Health and Safety Specialist

Health And Safety SpecialistThe anticipated hiring range is $64,621 - $82,979The City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities is seeking a qualified Health and Safety Specialist to ensure a safe and compliant work environment by identifying potential hazards, conducting risk assessments, and recommending effective control measures. The incumbent will develop, implement, and maintain health and safety policies and procedures in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations, including OSHA standards. The Health and Safety Specialist leads workplace inspections, incident investigations, and compliance audits, ensuring that all findings are documented, and corrective actions are taken. Additionally, they design and deliver employee training programs to promote safety awareness and ensure staff understand proper protocols. This position plays a key role in emergency preparedness by coordinating response plans, conducting drills, and training employees on emergency procedures. By collaborating across departments and promoting a culture of safety, the incumbent will help minimize workplace injuries and illnesses while enhancing overall organizational performance. The incumbent also involves maintaining accurate safety records, tracking key performance metrics, and staying informed on emerging regulations and best practices in occupational health and safety.Duties include but are not limited to:Conducting regular workplace inspections and hazard/risk assessments to identify and control potential safety issuesDeveloping, implementing, and maintaining health and safety policies, procedures, and programs in compliance with OSHA and other regulatory standardsLeading investigations into workplace incidents, accidents, and near-misses, including root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actionsCoordinating and delivering health and safety training sessions and onboarding programs for employees at all levelsMaintaining accurate records related to incidents, training, inspections, audits, and regulatory complianceAssisting in the development and execution of emergency response plans, including organizing drills and training staff on emergency proceduresCollaborating with management, supervisors, and employees to foster a strong safety culture throughout the organizationMonitoring safety performance indicators and recommending continuous improvements based on data and trendsStaying up to date with changes in health and safety regulations, standards, and industry best practicesSupporting internal and external audits, inspections, and regulatory visitsThis is an essential position, which requires the selected candidate to report to work for an emergency and on call duty in response to inclement weather/natural disaster. The selected candidate will be required to work 24 hours on call, weekend and holiday call duty as scheduled.Qualifications, special certifications and licenses:Bachelor's degree in occupational safety, safety management, environmental management, or a related field2 years' experience in the occupational safety fieldMay require additional training such Workers Compensation, 40-hour HAZWOPER training courses, etc.An equivalent combination of training and experience (as approved by the department) may be used to meet the minimum qualifications of the classificationLicensing, certifications, and/or other special requirements:A valid Driver's License with a satisfactory driving record, and acquisition of a valid Commonwealth of Virginia Driver's License within 30 days of hire (position specific)Knowledge, skills, and abilities:Occupational and general safety principles, processes, and proceduresOSHA regulations and compliance, such as the use and placement of gas monitors, lanyards and harnesses, respirators, and fall protection equipmentRisk management and process safety management guidelinesOSHA 300 log, including understanding of recordable, lost workday, and lost time injuriesHealth and occupational safety machines, tools, and equipment such as hard hats, confined space permits, fall protection equipment, automated external defibrillators (AED's), and hemostatic dressingsOSHA reporting proceduresProficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)Oral and written communicationPublic speaking/presentations and trainingProject managementWork on multiple projects at a timeRecognize an IDLH (Immediately Dangerous to Life & Health) condition and address the situation with authorized and affected personnelFollow directionsFunction independently with minimal supervisionPay attention to detail in writing and proofreadingManage timelines and deadlinesProblem-solveAmericans With Disabilities Act RequirementsReasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.Environmental hazards: Working conditions may include exposure to travel to other locations within the City of Richmond as well as outside of the City of Richmond; exposure to hazardous physical conditions such as mechanical parts, electrical currents, vibrations, etc.; atmospheric conditions such as fumes, odors, dusts, gases, and poor ventilation; inadequate lighting; intense noise; and environmental hazards such as disruptive people, imminent danger, and a threatening environment.Physical requirements and working environment: Due to the nature of work assignments, incumbents must be able to perform detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks, with frequent interruptions and under time constraint. While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk, stand, talk, see, and hear. The employee is climb, occasionally required to balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach extending hands and arms, push, pull lift, feel, grasp or finger, and use hands, wrist, or fingers in a repetitive motion. In terms of the physical strength to perform the essential duties, this classification is considered to be light work (exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects), but may differ based on area of focus.