What are the responsibilities and job description for the DPW Safety Coordinator position at Howard County?
Howard County:
Conveniently located in the heart of central Maryland between Baltimore and Washington, Howard County offers the charm of a historic past mixed with the excitement of a cosmopolitan community.
Howard County Government:
Howard County Government is a leader in innovation, best practices and sustainability. It is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live and work in the country. In 2024, Howard County Government received a record-breaking 63 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) – the most awards in the state of Maryland, and the fifth highest in the nation, as compared to more than 3000 counties. NACo Achievement Awards are the premier national honor to recognize innovative and transformative programs that provide new services for county residents, improve existing programs, upgrade working conditions, and enhance citizen participation and public policy making.
What are we looking for?
We are looking for outstanding individuals to join our team who aspire to help make the department a national model of public works excellence.
What you'll like most about working at Howard County Government:
- We are committed to workplace excellence in every area of County government.
- We have a highly talented, diverse, and inclusive workplace. Your input will not only be heard, but it will be encouraged!
- We offer competitive compensation and great benefits including medical, retirement, wellness programs, and a generous leave program.
- As a member of the Howard County Government team, you'll be helping drive our culture and directly impact what makes us an amazing place to work.
POSITION SUMMARY:
Responsible for supporting the implementation of the Department of Public Works’ Safety Program, which includes training, hazard identification and mitigation, investigation, accident analyses and safety performance tracking. Provides technical support to DPW’s Safety Supervisor and/or Manager in overseeing safety practices within DPW bureaus as assigned. Work includes assisting with compiling safety data into a centralized department database; providing on-site safety oversight support to assigned bureaus as needed; conducting safety training; attending coordination meetings and working under the direction of the Safety Supervisor and/or Safety Manager. Work at this level requires handling of confidential information.
CLASS DESCRIPTION:
Performs senior technical level licensing, inspections and regulations work under general supervision from an administrative or technical superior
**We are hiring two DPW Safety Coordinators. One will primarily support the Bureau of Environmental Services and the other will primarily support the Bureau of Utilities.**
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.
- Knowledge of occupational hazards and safety precautions in equipment/ machinery operation and performing various types of work on public works job sites.
- Assist with the ongoing evaluation of safety practices, identify areas of improvement, and determine any potential hazards or risks.
- Assist with the review and update of safety policies and procedures resulting from changes in regulations, industry best practices, or organizational needs.
- Conduct safety training sessions to educate employees about the DPW safety program, including employee roles and responsibilities, and safety in the workplace.
- Work with Risk Management as directed or needed on safety practices, areas of improvement, and determining potential hazards.
- Provide training on general safety awareness, hazard communication, personal protective equipment (PPE) usage, and training as needed to support the department’s operations.
- Teach, support, and follow incident reporting and investigation procedures.
- Attend regular safety meetings, create safety bulletins, newsletters, or digital communication platforms to keep employees informed and updated on safety protocols and procedures.
- Serves as a resource to County employees on matters of industrial health & safety and maintain a strong "in-the-field" presence.
- Engage with employees positively to help create a culture of safety.
- Assist with the reporting and analysis of incidents, accidents, or unsafe conditions to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.
- Assist with safety audits as needed.
- Work with staff to create job hazard analyses and hazard assessments at DPW locations.
- May occasionally be required to work evenings and weekends with advance notice where possible.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
This job has no supervisory responsibilities.
MINIMUM REQUIRED EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE
High School Diploma or GED with five (5) years of related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES AND REGISTRATIONS
Class C Maryland Driver’s License Certificates or Licenses as specified in departmental policy by the Appointing Authority
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
TO APPLY: You must complete an employment application online to be considered for this recruitment. Resumes cannot be substituted for completion of the job application work history. No paper applications will be accepted.
Selected candidates may be subject to drug screening, background screening, and reference checks.
At time of application, please submit a copy of any college degree, coursework, licenses, or certifications that you have referenced on your application. Applicants who have education obtained outside of the U.S. may need to provide proof of the equivalent U.S. education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service, such as the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (http://www.naces.org) or World Education Services: International Credential Evaluation (https://www.wes.org/).
Howard County Government is not sponsoring employees in application of the H-1B Visa or providing an extension of an existing H-1B Visa. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.
Howard County is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, and we are committed to a workplace that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. The County prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, ancestry, creed, national origin, disability status, genetics, marital status, military service, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Applicants requiring accommodations during the hiring process should contact the Office of Human Resources directly at HiringPreference@howardcountymd.gov. Requests for accommodations should not be attached to the application.
