Equipment Safety Specialist

Equipment Safety Specialist

Hiring Department: Environmental Health and Safety

Position Open To: All Applicants

Weekly Scheduled Hours: 40

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt from FLSA

Earliest Start Date: Immediately

Position Duration: Expected to Continue

Location: AUSTIN, TX

Purpose

Identify and/or define inspection, installation, and testing process for exposure control equipment (associated with ventilation) on campus. Completes inspections of campus facilities to evaluate health and safety issues. Conducts risk assessments. Consults with institutional personnel to solve problems and to interpret and implement regulations, policies and procedures. Responds to potential exposures to hazardous materials.

Responsibilities

• Develop and update written protocols for fume hood testing. Identify, purchase and collect needed equipment for updated testing. Conduct fume hood testing. Continuously ensure testing protocol follows current professional standards (as they change).
• Provide technical knowledge in the operation and support of safety programs in compliance with regulatory agency guidelines and institutional policies/guidelines. Support occupational and laboratory safety programs and initiatives. May develop policies, standard operating procedures, and other written guidelines to ensure a safe and healthy working environment.
• Inspect and test ventilated exposure control equipment on campus. This can include but is not limited to gas cabinets, wet benches, down draft tables, spray paint booths, canopy hoods, welding fume extractors, and alternative ventilated enclosures.
• Perform ADA ergonomic assessments, serving as the primary point of contact for requestors. Maintain the ergonomic assessment tracking system to generate metrics, and ensure accurate recordkeeping. Create and administer pre? and post?assessment surveys to evaluate effectiveness of recommendations and inform preferred equipment selections. Provide training and guidance to requestors on ergonomic best practices and proper use of office equipment. Research, evaluate, and recommend ergonomic equipment and workplace modifications to improve employee comfort and reduce risk of injury.
• Support GHS labelling of bulk chemical delivery systems such as gas cabinets. Conduct room ventilation assessments of laboratories. Assist with completing laboratory risk assessments for industrial hygiene.
• Responds to lab incidents, spills and odor calls and calibrates equipment. Consults with staff on safety related issues.
• Perform other job related duties as assigned. Work under stress, team player, self-motivated with some technical assistance from others, under pressure of deadlines, with sensitive and confidential information. Drive University vehicles. Maintain acceptable driver rating as established in Policy: UTS157 Section 2.5.4.
• Troubleshoot ventilation systems to determine factors influencing exposure control testing. Coordinate with campus partners and third party contractors to remedy. Effectively communicate issues with essential ventilation equipment to lab personnel and building managers. Follow up on work order status and retest equipment as needed.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, a Natural Science, Industrial Hygiene, Environmental Science, or a related field.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

At least two years of experience in Environmental Health and Safety or related field.

Driving Required

This job requires a class "C" operator's driver's license. The applicant selected must provide a current three-year driving record from the current state of residence. If not currently a Texas resident, a Texas driver's license must be obtained within 30 days of becoming a Texas resident.

Salary Range

$46,000 + depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

Environmental Demands:

• May work in all weather conditions
• May work in extreme temperatures
• May work around chemical fumes
• May work around standard office conditions
• May work around biohazards
• May work around chemicals
• May work around electrical and mechanical hazards

Physical Tasks:

• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation
• Use of manual dexterity
• Climbing of stairs
• Climbing of ladders
• Lifting and moving

Additional Working Conditions:

• May be exposed to loud noise, high dust and allergen levels.
• May be required to lift up to 50lbs. Often required to twist, grasp, push, pull and bend.
• Participate in on-call program.

Work Shift

40 Hour Work Week Schedule; 8 hours per day; Monday-Friday (and as needed)

Required Materials

• Resume/CV
• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
• Letter of interest

The University of Texas at Austin Staff