State of Maryland

An Assistant Chief, Occupational Safety and Health performs administrative level work in the Safety Inspection Program, Division of Labor and Industry, Maryland Department of Labor.  The employee in this classification serves as the primary assistant to the Chief, Safety Inspection Program.  The employee in this classification assists in the development and implementation of a comprehensive and coordinated program for conducting safety and health inspections and enforcement of the Occupational Safety and Health Act in all places of employment in the State.  The employee in this classification may be independently responsible for one or more of the following areas:  the development, review and evaluation of all forms and procedures; the establishment and maintenance of liaison with various State, federal and local organizations, both public and private; the establishment and implementation of inspector training programs; the review of some or all safety inspections, orders and reports; the conduct of research or the collection and analysis of statistics on program operations and the formulation of recommendations for future action; the investigation and/or resolution of a variety of problems concerning unusual investigations or complex interpretations of standards, rules or regulations. The employee in this classification provides advice, guidance and assistance to all personnel of the Service and may exercise direct supervision over some or all personnel on occasion.

The employee in this classification receives general supervision from the Chief, Safety Inspection Program and in the absence of the Chief or at his direction, assumes his/her duties and authority.

The position in this classification is evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

Assists the Chief, Safety Inspection Program in administering and coordinating a comprehensive program of statewide safety and health inspections;

Assists in planning inspection priorities, coordinating inspection activities, scheduling manpower requirements and reviewing program effectiveness;

Reviews inspection reports, safety orders and citations issued by inspectors and field supervisors;

Provides advice, guidance and instructions to field supervisors and inspectors;

Participates in the formulation of administrative and operational policies, methods and procedures;

Coordinates administrative details concerning program operations, personnel requirements, forms, reports and procedures;

Assists in the development and implementation of inspector training programs; Coordinates with representatives of other Department units and other State agencies;

Meets with representatives of public and private organizations to exchange information, resolve mutual problems or explain or interpret applicable regulations and promote voluntary compliance;

Assumes the duties and authority of the Chief, Safety Inspection Service in his/her absence or direction;

May provide information and/or testimony in administrative hearings or court cases involving alleged violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act;

May conduct or assist in the conduct of accident and injury investigations and other special investigations;

May conduct special research or study projects, statistical reports, program analyses or budget proposals;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge, at the expert level of proficiency, of the general nature and purpose of occupational safety and health laws, regulations and standards;

Knowledge of business practices, procedures and organization;

Knowledge of English usage, grammar and spelling;

Knowledge of arithmetic;

Knowledge of safety inspection techniques, methods and procedures;

Knowledge of the principles of organization, supervision and control;

Knowledge of the elementary techniques used in collecting, compiling and organizing data and information;

Knowledge of elementary reference and research methods;

Knowledge of elementary legal procedures;

Knowledge of introductory data processing procedures;

Knowledge of introductory methods of training and instruction;

Knowledge of introductory governmental accounting and personnel procedures;

Ability to reach conclusions and make accurate decisions based on analysis of relevant information, established standards and the effects of various alternatives;

Ability to express ideas;

Ability to plan, organize, coordinate and direct the work of others;

Ability to develop and install administrative and operational procedures and evaluate their effectiveness;

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others;

Ability to understand, interpret and explain complex legal or technical standards, regulations and procedures.

Education:   Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: Six years of experience as an occupational safety or health inspector, or in a supervisory or administrative capacity in a safety or health inspection program. Two years of this experience must have involved supervision of safety or health inspectors.

Note: Candidates may substitute additional education at an accredited college or university on a year-for-year basis for up to four years of the required general experience.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit, as indicated by the designation of S (Supervisor), M (Manager), T (Agency Head), U (Board or Commission Member), W (Student), X (Used by Agency or Excluded by Executive Order), or Z (Confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.