State of Maryland

An Agency Health and Safety Specialist IV is the technical and managerial level of work directing the activities of a considerable scope occupational safety and health program.   Employees in this classification are responsible for managing a decentralized, comprehensive safety program to protect the well-being of agency employees, private-sector employees, and the general public who utilize agency facilities in various locations throughout the State of Maryland.  Employees implement and enforce federal and State occupational safety and health 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 Marshall’s Office, local civil defense authorities, area police and fire departments, private contractors and tenants, and the State Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulations -Division of Labor and Industry and consult with these individuals on technical matters relating to the agency's safety program and policies.  Employees in this classification are responsible for supervising Agency Health and Safety Specialists support staff and provide indirect supervision and/or technical guidance on safety standards to individuals responsible for specific safety protection activities at agency facilities.  

Employees in this classification receive general supervision is received from a higher-level administrative official within the agency.  Work effectiveness is evaluated through conferences, observation of safety training techniques, program recommendations, and review of reports.  The work also entails frequent contact with agency and private-sector 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 prepare 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;

Provides information and/or testimony in administrative hearings or court proceedings involving alleged violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and standards promulgated thereunder;

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;

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

Conducts surveys and inspections of 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;

Supervises a staff of Agency Health and Safety Specialists and support staff instructors;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of federal and State occupational health and safety statutes, regulations, and standards;

Knowledge of firefighting and related lifesaving techniques;

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

Knowledge of the uses and functions of standard fire extinguishers;

Knowledge of the basic safe and proper work methods, procedures, and conditions for construction projects, excavations, and other operations;

Knowledge of the elementary methods used in measuring cubic footage, distance, electricity, heating, and illumination;

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

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

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

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

Ability to understand the operation of a variety of tools, machinery, and equipment, both manual and powered;  

Ability to measure cubic footage, distances, electricity, heating and illumination;

Ability to organize time efficiently;

Ability to reach accurate conclusions based on observation of conditions and comparisons with established standards;

Ability to supervise subordinate Agency Health and Safety Specialists and support staff.

Education:   Graduation from a standard high school or possession of a high school equivalence certificate.

Experience: Four years of experience in occupational safety and health 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 to 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 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.            

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.