Health & Safety Coordinator

Health And Safety Support Role

Job Goal: To support safe and healthy environments for children, families, and staff by conducting routine safety checks, supporting cleaning and sanitation efforts, documenting incidents and observations, and assisting site teams with basic compliance tasks. This position plays a key support role to the Health & Safety Manager and ensures that health and safety practices are followed across all early childhood program locations.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Health, Safety Monitoring, & Meal Monitoring
• Conduct routine health and safety walk throughs of classrooms, playgrounds, kitchens, and bathrooms.
• Use a checklist to monitor safety, cleanliness, and supply levels.
• Report any maintenance or safety concerns to the Health & Safety Manager.
• Complete meal monitors as requested by the Nutrition Manager
• Compliance and Regulatory Support
• Ensure program sites meet or exceed Head Start Performance Standards, Oregon Child Care Licensing rules, OSHA, CACFP, and sanitation regulations.
• Support preparation and readiness for licensing visits and federal monitoring reviews.
• Assist in ensuring all required drills (fire, earthquake, lockdown, etc.) are conducted, documented, and reviewed for effectiveness.
• Sanitation & Safety
• Assist staff with implementing sanitation and safety procedures as trained.
• Ensure that first aid kits, emergency bags, and cleaning supplies are stocked and in proper condition.
• Support kitchen and custodial staff in maintaining food safety and cleanliness standards.
• Emergency Preparedness Assistance
• Help track and document monthly drills (fire, earthquake, etc.) and ensure signage and plans are posted.
• Maintain emergency bags and classroom safety equipment.
• Documentation and Communication
• Complete forms and logs for safety checks and incident follow-ups.
• Enter or submit documentation as instructed by the Health & Safety Manager.
• Communicate clearly with classroom and kitchen staff about what needs to be addressed after walkthroughs.
• Support for Licensing and Monitoring
• Help prepare classrooms and facilities for state licensing, sanitation, or internal reviews.
• Assist with simple tasks such as labeling, organizing, and cleaning safety-related materials.
• Staff Support and Technical Assistance
• Provide technical support to classroom, kitchen, and custodial staff regarding safe practices, sanitation procedures, and facility expectations.
• Car Seat Program
• Obtain and keep current Child Passenger Safety Technician Certification
• Assist clients in purchasing and properly installing child safety seats
• Attend Car Seat Clinics in the community as needed
• Ensure up‐to‐date Child Care Licensing Division certification (having to do with facilities) for all childcare operations of Umatilla‐Morrow Head Start, Inc.
• General Staff Responsibilities:
• Participate in staff meetings, conferences, training sessions and workshops as assigned
• Demonstrate familiarity with employment policies, performance standards, work plan and objectives of Agency
• Maintain congenial and respectful relations with staff, children, families and community

Education Requirements:

• High school diploma or equivalent

Experience and Skills Requirements:

• Experience in an Environmental, Health and Safety rules and regulations
• Required to earn and maintain a Child Passenger Safety Technician Certification
• Technical writing (preferred)
• Detail oriented
• Must be flexible, well‐organized, and able to manage different projects concurrently and often under pressure; able to set priorities and manage time effectively
• The ability to work effectively with a wide variety of individuals and groups
• Ability to analyze and provide feedback to staff relating to health & safety concerns
• Head Start experience (preferred)
• Knowledge of Child Care Regulations (preferred)

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands and work environment described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• The ability to drive a private or Agency vehicle; must possess a valid driver's license and personal automobile or provide a plan that will allow fulfillment of position requirements
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds
• Make precise arm‐hand positioning movements and maintain static arm‐hand positions.
• The ability to walk or run quickly, kneel or sit on floor etc.
• Perform regular cleaning and/or inspection of equipment and facilities which may require the use of broom, mop, cleaning fluids and sanitizing agents and other tools as deemed necessary.
• Maintain the safety of the environment through visual, auditory and smelling
• Observe, compare, and monitor behaviors, records and data to determine compliance with prescribed standards
• Comprehend, analyze, and make inferences and references from written material
• Produce written documentation with clearly organized thoughts using proper sentence construction, punctuation and grammar
• Instruct, lead, train and facilitate others in a group setting
• Perform physical inventory of equipment and/or supplies.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.