Safety Specialist II

Overview Aqua, an Essential Utilities company, employs people in a variety of roles within our eight-state footprint, ranging from field workers and customer service representatives who are on the front lines working with customers, to scientists and engineers who help ensure we’re delivering reliable water and wastewater services to our communities. If you’re looking for a rewarding career helping improve our environment and protect our natural resources, we encourage you to join our team! About Essential Utilities Essential Utilities, Inc. delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities. Operating as the Aqua (water and wastewater services) and the Peoples and Delta (natural gas) brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 10 states. We are committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status - including a competitive and comprehensive benefits package as well as a commitment to career growth opportunities. We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint. Our company is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S. Responsibilities and Duties The Safety Specialist II ensures the safety of Aqua Ohio and the workplace in accordance with general safety best practices and Essential Utilities safety practices. This position will administer the safety program throughout the Aqua Ohio footprint. In addition to administering the safety program, the Safety Specialist II will be responsible for operational and capital budgets. Budget responsibility includes safety related training, tools, and PPE, as well as safety related capital projects. The Safety Specialist II is the leader of safety at the state level and will also participate in corporate safety programs. This position will include both office work and field work observing and auditing work practices, conducting training, leading the safety committee and engaging all employees. Manages, develops, implements and enforces Aqua’s safety program in compliance with local, state, and Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rules and regulations. Measures the Safety Program’s effectiveness through analytics and indicators. Takes an active role in identifying and correcting shortcomings. Works closely with both local and corporate stakeholders to develop, implement, and update effective policies and procedures for all OSHA programs to ensure compliance with regulations and guidelines. Develops, implements and maintains employee training programs; establish and maintain complete safety and training records. Conducts hands-on training and guides others on safety rules and expectations. Conducts safety audits and field inspections to ensure compliance with occupational and environmental health and safety requirements. Develops, updates and manages workplace safety programs, procedures and policies. Investigates injuries and incidents and interfaces with employees, state management, HR and national safety manager to ensure proper occupational care. Creates and issues knowledge sharing bulletins and performs root cause analysis. Ensures corrective actions are identified and implemented. Interprets technical and regulatory information to provide guidance in plants and in the field. Observes and problem-solves operational and technical procedures. Communicates and shares solutions nationally. Champions peer-to-peer programs and utilizes inspections, ride-alongs and audits to ensure safety presence in all operations. Engages in troubleshooting concerns in the field and stop checks to ensure safety compliance. Serves as a subject matter expert (SME) to explain Aqua policies and procedures and safety/risk management concepts to regulators, consultants, and Aqua staff. May write, develop, or revise policies, procedures or SOPs as an SME. Interfaces with corporate and local management to formulate corrective actions to safety-related issues and ensure full implementation of corporate initiatives. Delivers or facilitates safety training for all levels of employees. Ensures regional training meets corporate expectations. Tracks training completion and maintains metrics for corporate and state reporting. Acts as SDS, chemical exposure and spill prevention coordinator and monitors regulations related to hazardous materials and agents. Evaluates new safety equipment and provides input to local managers on budget needs for safety equipment purchases and training programs. Administers state or regional programs for procurement of safety gear, PPE, tools or consultants to support safety goals. Coordinates with other departments when obtaining services. Responds to emergency situations and may require work on alternate shifts or after hours. Maintains confidentiality in dealing with employee records and business information. Attends conferences, meetings, and workshops to stay current on new safety methods and procedures and applicable codes and regulations or to maintain required certifications. Performs other duties as assigned. Required Experience Candidate must have a bachelor’s degree in safety management, safety engineering, industrial hygiene, occupational environment health and safety, or a related field. Minimum of 3–5 years of experience and knowledge of environmental and occupational health and safety, with a proven track record; may be considered in lieu of educational requirements. Must possess valid driver’s license and satisfactory driving record. Ability to analyze situations quickly and determine proper course of action. Safety certifications such as CSP, CHMM, or completion of OSHA 501 (train-the-trainer) are desired. Competence in oral and written communications and computer skills (word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentation software, email, scheduling software). Working knowledge of safety rules and regulations at federal, state, and local levels. Ability to conduct safety audits and field inspections, develop and maintain training programs and records, and manage workplace safety programs and policies. Travel: Frequent travel to company locations and regular field inspections; overnight travel up to 50%. Physical requirements: Ability to work outside in varying weather, climb, bend, wear PPE, and lift up to 50 lbs. Aqua, an Essential Utilities company, is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. Equal employment opportunity is provided to all employees and applicants without regard to protected characteristics as defined by applicable law. Aqua is committed to reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. If you need an accommodation or have accessibility needs, please contact us. To maintain the integrity of the recruitment process and to avoid conflicts of interest due to employment or family referrals, specific guidelines apply to the hiring and assignment of family members, including prohibiting supervisor/subordinate reporting relationships in related cases and restricting family members from working in the same department. #J-18808-Ljbffr