DHS HEALTH AND SAFETY OFFICER

DHS Health And Safety Officer

The Department of Homeless Services (DHS) is one of the largest organizations of its kind committed to preventing and addressing homelessness in New York City. Collaborating with other public agencies and not-for-profit partners, DHS works to prevent homelessness before it occurs, reduce street homelessness and assist New Yorkers to transition from shelter into appropriate permanent housing. DHS is responsible for management of over 200 facilities, which mainly are individual, and family shelters used as overnight residences for over 38,000 adults and children. DHS's portfolio covers approximately 4M square feet. The selected candidate will be responsible for establishing, managing and monitoring standards, processes, communications, training and systems to ensure all responsibilities associated with health and safety within the workplace.

The duties include ensuring a safe workplace environment without risk to health, ensuring PESH/OSHA and all Health and Safety policies, procedures rules and regulations are adhered to and regularly reviewed, updated and communicated. Supervising Health and Safety staff; monitoring compliance and corrective actions for all health and safety regulations. Revising agency policies, processes, training and reporting to adhere with current health and safety regulations. Managing development and implementation of health and safety protocols, including workplace violence prevention and the completion and review of risk assessments for all work equipment and operations. Reporting all accidents; ensuring incidents and injuries are reported, documented, investigated and recommended improvements implemented. Ensuring safety inspections are performed, fire drills and fire alarms are correctly reported, safety inspections, risk assessments and lone working procedures are managed, and employees are aware of their responsibilities. Coordinating the development of health and safety policies, systems of work and procedures, ensuring full and accurate health and safety training records are maintained. Establishing a full program of documented health and safety inspections, audit and a structured program of health and safety and training throughout the agency. Recommending new research or changes in established Health and Safety programs to meet the requirements of City, State and Federal Health and Safety Standards. Liaising with external health and safety consultants and advisers in the provision of proper training programs and health and safety services within the workplace. Keeping up to date with all aspects of relevant health, safety and welfare at work legislations and communicating relevant changes to the agency. Meeting with Union, Labor Relations, Employee Benefits and other internal and external entities to establish and maintain cooperative relationships for the purpose of exchanging information, responding to issues and creating new programs that address Health and Safety matters. Working to help DHS avoid grievances surrounding Health and Safety issues. Responding to health and safety employee emergencies by providing guidance and relevant materials on regulations.