Occupational Health and Safety Specialist

Padre Dam Municipal Water District and the East County JPA are looking for a talented safety professional with excellent communication and organizational skills. 

Under the general supervision of the Safety and Risk Manager, the incumbent is responsible for overseeing the planning, organization, management, coordination, administration and compliance of the occupational health, safety, emergency preparedness and hazard/risk management programs and activities; inspects and monitors workplace for exposure to potential health and safety hazards; coordinates, plans, develops and conducts specialized safety and health education programs; ensures compliance with OSHA and related local, state, and federal regulations; reviews and updates all OSHA related programs and policies as necessary; conducts safety inspections and responds to complaints of safety hazards; interpreting and enforcing policies and procedures, assisting in any projects related to facilities upgrades; implementing emergency response actions, and any other duties as assigned for the East County Advanced Water Purification (AWP) Joint Powers Authority (JPA) and Padre Dam Municipal Water District (Padre Dam or District).

This position is a Monday-Friday Position with the hours being 8am - 5pm with an hour lunch. Remote work (2 days a week) is available after one year of employment.  75% of the time, the ideal candidate will be working for the AWP Treatment Plan and the remaining 25% of time will be spent assisting the Safety & Risk Manager at Padre Dam.

This is NOT an entry level position.

1. Develops, implements, oversees, coordinates, administers, and promotes the JPA’s occupational health, safety, and hazard/risk/loss control management programs; oversees, monitors and evaluates the JPA’s occupational health and safety management programs to ensure compliance with CAL OSHA and related safety and health regulations. 
2. Evaluates working conditions and operational practices and inspects JPA facilities and equipment to identify occupational health and safety hazards and other violations; follows-up with relevant Supervisors regarding the timely correction of noted violations. 
3. Identifies, reports and provides solutions to management regarding employee occupational health, safety, and hazard/risk/loss control management programs and regulatory compliances. 
4. Performs, coordinates, facilitates, and conducts all occupational health, safety, and related trainings. Coordinates Annual FIT Testing for AWP respirators and Respiratory Clearance Medical Exams for AWP staff who wear respirators.
5. Assists in the development and revision of Emergency Operations plans for the East County AWP as required. Oversight of AWP Automated External Defibrillator Maintenance & Inspection.
6. Performs investigations of all accidents and incidents independently and in coordination with other regulatory agencies as required. 
7. In coordination with the appropriate administrator, prepares and recommends budgets for safety-related equipment; advises on the development of specifications for the purchase of safety materials and safety-related equipment, periodically checks the operation and use of equipment to ensure performance and conformance with JPA/District standards. 
8. Assists Safety & Risk Manager in conducting job hazard analyses and works with employees to correct safety violations and hazards. Works collaboratively on all Management of Change Processes.
9. Administers a hazardous materials program including waste minimization procedures; reviews chemicals used by the JPA; in conjunction with Operations and Maintenance teams, coordinates the first responder clean-up for hazardous waste spills/incidents; provides technical guidance in the clean-up and removal of hazardous materials/waste. 
10. Ensures that hazardous waste and surplus chemicals are disposed of in compliance with local and state regulations; prepares waste regulatory reports. 
11. Administers and ensures OSHA and Cal ARP compliance with the JPA’s Risk Management Plan for chemical storage and responses to accidental spills of regulated substances.
12. Advises management on technical and administrative matters related to occupational health, safety, and risk/loss management programs. Ensures Risk Management Plan is in compliance at all times.
13. Coordinates with Laboratory Supervisor to ensure compliance with OSHA regulation 29 CFR 1910.1450, Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories and developing and maintaining the Chemical Hygiene Plan.   
14. Oversees safety training and mandated training programs in compliance with local, state and federal laws. This includes quarterly confined space training and HAZWOPER training.
15. Oversees testing and certification requirements for industrial lifting equipment. 
16. Responds, investigates, and identifies all employee occupational health and safety complaints and hazard reporting; reports safety issues to Human Resources. 
17. Collaborates with management to review accidents, hazard complaints, incidents reports, injuries and near misses and investigates causes; identifies areas of high injury and accident ratings and develops safety programs to address them. 
18. In coordination with the appropriate administrator, oversees and manages loss control/safety, safety data sheet (SDS) and safety training database vendors, reconciles invoices and initiates payments for contracted services rendered. 
19. Administers and oversees Lockout/Tagout, Confined Space Entry, and National Fire Protection Association 70 safety programs in accordance with regulatory requirements. Manages small quantity generator to large generator complexities.
20. Coordinates regular Safety, Fire and Emergency Drills Annually for the Facility.
21. Coordinates with the Safety & Risk Manager, AWP Operations Supervisor, AWP Maintenance Supervisor, Laboratory Supervisor and Engineering and Compliance Manager to ensure compliance with safety, emergency preparedness and hazard/risk/loss control management programs, activities and associated training.
22. Participates in department, project and construction meetings to review designs and activities associated with JPA/District facilities and projects; attends conferences, trainings and seminars to keep abreast of industry practices, trends, health, safety, loss control legislative and regulatory changes; evaluates implications for JPA/District policies, programs and operations and recommends changes to ensure compliance. This includes Water Information Sharing and Analysis Center, Water Utility Safety Managers Association, Water Agency Emergency Collaborative, InfraGard and Public Agency Risk Management Association meetings.
23. Manages Cal-OSHA and Cal-ARP inspections and follow-up activity required.
24. Assists Safety & Risk Manager with WC, GL & Property Claims, Annual hearing exams for employees, annual insurance renewals, 1st and 3rd party claims handling, workers compensation claim handling, ADA Transition Plan Maintenance and FEMA & Cal-OES Grant Applications.
25. Performs other duties as required.

