Safety Specialist

Responsible for coordinating a comprehensive occupational safety and health training program for the City.  Responsible for planning, developing, administering and supervising occupational safety and health training programs applicable to the City’s operations, functions and services.  Acts as a liaison to the City’s workers’ compensation and public safety injured on duty third party administrators as well as monitoring medical expenditures for public safety injured on duty personnel and accidental disability retirees.   Assists with leave of absence tracking and management.   Work is performed under the supervision of the Director of Human Resources and Labor Relations. With respect to leave of absence management, reports to the Assistant Human Resources Director.  Supervision may be exercised over other employees, when delegated. 

• Plans, develops, administers and supervises occupational safety and health training and loss control programs applicable to City operations, functions and services.  Consults with management to assess occupational safety and health needs and assists department heads to be in compliance with federal and state regulations and City policies and procedures.
• Monitors and recommends safety and health risk management and employee wellness initiatives.  Acts as the Designated Employer Representative and manages the City’s program regarding the compliance with the U.S. DOT Commercial Motor Vehicle and Drug and Alcohol Regulations that impact the City’s CDL operators, managers and supervisors.
• Assists management in the investigation of work-related injury claims to help determine causal factors, makes recommendations for corrective actions and training to help prevent reoccurrences. Investigates safety and health work-related complaints.  Conducts safety inspections/audits and functional job task analyses.
• Evaluates data regarding the cause, type, and body parts affected for workers’ compensation claims, frequency and severity of injuries. Analyzes accident trends to help identify work practices and/or procedures for improvement and/or training initiatives for employees, managers, and supervisors.
• Acts as a liaison to the City’s workers’ compensation and public safety injured on duty third party administrators and monitors medical expenditures for public safety injured on duty personnel and accidental disability retirees.  Coordinates special pre-placement, return to duty, medical in-service physical and functional assessment examinations.
• Assist the Assistant Human Resources Director with monitoring the City’s leave of absence programs, ensuring legal compliance; reviews FMLA applications; tracks trends in FMLA usage and employee return to work dates, interprets human resources policies and procedures concerning benefits, paid, and un-paid time off options for employees.

• Knowledge and comprehension of established best practices for occupational safety, organizational development, and risk prevention management.
• Excellent skills in oral and written communication.
• Problem solving skills and the ability to conduct investigative research.
• Ability to effectively direct, develop and make professional judgments relating to the principles and practices of occupational safety and health and risk prevention management.
• Ability to effectively instruct adults in safety practices.
• Ability to maintain accurate, detailed, confidential and organized records.
• Knowledge of OSHA standards for General Industry and Construction (29 CFR 1910 and 29 CFR 1926)
• Knowledge of MA DLS workplace standards for public sector employers (454 CMR 25.00)
• Knowledge of DOT FMCSA CDL requirements and Clearinghouse procedures.
• Knowledge of occupational hazards and risks associated with the practices and procedures of municipal operations and services.

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field. 
• Five years of prior occupational safety and health, or risk management experience.  
• Successful completion of OSHA 10 and 30 hour basic safety training courses within 6 months of date of hire
• Successful completion of CPR/First Aid Instructor course within 6 months of date of hire

Salary : $63,326 - $82,354