Health and Safety Specialist

Gorbel’s mission is simple: We improve people’s lives. 

That mission guides everything we do, from the products and service we provide to our outside customers to the work environment we foster for our employees. We are a manufacturer of material handling and fall protection products for the production and warehouse/distribution sectors. We’re on the cutting edge of manufacturing and distribution; a thriving, growing company that is constantly seeking out new ways to innovate and elevate our products and our processes – and we’re looking for people like you to join us in that mission. 

We’re currently hiring for open positions in the US and Canada. We operate in Canada as Engineered Lifting Systems and Equipment (ELS)/DBA Gorbel® Canada, and subsequent communication related to Canadian positions may show the ELS name. You may be contacted by phone by recruitment personnel based in either Canada or New York. 

Work Shift:

Job Description:

The Health & Safety Specialist will be responsible for developing, administering, and implementing occupational health, safety, and environmental programs, for one or more locations. The specialist will work in conjunction with others to sustain key safety programs to protect the health and safety of the employees. They will provide safety expertise, day-to-day leadership, and execute safety-related activities.  Their goal will be to educate employees working throughout the company on how to work safely, how they can contribute to creating a safe work environment, and coach and develop them to implement and sustain safe work practices.

Responsibilities:

• Lead safety in a highly collaborative manner that provides employees the opportunity and responsibility for helping to create a safe work environment.
• Responsible for safety orientation for all new employees.
• Develop and deliver safety training; create safety talks for leaders to deliver; organize and track employee training and ensure compliance with training requirements.
• Provide training to managers and others on occupational safety issues.
• Develop, implement, and administer safety programs, policies, and practices to enable a safe workplace. 
• Maintain and manage EHS process documentation and records.
• Update current policies and procedures manual to ensure compliance.
• Evaluate tasks and create risk assessments, safe work procedures, written reports, and recommendations.
• Participate in accident-incident investigations along with JHSC member(s) to identify corrective actions and root cause(s)
• Ensure the timely completion of accident/injury reporting.
• Track incident follow-up activities to ensure that identified actions resulting from accidents, near miss, or hazard identification are completed in a timely manner.
• Direct and review the analysis of accident and injury data to identify opportunities to continuously improve workplace safety.
• Coordinate monthly workplace inspections, in conjunction with JHSC members.
• Oversee the Joint Health & Safety Committee.
• Develop and communicate emergency preparedness, response, and evacuation practices and processes.  Ensures readiness via regular communication and drills. 
• Ensure that all PPE is compliant and meets the protective needs of the workforce; engage and consult users in the selection of standard PPE.
• Research occupational safety information to assure the best available methods and equipment are adopted to minimize the hazards in the workplace.
• Maintain awareness of amendments to the Occupational Health & Safety Act (OHSA) and Regulations and make recommendations for their implementation.
• Responsible for monitoring adherence to the company safety program by all employees and subcontractors.
• Lead and/or participate on teams with safety, technical, management, and other team members.
• Oversee noise, air, hearing, and other required testing and management of any required response.
• Assist Human Resources to assess injured employee and identify modified duties.
• Manage SDS documentation.
• Lead response to external agency investigations, visits, or audits.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent.

• Three to five years' experience in occupational health and safety in an industrial establishment. 
• Strong knowledge of the Occupational Health & Safety Act and other governing body regulations; proven experience building and executing on a successful Health & Safety strategy.
• Thorough knowledge of workers' compensation legislation. 
• WSIB Part 1 & 2 Health & Safety Certification, preferred.
• Experience leading teams and managing projects in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong project management, budgeting, and analytical skills.
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite; in particular Excel.
• Strong interpersonal and active listening skills with an ability to influence others and inspire commitment.
• Ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with others in many different organizational roles.

Core Competencies, Interpersonal & Intrapersonal Skills:

• Have a positive attitude and a willingness to learn, teach others and to change, to suit organizational needs.
• Managing the scope and pace of change aligning priorities and resources.
• Creates an open, positive environment to stimulate open discussions.
• Commits to a course of action despite incomplete information, if required.
• Actively listens to and understands impact on others.
• Demonstrates and elicits trust.
• Cultivate effective relationships, be a team player, self-motivated and able to motivate others to reach deadlines.
• Encourages constructive questioning to achieve collective success.
• Communicates up, down and throughout the organization encouraging candor and clarity, both verbal and written.
• Work independently and interdependently utilizing self-leadership skills.
• Good organizational skills with attention to detail.
• Demonstrates ability to cross train others and can articulate mandate, goals, and outcomes of their position within the organization.
• Practices flexibility, transparency and fairness in all day-to-day activities and actions.
• Encourages and incorporates diverse and creative initiatives and perspectives.
• Confidentiality
   

Working Conditions:

• Usually works a standard forty (40) hour work week.
• May be required to work some overtime hours to attend meetings or meet organizational needs.
• May experience tight deadlines and stressful conditions at times.
• Must be able to manage frequent interruptions and multiple tasks daily.

In addition to the responsibilities listed above, employees are also expected to complete other duties as required. Dependent on business needs, percent of work may change as needed.  All employees are expected to have familiarized themselves with the Health & Safety and Human Resources manuals, including their responsibilities as outlined in each.