State of Maryland

An Agency Health and Specialist III is the expert level of technical work in the field of directing the activities of an occupational health and safety program. Employees in this classification are responsible for managing the institution's safety and health program to protect the well-being of agency employees, patients and the general public who utilize the facility.  Employees implement and enforce the federal and State occupational health and safety standards and regulations, as well as the Maryland Fire Prevention Code.   Employees in this classification plan and direct measures for the alleviation of safety deficiencies.   Employees serve in a liaison capacity with representatives of the State Fire Marshal's officer, local civil defense authorities, area police and fire departments, private contractors, and the State Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulations- Division of Labor and Industry and consult with these individuals on technical matters relating to agency safety programs and policies.  Employees in this classification provide technical guidance on safety standards to individuals responsible for specific safety protection activities at agency facilities. Employees in this classification do not supervise.  

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from the Assistant Superintendent or Superintendent of the institution.  Work effectiveness is evaluated through conferences, observation of safety training techniques, program recommendations, and review of reports.  The work involves frequent contact with agency employees at all levels to bring about the satisfactory resolution of safety problems and to promote safety consciousness and voluntary compliance with sound safety practices.              

Positions in this classification are evaluated using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing 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.

Inspects working habits, conditions, and equipment in an agency's facilities or on construction, demolition, or excavation projects contracted by the agency;

Conducts accident and injury investigations to determine the cause and assists in preventing recurrences;

Conducts special investigations of a variety of suspected violations and prepares and submits reports;

Conducts reinspections of establishments or projects to ascertain compliance when safety orders have previously been issued;

Prepares and submits reports involving hazardous or skilled occupations or operations requiring the elimination of safety hazards, conditions, or practices;

Observes and reports suspected violations of laws relating to labor standards and conditions and/or health standards and conditions;

Assists employees in preventing on-the-job accidents and injuries by advising them of unsafe conditions or potential hazards;

Creates, encourages, and stimulates interest and cooperation in occupational health and safety among agency employees;

Provides classroom instruction on employee safety, fire and accident prevention, proper techniques of fighting fires, and the safe use of hazardous materials, machinery, and equipment;

Surveys and inspects facilities and work procedures for compliance with State and federal occupational safety and health laws and regulations;

Develops building evacuation programs and conducts periodic fire and Civil Defense drills;

Directs safety operations in emergencies;

Exercises responsibility for the care, maintenance, and operational reliability of agency safety equipment;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of federal and State occupational health and safety statutes, regulations, and standards, of firefighting and related lifesaving techniques;

Knowledge of fire prevention methods;

Knowledge of the correct procedures for storing flammable materials and safe methods of operating machinery and equipment;

Knowledge of the nature and use of protective clothing equipment;

Knowledge of the basic principles of ventilation, lighting, heating, and plumbing;

Knowledge of the methods and equipment used in measuring cubic footage, electricity, heating, illumination, and distances;

Knowledge of conductors and insulators of heat, steam and electricity;

Knowledge of the nature, function, and use of blueprints;

Ability to use and instruct in the proper methods of using safety equipment;

Ability to direct firefighting operations;

Ability to comprehend, and interpret complex technical or legal standards, rules, regulations, or reports;    

Ability to prepare and present classroom orientations pertaining to occupational health and safety standards.  

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

Experience: Three years of experience in occupational health and safety inspection or occupational health and safety program management.

Notes: 

1. Additional education at an accredited college or university with a concentration in fire protection/science or occupational health and safety technology may be substituted, on a year-for year basis for up two years of the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a non-commissioned officer in Occupational Health and Safety classifications or Occupational Health and Safety specialty codes in the Occupational Health and Safety field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.  

1. Employees in this classification must provide a telephone number where they can be reached.

2. Employees in this classification are subject to call-in twenty-four hours a day.

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 assigned to Bargaining Unit C, Regulatory, Inspection and Licensure classes.  As provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.  

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime, as provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.