Health and Safety Officer

Company Overview

Somerset County is a historic and diverse region in Central New Jersey, encompassing 21 municipalities and rich in colonial history. With a commitment to environmental protection and community service, Somerset County strives to maintain a balance between urban development and natural preservation, making it an ideal place for residents to live, work, and play.

Summary

The Occupational Safety & Health Officer develops, coordinates, and implements occupational safety and health policies and procedures to promote and ensure effective safety operations in the organization. Collaborates with Division Heads, Department Heads and Constitutional Officers to assess occupational safety and health training needs and implement effective employee safety and health training programs. Partners with all Division and Department Heads and/or external resources to develop and implement effective controls to reduce the risk of occupational safety and health concern and ensure a safe working environment for all County employees. Responsible for maintaining a safe working environment by identifying potential hazards, developing and implementing safety policies and procedures, conducting regular inspections, training employees on safety protocols, investigating accidents, and ensuring compliance with relevant safety regulations, all with the goal of preventing workplace injuries and illnesses.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Division Heads, Department Heads and Constitutional Officers to develop, prepare, and implement occupational safety and health policies and procedures for all employees.
• Ensures compliance with federal, state, and local safety and health laws, regulations, codes, and rules.
• Ensures completion of required PEOSH recordkeeping and reporting in conjunction with Human Resources.
• Review and update the County Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan annually and conduct training as needed and required.
• Provides technical and administrative support to the safety committee(s) and all OEM Response Teams but specifically the County HazMat Team.
• Maintains recordkeeping and data related to employee work-related medical certifications and verifications as required by OSHA and PEOSH regulations (e.g. Hearing Conservation Standard, Respiratory Protection Standard, etc.) in conjunction with Human Resources.
• Reviews incident data and provides periodic trend, frequency and severity summary reports to management compared to applicable benchmarks in conjunction with Human Resources.
• Tracks PEOSH inspections and assists with closure of action items required due to inspection findings.
• Provides OSHA/PEOSH compliance recommendations to address Workers’ Compensation and Risk issues in collaboration with County Counsel, Human Resources and Finance.
• Tracking and recordkeeping of required occupational medical evaluations throughout all Divisions within the County in conjunction with Human Resources.
• Identifies opportunities to minimize workplace injuries, accidents, and health problems.
• Oversees and conducts employee training on applicable safety standards, recommends revisions, improvements, and updates.
• Reviews accident and incident reports and provides preventive/corrective action recommendations and guidance in conjunction with Human Resources.
• Conducts safety inspections and audits to assess employee compliance with safety regulations.
• When warranted due to imminent safety concerns, stops operations and activities that could present significant risk of harm to employees or equipment.
• Chairs County Safety Committee.
• Ensures all County Building Emergency Response Plans are current and being exercised.
• In conjunction with the HazMat Coordinator, administer the Right to Know Program for the County.
• Is the Right to Know County Lead Agent for the County.
• Member of County facility and/or operation emergency planning teams, including Facility Evacuations Planning, Facility Workplace Violence Prevention/Response Planning, Medical Emergency Response Planning, Hazardous Materials Incident Planning, Fire Prevention/Response Planning, COOP/COG Planning.
• Represents County interests to Somerset County Joint Insurance Fund Safety Committee.
• Manages County Occupational Health services contract related to employee health & safety.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Health and Safety, Safety Engineering, Environmental Health, Industrial Hygiene, or related field.
• Minimum of five (5) years’ experience in occupational health and safety in public safety, construction or industrial environment.
• Extensive knowledge of current County safety policies and applicable OSHA and NJ PEOSH standards.
• Ability to develop and deliver effective virtual and in person training using a variety of communication streams and devices.
• Ability to plan and organize one’s own work with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to plan, implement and evaluate the work of others.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office suite
• “Technically Qualified Person” per NJ PEOSH Hazard Communication Standard (see NJAC 12:100-7.2, Definitions, “Technically qualified person”).
• Skill in the operation of office equipment, including but not limited to computers, printers, copiers, calculators, and other job specific equipment.
• Ability to work collaboratively and build relationships with colleagues, coworkers, vendors, contractors, and the public.
• Ability to accurately prepare and maintain files, records, reports, and logs.
• Skill in using computer applications including spreadsheets, databases, and word processing software.
• Ability to comprehend, express and exchange information in English over the phone, in person, in writing or through other communication or electronic devices in both small and large group settings.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to report to work to perform duties in emergency situations, including, but not limited to hazardous weather conditions, public emergencies, public health emergencies, etc., during and after normal working hours.
• Ability to transport oneself to varying locations across County.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $75,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Application Question(s):

• Are you a resident of New Jersey

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• Occupational Health and Safety: 5 years (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Hillsborough, NJ 08844 (Preferred)

Ability to Relocate:

• Hillsborough, NJ 08844: Relocate before starting work (Preferred)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $75,000