Safety Specialist I

GENERAL PURPOSE

Under general supervision, participates in administering a comprehensive safety management program for the District; conducts field audits, investigations and job safety analyses; develops and conducts safety, hazardous materials and safety training programs and meetings; and performs related work as assigned.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

An incumbent in this class participates in administering the District's safety and environmental programs by performing a variety of investigative, analytical and training assignments that range from fairly routine to moderately difficult in scope and complexity.
Safety Specialist I is distinguished from Safety Specialist II in that incumbents in the latter class have greater responsibility for developing and implementing comprehensive District safety programs in compliance with federal and state law and regulations.

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification.  They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.

1. Participates in developing, implementing, coordinating and administering a comprehensive safety program, including industrial safety, occupational health and safety, hazardous materials and hazard abatement, to ensure compliance with all federal and state laws and regulations for employee occupational health and safety.

2. Participates in the development of safety and environmental training programs for managers, supervisors and employees; coordinates and conducts a variety of training classes and programs to ensure employee compliance with District safety measures, including confined space, air monitoring, personal protective equipment, respiratory protection, construction and work zone traffic safety, fall protection, alcohol and drug awareness, lifting techniques, CPR and first aid, hearing protection, hazard communications, hazardous waste operations and emergency response and others; develops lesson plans; evaluates vendor safety and environmental training programs and materials; recommends the purchase of training materials; tracks dates and schedules required annual retraining classes; conducts manager and supervisor training on managing employee health and safety; conducts and participates in safety meetings with departments.

3. Conducts special and periodic health and safety inspections of District facilities, operations and tidelands to identify safety and environmental hazards; performs routine job safety analyses of facilities, equipment, work areas and work practices and prepares reports of findings and recommendations; performs industrial hygiene and noise monitoring of specific work sites and locations; performs ergonomic evaluations of employee work stations and processes; performs periodic special inspections and investigations, including noise level analyses, indoor air quality and others; follows up to ensure action on safety and other abatement notices.

4. Responds to the scene of employee personal injury accidents and environmental related incidents and conducts accident/incident investigations; analyzes details, devises effective countermeasures and prepares detailed reports of findings and recommended remedial actions; prepares incident documentation and necessary reporting.

5. Participates in drafting new safety policies and procedures; reviews work specifications for safety and health regulations and codes; enforces District safety and health policies and procedures.

6. Provides workplace safety and health information to District departments and contractors.

7. Periodically checks the operation of, monitors and calibrates safety equipment to ensure conformance with District standards in use.

OTHER DUTIES

1. Conducts budget reviews for departments requesting safety equipment.

Knowledge of:

1. Practices and methods for developing and administering a comprehensive safety program.

2. Federal and state laws, regulations and standards for employee health and safety and hazardous materials programs.

3. Methods and practices for conducting accident and work place safety audits and investigations.

4. District Injury and Illness Prevention programs and its safety and environmental policies and practices.

5. Standard safety equipment used in public works occupations.

6. Practices and methods in designing employee safety training programs.

7. Principles and practices of sound business communication.

Ability to:

1. Operate a computer and standard word processing and spreadsheet software.

2. Understand, interpret, explain and apply complex federal, state and District requirements regulating workplace health and safety and the use, storage and disposal of hazardous substances.

3. Evaluate work place safety programs and practices and make sound recommendations for improvement.

4. Conduct accident and workplace safety investigations.

5. Conduct effective employee training programs.

6. Exercise sound independent judgment and initiative within policy guidelines.

7. Communicate clearly, logically and persuasively, orally and in writing.

8. Prepare clear, concise and comprehensive investigative reports and other materials.

9. Establish and maintain highly effective working relationships with managers, supervisors, employees, vendors and others encountered in the course of the work.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education, Training and Experience:

Graduation from high school or GED equivalent and two years of increasingly responsible experience in occupational health and safety programs, including conducting accident or safety investigations or designing and conducting employee safety training programs in an industrial setting. Graduation from a four-year college or university with major course work in occupational health studies, environmental studies or a closely related field is highly desirable. Experience in a governmental setting is preferred.  Time served as a District Intern counts towards the years of experience.

Licenses; Certificates; Special Requirements:

A current, valid California Class C driver's license at time of appointment and maintained at all times thereafter in order to operate a vehicle on District business.

Current valid CPR Red Cross Instructor and Advanced First Aid certificates must be obtained within one year of appointment and maintained on a continuing basis.

Professional Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety is preferred.

HIRING SALARY RANGE: $63,035 - $76,903

The application review process will include screening to ensure applications are complete and meet all minimum qualifications.  In addition to the application, the applicant is required to complete the Supplemental Questions to further evaluate their education, training, and experience relative to the required knowledge, skills and abilities for the position. Applicants must submit answers that are as complete as possible.

Only qualified applicants who pass the minimum qualifications review, will be invited to the assessment process which may be administered by a written examination, panel interview, or any combination of qualifications appraisal determined by the Department of People Services to be appropriate. The Department of People Services will make reasonable accommodation in the examination process for disabled applicants. If you have an accommodation request, please indicate such on your application.

Depending upon the number of applicants meeting the minimum qualifications, applicants may be scheduled for one or more of the assessments listed below. Passing score is 70% out of 100% on each assessment section.  

THE INITIAL ASSESSMENT (40%) IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED ON TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2024, AND APPRAISAL PANEL (60%) IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED ON TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2024.

To move forward in the application process, you must complete an online application through our website https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/portofsd Please attach a copy of your unofficial transcripts (indicating when degree was awarded) to your application or your application may be considered incomplete. Resumes may be uploaded but cannot be used in place of a completed application.  


Placement on Eligible List: The Department of People Services may limit the number of qualified applicants eligible to participate in the assessment process. Candidates who are successful in all phases of the assessment process will be placed on an eligible list. The eligible list established by this recruitment will be active for a minimum of ninety (90) days or up to one (1) year, unless otherwise determined by the Director pursuant to Rule 8, Section 4.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The District firmly believes in, and is committed to, the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity and nondiscrimination. It is the policy of the District to recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job classifications without regard to age (40 and above), ancestry, color, disability (mental or physical), gender (including identity, appearance, or behavior, whether or not that identity, appearance, or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with the person's sex at birth), marital status, medical condition, military status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, or veteran status.  

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS

Persons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential duties of this class with reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodation will be evaluated on an individual basis and depends, in part, on the specific requirements for the job, the limitations related to disability and the ability of the hiring department to accommodate the limitation.

Resolution #: 2014 - 130
Dated: June 10, 2014

Salary : $63,035 - $93,822