Ability to report to work on time, maintain a good attendance record, and work all designated work schedules.

- Valid Class “C” Texas Driver’s License.

Internal Applicants:

An internal applicant may also qualify with a High School Diploma and six years’ increasingly responsible experience with a safety or risk management program.

- Valid Class “C” Texas Driver’s License.

- Ability to report to work on time, maintain a good attendance record, and work all designated work schedules.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

- Demonstrated experience in participating in a safety and environmental health department and making significant improvement in safe operations, vehicle safety, reporting and compliance.

- Professional designation within the safety and environmental health field such as Executive Safety.

- Management Certification, Certified Safety Professional, Registered Environmental Manager, Certified Industrial Hygienist, Certified Utility Safety Administrator, Certified Occupational Hearing Conservationist, Certified Safety & Health Official, Associate Safety Professional, or other related certifications, or the ability to obtain within 18 months of hire.

- OSHA Commendations or industry commendations.

JOB DIMENSIONS

- Contact with internal and external customers, regulatory agencies, contractors, and field consultants.

- Communicates effectively, verbally and in writing.

- Ability to use word processing, spreadsheet, database, and presentation software; work management, health and safety, and regulatory reporting software.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

Physical requirements include lifting up to 25 pounds occasionally. Subject to walking and climbing stairs, climbing ladders, and working at heights on construction projects to perform job scope. Requires visual acuity, speech, and hearing.

Working conditions are in an office and field environment with exposure to inclement weather, permit- required confined space entry and site conditions typical of heavy construction. May be required to comply with requirements as specified in applicable regulations for personal protective equipment, including clearance for use of respiratory protection and other associated protective equipment. Also operates a company and/or personal vehicle when performing duties at field locations.

May be required to work hours other than regular schedule.