Environmental Safety Specialist

The environmental health and safety specialist is responsible for anticipating, recognizing, evaluating, and controlling safety risks and hazards. The specialist collaborates closely with department leaders to prevent or minimize employee exposure to environmental health and safety risks and, if they occur, to develop effective mitigation within reasonable time and expense constraints and in compliance with current institutional and regulatory requirements.

The incumbent applies knowledge of regulatory requirements and safety standards in a diverse learning and working environment. They also coordinate or facilitate training on safety topics and collaborate with others to promote PCOM's workplace safety policies and guidelines. Also, they monitor industry and regulatory developments, including best practices, and recommend modifications to PCOM's policies and procedures accordingly, with a focus on compliance.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The successful incumbent will perform the following duties, with or without reasonable accommodations:

• Develop, facilitate, or coordinate the delivery of workplace safety programs that comply with local, state, and federal guidelines and requirements, including but not limited to, those established by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Such programs include, but are not limited to, environmental programs, chemical safety, biosafety, and fire and life safety.
• Serve on and contribute to internal committees related to workplace safety, such as the Institutional Environmental Health and Safety Committee; participate in the review, development, or update of institutional protocols.
• Assist faculty and staff with addressing laboratory safetymatters.
• Develop and implement emergency response procedures for incidents involving fires and emergency evacuations, biological materials, and hazardous chemicals and other materials.
• Serve as an internal subject matter expert to determine appropriate equipment, facilities, and work practices for protecting laboratory personnel and the environment from contamination.
• Create and conduct audits of laboratories and laboratory equipment. Such inspections include, but are not limited to, the following: chemical inventories, personal protective equipment, eyewash stations, safety showers, Safety Data Sheet (SDS) availability, fume hoods, biosafety cabinets, flammable liquid storage cabinets; prepare written reports and follow up on audit findings with the goal of continuous improvement.
• Coordinate the periodic fire and life safety inspections of equipment and facilities to ensure they are available, appropriate for the hazard, properly maintained, used properly, and meet American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards.
• Design and deliver safety training programs in the areas of biosafety, chemical hygiene, hazard communication, hazardous waste management, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and emergency response; maintain current training records for all applicable employees.
• Respond to campus emergencies or incidents that require EHS assistance.
• Enforce compliance requirements and management best practices, in accordance with the institution's learning, research, and general workplace guidelines.
• Assist with processing Worker's Compensation claim submissions, including, but not limited to, assisting with the investigation of injury incidents; develop and implement preventive remedies to mitigate recurrence, as appropriate..
• Provide program support for the research laboratory access control program
• Perform other duties as assigned or requested.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of three years' work experience in a biosafety, environmental health and safety, or chemical safety setting.
• Knowledge of chemistry and chemicals, biology, biosafety, and infectious materials, specifically associated risks and risk prevention and mitigation strategies.
• Practical knowledge of EPA, NFPA, and OSHA codes or regulations.
• Strong project management skills, including organization, planning, needs assessment, and evaluation.
• Strong training development and facilitation skills.
• Strong communication skills, including written, verbal, and interpersonal.
• Strong collaboration skills
• High level of computer proficiency in word processing, spreadsheet, presentations, email, and virtual meeting applications, preferably on the Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 platforms.
• High level of customer service.

EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATION:

• Bachelor's degree in industrial hygiene, environmental safety, or similar discipline, biology, chemistry, or related field.
• Professional certification, preferred, such as Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), Certified Biological Safety Professional, or Registered Biosafety Professional.