Knowledge of:

1. Operational characteristics, services, and activities of an occupational health, safety and loss control management program. 
2. Principles and practices of occupational health, safety, and loss control management. 
3. Principles, practices, methods and techniques of training. 
4. Methods and techniques of accident reporting and investigations. 
5. Principles and practices of program development and administration. 
6. Principles and practices of budget preparation and administration. 
7. Pertinent federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations relating to occupational health, safety, and loss control management.
8. Machine shop operation and safety;
9. Maintenance procedures and safety;
10. Hoisting equipment operation and safety;
11. Record keeping techniques;
12. Chemical handling and spill prevention, control and response;

Skills/Abilities:

1. Oversee and participate in the management of a comprehensive occupational health, safety, and loss control management program; 
2. Gather and analyze data and situations and make appropriate decisions; 
3. Prepare and present comprehensive, concise, clear oral and written reports; 
4. Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions implement recommendations in support of goals; 
5. Managing multiple tasks and responsibilities; 
6. Administering contracts; 
7. Understand, interpret, and apply applicable District and JPA policies, procedures and operational standards related to maintenance and machine shop operations and safety;
8. Safely operate various gas, diesel and electric powered vehicles;
9. Safe and proper operation of various types of hoist equipment, hand and power tools, gas and electric cutting and welding equipment, precision measuring devices, test meters, and gauges;
10. Using computers and related software applications;
11. Communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with co-workers, supervisor, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

Training/Experience Required:

1. High School Diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (G.E.D.);
2. Bachelor’s Degree in science, industrial hygiene, safety engineering, chemistry, toxicology, engineering or a closely related field plus 1-2 years of experience administering occupational health and safety programs; or and equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job as listed above.

Licensing Requirements:

1. Possession of a Valid California Driver’s License.

Please mention you found this employment opportunity on the CareersInGovernment.com job board.

As part of the East County Advanced Water Purification Project (ECAWP), Padre Dam is entering into an Administrative and Operating Services Agreement (Agreement) with the East County CAWP Joint Powers Authority (JPA). Padre Dam, as the contracted Administrator and Operator, will provide management, administrative, operations, maintenance and similar or related services for JPA owned ECAWPAWP facilities. The Administrator and Operator functions will require Padre Dam to hire additional personnel for the development period of the project, or until the Agreement to provide those services is otherwise terminated or not extended. Once the Agreement is terminated or expires, Padre Dam will no longer need the additional personnel and will no longer have the funding to support additional personnel. ECAWP Project Funded Employees will be specifically hired as employees for the duration of time that the District is providing Administrative and Operating Services, but those employees may perform any work for the District within their employment classification, not just work under the Agreement. ECAWP Project Funded Employees will be provided the same rights and benefits as other Permanent Padre Dam Employees, and be hired into the same classifications with the same salaries, except with respect to termination of employment if Padre Dam ceases to provide Administrator or Operator services to ECAWP.  The current Agreement is for a period of approximately ten years. External applicants will be considered contract employees.

If you are selected to move forward in the process, you may be invited to an interview in mid-October.