COUNTY SAFETY OFFICER (#EF8 )

$47.70-$63.96 hourly / $8,268.00-$11,086.00 monthly / $99,216.00-$133,036.80 yearly

Under general direction, to plan, develop, implement, and monitor the County's Occupational Health and Safety Program in accordance with Federal, State and local regulations; establish and implement policies and programs related to injury and illness prevention, occupational health, ergonomics, safety, general security protocols, hazardous materials compliance, and safety training and records management.

This single-position classification normally reports to the Director of General Services, but may report to a division head. The Safety Officer works with considerable independence, assisting departments in the determination of appropriate safety and security practices for their staff, addressing potential loss control issues, investigating work-related accidents and injuries and implementing measures to prevent their recurrence, and ensuring program compliance with State/Federal regulations and County policy. 

· Plans, develops, implements, and monitors the County's Occupational Health and Safety Program in accordance with Federal, State and local regulations.

· Establishes and implements policies and programs related to injury and illness prevention, occupational health, ergonomics, safety, hazardous materials compliance, and safety training and records management.

· Coordinates with and provides technical assistance and advice to all County departments, agencies and staff on occupational health and safety.

· Collaborates effectively with and provides technical assistance to the County Administrative Office, the County Counsel's Office, the Health Services Agency and the Personnel Department (Risk Management).

· Obtains and develops safety and security protocols and distributes manuals and educational material.

· Assists departmental safety representatives, managers and supervisors in the development of continuing safety/security protocol training and education programs.

· Develops and conducts training related to occupational health and safety programs.

· Performs or assists departments in the inspection of operations, facilities and equipment; identify unsafe practices and conditions; recommends corrective actions; and conducts follow-up to ensure implementation of corrective actions.

· Create standardized safety and security protocols for each facility.

· Ensures, coordinates, implements and monitors County compliance with provisions of the California Occupational Safety and Health Act, California Labor Code and other applicable laws and regulations.

· Reviews federal and state statutes and regulations to help assure that County departments comply with requirements.

· Participates in the analysis of new regulations and statutes for effect on County occupational health and safety programs and County operations and prepares recommendations.

· Coordinates the County Integrated Pest Management Program.

· Develops and maintains policies and procedures related to occupational health and safety programs.

· Conducts on-going and specialized studies of trends and program efficacy, makes recommendations for resolution of problems, and implements solutions as approved.

· Prepares reports, position papers, and recommendations for presentation to the Board of Supervisors.

· Reviews and analyzes data and reports on property and casualty losses and accidents, conducts investigations, and makes recommendations for corrective and preventative action.

· Reviews specifications for remodeling and construction of County facilities, identifies potential risks and security protocol measures that shall be taken and suggests alternatives or methods for reduction of risks.

· Coordinates emergency, evacuation, security protocols, and site planning activities.

· Provides staff support for official and ad hoc committees, including the County Labor/Management Safety Committee, the County Departmental Safety Representatives, the Evacuation Coordinators, and the Integrated Pest Management Departmental Advisory Group, among others.

· Represents the County before governmental agencies, community groups and in court.

· Develops and maintains, in conjunction with data processing staff, records management systems for occupational health and safety programs.

· Provides administrative supervision to subordinates; provides technical supervision to subordinates within area(s) of expertise.

· Maintains library of reference and resource material.

· Uses computer to input, store, retrieve and analyze data, and to prepare correspondence and reports.

· Attends meetings and conferences.

· Assists in preparation of divisional budget. 

Knowledge:

Thorough knowledge of:

·   The principles and practices of occupational health and safety and general security.

Working knowledge of:

·   Federal and State laws and regulatory agencies related to occupational health and safety.

·   The principles and practices of ergonomics.

·   The principles and practices of administrative survey and analysis.

·   The principles and practices of training.

·   The principles and practices of security.

·   Basic statistics.

Some knowledge of:

·   The principles and practices of blood borne pathogen and infection control.

·   The principles and practices of supervision.

·   Record management systems.

·   Budget preparation and administration.

Ability to:

·   Define problems, collect analyze and interpret data, and develop alternate solutions to complex problems.

·   Plan, coordinate and initiate actions necessary to implement recommendations, new regulations, new methods and new procedures.

·   Understand, interpret, explain and apply laws, regulations, policies and procedures.

·   Establish and maintain effective working relations with others contacted in course of work, including other agencies, staff, departments, contractors and members of the public.

·   Prepare and present a variety of oral and written material concisely, convincingly, clearly and logically.

·   Exercise initiative, ingenuity, independent analysis and judgment to solve complex problems.

·   Provide administrative and technical supervision and training to subordinate staff.

·   Develop and implement record management systems.

·   Input, store, access and analyze data using computers.

Training and Experience:

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Equivalent to graduation from college with a degree in Occupational Health & Safety, Environmental Science, Public Health, Biology, Chemistry, Industrial Engineering or a closely related field and three years of professional experience in occupational health and safety program administration or related security field.

Special Requirements:

·   Possess and maintain a valid California Class C Driver's License or provide suitable transportation approved by the appointing authority.

·   Certification as a Certified Associate Safety Professional, Certified Safety Professional, Certified Associate Industrial Hygienist, Certified Industrial Hygienist or Certified Physical Security Professional is highly desirable.

·   Mentally and physically capable of performing the position's essential functions as summarized in the typical tasks portion of the job specification.

Special Working Conditions: Fieldwork may include exposure to dust, mold, moisture or other environmentally hazardous conditions; subject to after-hours response and extended work hours in the event of an emergency incident.