Occupational Health & Safety Administrator - The Metropolitan District Commission

The Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) provides quality water supply, water pollution control, mapping, and household hazardous waste collection to eight member municipalities: Bloomfield, East Hartford, Hartford, Newington, Rocky Hill, West Hartford, Wethersfield and Windsor. Additionally, the MDC provides drinking water to portions of Farmington, Glastonbury, East Granby and South Windsor, known as the MDC's non-member towns.

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JOB SUMMARY

The purpose of this classification is to perform professional-level work to administer, oversee, and improve health and safety programs for the District and to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local health & safety regulations for the entire District. Work involves accessing various work sites and facilities to identify possible work-related safety risks and assist in designing protocols to help mitigate risk. Administer safety programs for District employees, leadership and departments to help train and support employees in the safe operation of job tasks. Work involves developing and implementing safety training programs and analyzing, identifying and developing recommendations to reduce risk and improve overall health and safety.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Oversees, develops, coordinates and implements safety and health programs for the purpose of reducing workplace injuries and illnesses; develops and conducts risk management programs including safety, hazardous materials, medical testing, and driver improvement; develops training materials; distributes supervisors' monthly training session materials upon request; and coordinates and conducts safety training classes for a wide variety of departments.

• Conducts safety studies and reviews: conducts in-depth facility safety audits; conducts on-site visits and inspections at District and contractor work sites; conducts job hazard analyses for operating positions; conducts ergonomic reviews for employees; conducts air quality samplings and noise level surveys; and provides recommendations to improve job site safety, reduce risk, and implement safer work practices as appropriate.

• Develops and updates Emergency Action Plans for all District locations. Works with local municipalities on emergency management issues.

• Assists in the coordination and implementation of District-wide safety compliance policies, procedures, standards and licenses. Maintains EH&S programs, procedures, systems and protocols that promote health and safety of individuals to comply with applicable regulations. Assists in monitoring health and safety standards and in compliance with various compliance agencies including but not limited to OSHA, DPH, DEEP and EPA. Assists with District-wide regulatory compliance policies, procedures, standards and licenses.

• Identifies strengths and weaknesses pertaining to safety measures; reviews monthly facility safety inspection reports; monitors effectiveness of safety programs; and implements changes to improve program effectiveness and results. Assists departments with safety related equipment inspections, repairs and recertifications.

• Serves as a resource in the development, implementation and sustainability of various District safety initiatives. Implements initiatives and programs that encourage employee involvement in identifying and mitigating safety and health hazards and risks.

• Reviews all accident/investigation reports; gathers and reviews information about losses and accidents; prepares incident reports; conducts safety investigations of occupational injuries. Serve as an active participant on various District committees including but not limited to safety committees and attends quarterly workers compensation safety meetings throughout District. Maintains OSHA 300 Log of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses for each District location.

• Reviews workers compensation injury claims information provided from Human Resources and the Third-Party Claims Administrator and prepares and submits required injury and illness data to OSHA and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

• Investigates complex incidents, injuries, exposures, illnesses and complaints and responds to emergency situations as needed.

• Performs safety reviews of District construction contract documents and drawings to verify there are adequate details and language in the contract as it pertains to safety of employees, contractor employees, pedestrians, and the public. Provides technical information to engineers and project managers to enhance safety requirements on District projects. Reviews contractors' health and safety program submittals to screen and approve contractors prior to doing work for the District.

• Establishes and maintains records, files, databases; and documentation for safety and health programs and operations; maintains safety and administrative procedures; and researches information in files, records and databases and prepares reports from same.

• Manages a web-based Learning Management System to plan, coordinate and implement safety training courses and curricula to all District employees. Develops course content and materials and creates training programs with appropriate software. Assess employee safety training needs, conduct training and/or coordinate training by other instructors, manage training resources and maintain training records. Analyzes training completion rates and works with supervision to correct employee deficiencies.

• Manages and oversees critical safety programs including but not limited to lockout tagout, fall protection, confined space and excavation and trenching. Manage safety testing such as required industrial hearing tests and respirator use programs.

• Regularly reviews OSHA for new standards and for changes in existing health and safety standards and administers applicable changes to the District health and safety programs.

• Assists with budget preparation regarding health and safety training programs and for budgeting for new and replacement of safety equipment.

• Provides technical information to leadership, managers, supervisors and employees regarding safety and loss control issues.

• Performs other related duties as required.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Works under the general direction of the Manager of Environment, Health & Safety.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's degree in occupational health and safety or safety management or a related field; supplemented by five (5) years previous experience conducting safety programs and training; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Must have a valid driver's license.

Must obtain OSHA HAZWOPER certification and OSHA construction and general industry training within six (6) months of hire.

PERFORMANCE APTITUDES

Data Utilization: Requires the ability to evaluate, audit, deduce, and/or assess data and/or information using established criteria. Includes exercise of discretion in determining actual or probable consequences, and in referencing such evaluation to identify and select alternatives.

Human Interaction: Requires the ability to apply principles of persuasion and/or influence over others in coordinating activities of a project, program, or designated area of responsibility.

Equipment, Machinery, Tools, and Materials Utilization: Requires the ability to operate, maneuver and/or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions.

Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, advisory and/or design data and information.

Mathematical Aptitude: Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; ability to calculate decimals and percentages; and may require ability to utilize principles of fractions and/or interpret graphs.

Functional Reasoning: Requires ability to apply principles of rational systems. Ability to interpret instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule form. Ability to exercise independent judgment to adopt or modify methods and standards to meet variations in assigned objectives.

Situational Reasoning: Requires the ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness and creativity required in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental, or subjective criteria, as opposed to that which is clearly measurable or verifiable.

ADA COMPLIANCE

Physical Ability: Tasks involve the ability to exert moderate, though not constant physical effort, typically involving some combination of climbing and balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and crawling, and which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of moderate weight (12-20 pounds).

Sensory Requirements: Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate depth, texture, and visual and/or auditory cues or signals. Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally.

Environmental Factors: Tasks may risk exposure to temperature, weather extremes, strong odors, toxic or poisonous agents, smoke, dust, pollen, wildlife, disease, blood, bodily fluids, electric currents, machinery or traffic hazards.

The Metropolitan District Commission is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Commission will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.