12/12/2006 71900

SAFETY MANAGEMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SPECIALIST

DEFINITION: This is responsible administrative and technical work in the development, implementation, monitoring, coordination and evaluation of a comprehensive safety management and environmental protection program in the Department of Corrections or the Department of Public Welfare.

An employee in this job plans, develops, organizes, coordinates and evaluates a major segment of the statewide safety management and environmental protection program for all department sites and field facilities. Work involves screening, interpreting and analyzing local, state and federal laws and regulations, life safety codes and accreditation requirements; establishing departmental safety and environmental protection standards and procedures; conducting comprehensive management reviews and studies of safety and environmental conditions at office sites and field facilities, preparing reports of findings and recommendations, and monitoring follow-up actions; establishing and implementing automated reporting systems and performing statistical analysis of the department's accident and hazardous substance data; and developing criteria for specifications required for contracting safety services and equipment and reviewing proposed contracts to ensure costs and specifications are appropriate. Work includes providing consultation and technical assistance to office managers and facility management staff on the methods and techniques for preventing, responding to and reporting accidents, fires and hazardous substance problems; ensuring that regularly scheduled inspections, surveys and analyses are conducted on environmental conditions and practices; identifying training needs and developing and conducting instructional conferences; and participating in labor relations meetings to address technical safety issues. In addition, the work includes identifying and determining the extent of hazardous substance conditions, initiating and coordinating containment and clean- up efforts, and establishing and leading special emergency response teams which involves maintaining liaison with outside agencies. Administrative oversight is exercised statewide over employees responsible for safety management functions. Work is performed with considerable independence under the direction of an administrative supervisor and is reviewed through conferences, reports and results attained.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Plans, develops, coordinates and evaluates major segment of the statewide safety management and environmental protection program activities, such as accident prevention, fire prevention and protection, vehicle driver safety, environmental hazardous substance control, and an emergency response system.

Analyzes and interprets various federal, state and local laws and regulations, the Right-To-Know Act, life safety codes, and accreditation requirements.

Develops departmental safety and environmental protection policies and standards.

Develops methods and procedures for implementing the safety management and environmental protection program including guidelines for establishing safe work practices and hazardous substance identification and evaluation response procedures at all facilities operated by the Department.

Conducts comprehensive management reviews of office sites and field facilities to ensure compliance with Departmental safety and environmental program requirements, applicable safety and fire codes, and regulations of Federal, state and local agencies.

Responds to specific environmental and/or safety issues/problems and complaints by conducting investigations, researching issues, interviewing staff, preparing reports of findings and recommendations, and monitoring corrective actions.

Develops and implements automated reporting systems and a data bank for use by facility and headquarters staff in tracking, inputting and compiling data and statistics on the wide range of safety and hazardous substance occurrences.

Establishes administrative procedures for the collection, analysis and dissemination of accident, fire, and hazardous substance data for use in refining accident prevention, fire protection, vehicle driver safety and hazardous substance control programs, and for the identification of training needs.

Reviews safety practices and environmental conditions at departmental work sites and recommends measures to be taken to eliminate hazards or unsafe practices or conditions.

Develops and conducts training courses and conferences for department employees on a wide range of safety and environmental topics such as the usage of equipment in asbestos abatement and respiration protection.

Conducts inspections of equipment utilized in environmental monitoring and clean-up activities.

Identifies and determines the extent of hazardous substance conditions, including asbestos, infectious wastes, explosives, chemical spills, and toxic gases and initiating and coordinating containment and clean-up efforts.

Contacts outside agencies and specialists during emergency situations at departmental sites and establishes and directs special response teams.

Confers with federal, state and local government officials, program heads, facility management staff and other outside officials regarding safety management and environmental protection needs of the Department.

Reviews construction and renovation plans and provides input regarding the impact on environmental and safety conditions.

Provides oversight and guidance to fire and safety managers and other employees engaged in such functions.

Represents the Department at meetings and conferences on safety management and environmental protection functions at the local, state and national levels and makes presentations as requested.

Reviews proposed legislation and regulations and prepares comments on possible impacts on the safety management and environmental protection programs.

Participates in labor relations meetings as the Department's representative on issues involving environmental and safety matters and grievances.

An employee in this job may participate in the performance of their subordinates' work consistent with operational or organizational requirements.

Performs related duties as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, and ABILITIES: Knowledge of established fire, safety and environmental protection standards, practices, procedures and techniques.

Knowledge of the engineering aspects of buildings and equipment as they relate to safety management and accident prevention.

Knowledge of the underlying human factors affecting safety.

Knowledge of hazardous substances and the detrimental effects in the workplace.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques in collecting, reviewing, and analyzing fire, safety, and environmental hazardous conditions to determine extent of potential danger.

Knowledge of the principles and methods in collecting, reviewing, analyzing and interpreting statistical data.

Knowledge of the principles and practices of employee training as they relate to accident prevention, fire prevention and safety.

Knowledge of interviewing procedures and techniques used to obtain information from individuals.

Ability to identify safety training needs and to develop and conduct training programs to meet those needs.

Ability to interpret safety guidelines.

Ability to analyze and evaluate environmental protection and safety programs for effectiveness and compliance with regulations/laws and accreditation requirements.

Ability to interpret statistical data.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Ability to communicate effectively orally.

Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: Four years of professional experience in developing or evaluating an environmental protection or safety management program, which included one year in a supervisory or consultative capacity, and a bachelors degree;

                                                                                                                                                        or

An equivalent combination of training and professional experience in an environmental protection or safety management program which includes one year of supervisory or consultative experience.