Safety Officer

DEFINITION:

Under administrative direction, the Safety Officer plans, organizes, coordinates, and manages a comprehensive safety and emergency management program and oversees safety for the District; develops and maintains a total safety culture; assesses exposure to District-wide hazards and risks; takes action to ensure compliance with safety, health, and environmental safety regulations and requirements; advises District management on safety issues, Cal/OSHA Voluntary Protection Program requirements, safe work methods and practices, and elimination of environmental hazards; ensures that safety program-related consultants, contractors, and vendors fulfill safety-related expectations; and performs related duties as assigned.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

The Safety Officer is responsible for developing and administering the District’s safety and emergency management program to assure an effective and coordinated response to emergency events and to protect the District from exposure to hazardous or unsafe conditions that could have adverse consequences on District operations.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

This position reports to the Operations Manager.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

The Safety Officer may provide guidance and direction over other staff performing safety-related tasks. The Safety Officer leads the District’s Safety Committee and provides oversight for all safety training throughout the District.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following examples:

• Manages the District’s safety and emergency management programs, including the conduct of safety audits and the elimination of identified workplace and environmental hazards in compliance with applicable laws and regulations; oversees and participates in administering employee safety and emergency response training.
• Develops emergency response and management programs, strategies, and solutions designed to provide employees with a safe work environment. Plans, organizes, and conducts emergency response drills to include implementation of the District’s Emergency Response Plan; coordinates with local mutual aid groups, emergency responders, law enforcement, and local officials on District response capabilities and plans in the event of an emergency. Participates in the District’s Emergency Response Plan, Emergency Operations Center activation, and disaster preparedness planning and coordination.
• Attends regional partnership emergency response planning meetings.
• Plans, organizes, and provides direction to District staff to strengthen the District’s safety culture.
• Plans, organizes, integrates, and participates in developing and implementing comprehensive employee health and safety programs, including industrial safety, occupational health and safety, fire protection, traffic safety, hazardous materials and environmental hazard abatement to ensure compliance with the District safety ordinance and all federal and state laws and regulations for employee occupational health and safety; evaluates on an ongoing basis the effectiveness of safety training programs and incorporates this analysis into future program revisions; identifies safety-related training needs to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Develops, recommends, and implements policies, procedures, and programs to comply with regulatory requirements and to reduce incidents of employee accidents and injuries; advises all levels of District management on the design and implementation of emergency management programs, including safety; monitors program plans for compliance through review of accident reports, field visits, and safety committee reports and suggestions; develops and delivers safety training programs for managers, supervisors, and employees; coordinates and conducts safety and emergency response meetings with departments and the Safety Committee.
• Conducts special and periodic inspections of District facilities and operations to identify safety and environmental hazards; responds to the scene of employee personal injury accidents or serious incidents; participates in thorough investigation and analysis of circumstances surrounding injuries, accidents, or incidents; develops findings and recommendations; and prepares required reports on employee accidents and accident trends.
• Reviews and approves the District’s safety rules and regulations, practices, and policies along with the Injury and Illness Prevention Program and site-specific safety plans developed by contractors or vendors working for or with the District.
• Evaluates employee accident and injury reports, recommends remedial action, and follows up to ensure action is taken; responds to employee and management questions regarding safe work practices and environmental hazards.
• Reviews chemicals used by the District and maintains required Safety Data Sheets for reference and use by supervisors and employees.
• Prepares or advises on the development of specifications for the purchase of safety-related equipment to ensure conformance with District expectations.
• Monitors health and safety-related legislative and regulatory changes; evaluates implications for District policies, programs, and operations, and recommends changes to ensure compliance; stays abreast of industry practices and trends.
• Sets up and schedules all required safety training.
• Assists in developing and managing the annual safety budget.

• Serves as liaison with safety officials of other governmental agencies, industry organizations and committees, and with representatives of regulatory agencies.
• Performs specific risk management projects and research tasks when required.
• Responds to after-hours emergencies.
• Serves as chair of the Employee Safety Committee.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

Any equivalent combination of experience and education that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience:

Five (5) years of increasingly responsible professional experience in the field of industrial safety, preferably in a water/wastewater and/or solid waste environment.

Education:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in safety, business administration, or a closely related field.

License/Certificate:

Possession of a valid Class C California driver's license, and a driving record acceptablefor insurability.

Certification by the Department of Labor as a certified instructor on OSHA standards for construction and general industries is desirable.

Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Associate Safety Professional (ASP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), Occupational Health and Safety Technologist (OHST), Certified Emergency Manager (CEM), and Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) designations are desirable.

Certifications issued by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and other recognized industrial safety organizations on topics relevant to conducting specific safety training courses and responding to hazardous materials and waste operations and incidents are desirable.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

The following are a representative sample of the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

Knowledge of:

• Principles, policies, practices, and methods for developing and administering a comprehensive emergency management program, including safety.
• District policies and procedures for reporting, investigating, and correcting industrial and environmental hazards.
• Federal and state laws, rules, regulations, and standards applicable to employee health and safety and chemical and hazardous materials issues.
• Standard safety equipment used in public works occupations.
• Current health, safety, and environmental laws as they relate to public entities in the State of California, including EPA Title 40 CFR, CALEPA-Title 22 CCR, Title 27 CCR, CWA, NPDES, Title 8 CCR, SWRCB, CALARP, CARB, SCQMD, RCRA, NFPA, and other applicable regulations.
• Basic research methods and statistical analysis techniques.
• Practices and methods for designing employee training programs and materials.
• Principles and practices of sound business communications.
• Methods and practice of budgeting, purchasing, and recordkeeping.

Ability to:

• Operate a computer using word processing, spreadsheet, safety, health, and emergency response software.
• Evaluate alternatives and reach sound conclusions.
• Collect, evaluate, and interpret data in statistical and narrative form.
• Interpret and apply laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Prepare clear, concise reports and other written materials.
• Communicate effectively orally with individuals and groups.
• Maintain accurate records and files.
• Exercise sound independent judgment within general policy guidelines.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of District management and staff and those encountered in the course of the work.
• Use tact, discretion, and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive situations and concerning people and customers, both internal and external.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; talk or hear, both in person and by telephone; use hands to finger, handle, or feel standard office and safety equipment or tools; and reach with hands and arms. May occasionally need to kneel, stoop, or crouch and lift up to 50 pounds when conducting field investigations and safety audits. Frequently required to stand and walk. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.