08/20/2001 71910

SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM MANAGER

DEFINITION: This is responsible professional and managerial work directing safety management and environmental protection programs for the Department of Public Welfare (DPW).

The employee in this class plans, organizes, directs, develops, coordinates and evaluates the statewide safety management and environmental protection programs for all office sites and field facilities owned, leased, and operated or regulated by DPW. Work involves directing the review, interpretation, and analysis of applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations, life safety codes, and accreditation requirements; establishing Departmental safety and environmental protection standards; preparing reports of findings and recommendations; and monitoring follow-up actions. Work involves developing criteria for specifications required for contracting safety and environmental protection services and equipment; and reviewing and monitoring contracts to ensure costs, services, and specifications are in compliance with contract language and regulatory requirements. Work includes directing the consultation and technical assistance provided to program office managers on the methods and techniques for preventing and responding to emergencies, reporting accidents, fires, and hazardous substance problems; ensuring that regularly scheduled inspections, surveys, and analyses are conducted on environmental practices and conditions; identifying training needs and developing and conducting instructional conferences; directing the identification and determination of the extent of hazardous substance and infectious waste conditions; initiating and coordinating containment and clean-up efforts; and establishing and leading special emergency response teams, which involves maintaining liaison with outside agencies. Important aspects of the work include developing and monitoring the annual budgets and directing the operations of the Asbestos and Lead Based Paint Abatement Training Center in accordance with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant and the interagency agreement; and participating in labor/management relations meetings to address technical safety issues. Supervision is exercised over a staff of professional and technical employees. Work is performed with a high degree of initiative and independent judgment under the general supervision of an administrative director through conferences, reports, and evaluation of results achieved.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Directs and participates in the planning, development, organization, coordination, and evaluation of the statewide DPW safety management and environmental protection programs.

Directs and participates in the analysis and interpretation of various Federal, state, and local laws and regulations, the Right-to-Know Act, building and life safety codes, and accreditation requirements.

Develops Departmental safety and environmental protection policies and standards.

Directs the development of methods and procedures for implementing the safety management and environmental protection program.

Directs the development of the guidelines for establishing safety rules, safe work practices, and hazardous substance identification.

Evaluates emergency response procedures at all office sites and facilities owned, leased and operated by DPW.

Directs and participates in the conduct of comprehensive management reviews of DPW office sites and field facilities to ensure compliance with departmental safety and environmental protection program requirements, applicable life safety and fire codes, and regulations of Federal, state and local agencies.

Recommends measures to be taken to eliminate and dispose infectious waste, hazardous materials, or unsafe practices or conditions.

Responds or directs the response to specific environmental protection and/or safety issues/problems.

Establishes administrative procedures for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of accident data, hazardous substance information, fire prevention/protection methods and techniques, vehicle driver safety, and infectious waste/hazardous substance control programs.

Identifies safety and environmental protection related training needs.

Provides consultation and technical assistance to program office staff on methods and techniques of preventing and/or responding to and reporting accidents, fires and hazardous substance, and environmental safety problems.

Directs the development and conduct of training courses and conferences on a wide range of safety and environmental topics.

Directs and manages the Asbestos and Lead Based Paint Abatement Training Center.

Identifies and determines the extent of hazardous substance and environmental conditions and coordinates emergency response to accidents for the containment and clean-up efforts.

Directs the efforts of outside agencies and workers during emergency situations at DPW 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.

Directs the development and review of contract specifications for safety- related services and equipment to ensure costs, contracted services, and contract language are in compliance with the governing mandates.

Directs and participates in the review of construction and renovation plans to make recommendations regarding the impact on environmental and safety conditions and issues.

Performs the full range of supervisory duties.

Provides administrative direction and technical assistance over facility safety managers, fire marshals, and other DPW employees engaged in safety management 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.

Directs and participates in labor relations meetings as the DPW representative on issues involving environmental and safety matters and grievances.

Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of Federal, state, and local fire, safety, and environmental protection standards, practices, procedures, and techniques.

Knowledge of management and administrative principles and procedures, particularly as related to program development and operation.

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

Knowledge of infectious waste, hazardous substances, and the possible detrimental effects at the workplace.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques used in conducting surveys of environmental hazardous conditions to determine extent of potential dangers.

Knowledge of the principles and methods applied 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 protection and safety.

Ability to plan, direct, develop, coordinate, implement and manage comprehensive safety management programs.

Ability to identify training needs and to develop, conduct and/or arrange training programs to meet those needs.

Ability to develop criteria, procedures and guidelines for use throughout the Department in the performance of job and area safety analysis.

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

Ability to obtain information through interview or investigation.

Ability to analyze statistical data and to develop sound conclusions and recommendations to reduce and eliminate losses as a result of fires, accidents and property damage.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with federal agencies such as the EPA and the Occupational Safety Health Administration, other state agencies, Departmental administrators and staff and local agencies.

Ability to plan, organize, and direct the work of subordinate staff.

Ability to communicate effectively; orally and in writing.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: One year as a Safety Management and Environmental Protection Specialist, DPW;

                                                                                                                                                                           or

Five years of professional experience in an organized environmental or safety program for a large industrial firm, public utility or government agency, that includes two years in an administrative or consultative capacity in planning, implementing, and directing an environmental and/or safety management program, and a bachelor's degree;

                                                                                                                                                                           or

An equivalent combination of experience and training that includes two years in an administrative or consultative capacity in planning, implementing and directing an environmental and/or safety management program.