Safety Specialist I

Summary: Provides technical assistance regarding hazardous materials and waste management practices at the university.

Note: The primary accountabilities below are intended to describe the general content of and requirements of this position and are not intended to be an exhaustive statement of duties. Incumbents may perform all or some of the primary accountabilities listed below. Specific tasks or responsibilities will be documented in the incumbents’ performance objectives as outlined by the incumbents’ immediate supervisor or manager. This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code §51.215, which authorizes the employer to obtain criminal history record information. Must possess a valid driver’s license issued by the State where the applicant resides and must be insurable as defined in the UT System UTS 157, as applicable to the performance of essential duties and responsibilities of the position.

Statement of Duties and Responsibilities:

Assists with the development, implementation, and maintenance of programs and procedures for segregating, packaging, storing, transporting, and disposing of wastes including hazardous, universal, radioactive, biological and regulated medical waste.

Surveys campus laboratories to determine type and magnitude of materials in need of hazardous waste disposal. Audits facilities to determine corrective action for chemical storage, and disposal of hazardous waste; consults with faculty, students and staff to correct deficiencies in safety, chemical hygiene and hazardous materials.

Conducts waste characterization of materials from campus laboratories and facilities.

Assesses available hazardous waste disposal options including costs involved. Solicits vendors, initiates purchase orders and audits invoices.

Maintains logs of Hazardous Materials Management Program, daily waste pick-ups, disposals and shipments from the university, Annual Waste Summaries. Tracks and monitors radioactive waste.

Interprets chemical formulas, inspects safety equipment in labs, eye wash stations, and safety showers, and answers inquiries from campus stakeholders. Maintains Safety Data Sheets for chemicals at the facility.

Assists in developing comprehensive spill prevention program and reviews facility plans for spill prevention; participates in developing spill reporting procedures and environmental damage assessment programs; prepares reports of findings concerning spills.

Provides technical assistance in event of hazardous chemical spill, and identifies pollutant, determines hazardous impact; recommends and performs corrective action.

Responds to campus chemical, biological and radioactive material spills. Is part of the after hours on-call emergency response team and is expected to be on-call on a rotating basis with team members.

Maintains working knowledge of new technologies developed by the hazardous materials and waste industry and government regulator

Assists in ensuring compliance with applicable federal EPA, state TCEQ, and local regulations including but not limited to RCRA and MS4 stormwater permit requirements.

Assists in developing, maintaining, inspection and document review of MS4 permit minimum control measures. Performs air monitoring tests

Assists with the development, implementation, and maintenance of the Hazard Communications Program designed to protect the university personnel and environment.

Assists in the management of the underground storage tank (UST) program. Conducts inspections, performs maintenance, reviews documents relating to the UST program.

Knowledge of all Microsoft Office software and able to learn and use institutional software systems.

Complies with all State and University policies.

Other duties may be assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities: No supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required Qualifications:

Education: Associate’s Degree.

and

Experience: Two years of experience, related to the statement of duties and responsibilities; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit and climb or balance. The employee must occasionally lift and move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

May be required to wear Personal Protective Equipment to include: Steel toe or Non-slippery shoes, eye protection, hard hat, lab coat, full body suit, and respirator or dust mask.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to wet and humid conditions; moving mechanical parts; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; risk of electrical shock; explosives and risk of radiation. The employee is frequently exposed to high, precarious places and outside weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to extreme cold. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

In keeping with its access, excellence and impact mission, The University of Texas at El Paso is committed to an open, diverse, and inclusive learning and working environment that honors the talents, respects the differences, and nurtures the growth and development of all. We seek to attract faculty and staff who share our commitment.

The University of Texas at El Paso is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or sexual orientation and gender in employment or the provision of services in accordance with state and federal law. Discrimination on the basis of sex includes an employee’s or prospective employee’s right to be free from sexual harassment under Title IX of the Higher Education Amendments of 1972.

For accommodation information for employees and applicants with disabilities, please contact UTEP's Equal Opportunity Office at eoaa@utep.edu.