Safety Specialist - Ashland Inc

Are you the kind of person that is always thinking, sketching, seeking, and adjusting? Who needs to understand how things work and then figure out how they can work better? Are you a passionate, tenacious, solver who loves to work with others who share your drive? Are you positive, constructive, and ingenious?

Are you always solving?

Then we'd like to meet you and bet you'd like to meet us.

Ashland has an exciting opportunity for a Safety Specialist to join our Ashland, Inc., ISP Technologies, Inc. business at our Texas City, Texas plant. This has a visible, significant role within the company and its manufacturing function. This position will report to the Health, Safety, and Training Manager.

The responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Drive continuous safety improvement through regular engagement and coaching of employees and contractors at all levels.
• Improve employee safety behavior through teaching, leading and one-on-one interaction. Ensure all employees work safely, follow procedures and do not take unsafe/unauthorized short cuts.
• Lead and provide expert, hands-on, technical solutions for safety issues, programs and processes involving compliance with standards and policies.
• Recognize existing and potential safety hazards.
• Develop site safety procedures and programs with a management systems focus.
• Develop partnerships with employee and contractor stakeholders.
• Communicate and implement procedures and programs to site employees and contractors.
• Develop and implement meaningful and insightful analysis of safety-related performance metrics, including analysis of internal, Ashland corporate, and industry benchmark data.
• Coordinate and perform monthly training for Emergency Response Team, and coordinate training for continuing education for EMTs and ECAs.
• Provide support to Fire Chief during emergencies in the facility and in planning and preparation for such emergencies. Oversee preventative maintenance on emergency vehicles and ensure equipment is in good working order.
• Lead Safety initiatives to improve Company performance and contribute to compliance with State/Federal regulations.
• Keep manager informed on site safety or emergency response issues, audits and new program implementations.
• Participate in the Plant Safety Committee and Lifting Team.
• Stay knowledgeable about all federal, state, and local regulations pertaining to safety and health issues and ensure compliance in each of these areas.
• Participate in internal and external safety, health, and management system audits and regulatory inspections.
• Participate in investigations related to actual or potential (near hit) injuries or loss events of varying severity.
• Develop and provide employee training on various health and safety topics, including new employee onboarding, refresher training, and new program implementation.
• Participate in designing and implementing RC-14001 health, safety, security, and environmental management system.
• Promote ACC Responsible Care initiatives through leadership and participation in the community and organizations such as the Texas City/La Marque Community Advisory Council, Texas Chemical Council and the Texas City Safety Council.
• Interface with plant nurse concerning applicable First Aids and Recordable incidents for Ashland employees and contractors.
• Monitor contractor activities to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and Ashland Safety standards.
• Coordinate site industrial hygiene program, oversee industrial hygiene surveys and improvements as necessary throughout the plant. Conduct exposure assessments and ergonomic evaluations. Select, specify, and recommend personal protective equipment.
• Participate in the approval program for bringing new chemicals and materials on site, including analyzing SDS(s) to determine safe handling and PPE requirements.
• Lead formal and informal audits of safe work permits and permit systems.
• Spend substantial time (>50%) in the field as a visible safety presence and resource.

In order to be qualified for this role, you must possess the following:

• Associate of Science degree in at least one field of proficiency such as Occupational/Industrial Safety, Engineering, Industrial Hygiene, or related discipline.
• Must be familiar with chemical plant operations, safety policies and procedures, and OSHA regulations.
• Attend assigned training opportunities delegated by the Health, Safety & Training Manager.
• Knowledge of current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), Train the Trainer concepts, budget preparation, and cost control methods.
• Possess training skills and be able to effectively interface with site employees at all levels.
• Prior Emergency Response Team Experience (preferably in a chemical manufacturing environment).
• Able to respond appropriately during site emergencies as directed by the Site Emergency Manager. Including responding to weekend phone calls, callouts or onsite emergencies.
• Capable of evacuating the manufacturing process areas in a timely manner should an emergency arise.
• Wear and properly utilize appropriate personal protective equipment if required to work or visit within the manufacturing process area.
• Required to walk, climb stairs, bend, stoop, kneel, or reach depending on the work activity required. Job is performed in a plant environment with frequent visits in the operating areas.
• Prior Fire Suppression system experience in a chemical manufacturing environment.
• Possess ability to 1) identify critical issues and formulate action plans with all levels of management, including Ashland corporate personnel, 2) develop and foster a positive work environment at all levels, and 3) resolve conflicts through problem resolution skills.
• Possess ability to identify quality improvement opportunities and formulate action plans for implementation.
• Must be authorized to work in the US.
• Travel required within Texas and possibly in the United States of America.

The following skill sets are preferred by the business unit:

• Bachelor of Science degree in safety, engineering, or related discipline.
• Designation as a Certified Safety Professional through the Board of Certified Safety Professionals.
• Prior experience working with regulatory agencies.
• Six Sigma certification.
• OSHA 1910/1926 Outreach Trainer.
• Prior experience in a petrochemical plant environment and experience in a safety role.

Perks of working at Ashland:

• Team recognition rewards and monetary incentives based on performance.
• Comprehensive Benefit package, Medical, Dental and Vision starting on Day 1 for you AND your family, including a 401(k) plan with company match.
• Position is based at the Texas City manufacturing plant.

Third party recruiters and agencies ("Agency") should not contact employees of Ashland or its subsidiaries directly. Any resumes sent by an Agency to a hiring manager, recruiter or submitted to Ashland's career portal are considered unsolicited and property of Ashland. Ashland will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume, unless the Agency has a signed contract with Ashland's Human Resources/Procurement department in advance of submitting a candidate for consideration. Verbal and written approvals will not be considered a valid contract for service.

In more than 100 countries, the people of Ashland LLC. (NYSE: ASH) provide the specialty chemicals, technologies and insights to help customers create new and improved products for today and sustainable solutions for tomorrow. Our chemistry is at work every day in a wide variety of markets and applications, including architectural coatings, automotive, construction, energy, personal care and pharmaceutical. Visit www.ashland.com to see the innovations we offer.

At Ashland our vision is to be a leading, global specialty chemicals company whose inspired and engaged employees add value to all we touch. In fact our people, employees, customers and vendors define who we are. They are the driving force behind everything we do.

Not only do we value our customers but we value our employees, and we work to offer them a dynamic and challenging environment. We hold ourselves to high standards at Ashland, and we value integrity and honesty.

Ashland has a history of attracting the best people and keeping them. The reasons are simple: industry competitive salary and benefits, pay-for-performance incentive plans and a diverse work environment where employees feel challenged and valued. People come to Ashland and stay. As a growing Fortune 500 specialty chemicals company, we offer opportunities for development and advancement throughout our global organization. Our values define who we are and what we care about as a company. If you are looking for a relationship with a company instead of simply a job, this may be a great fit.

Ashland is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled/Gender Identity/Sexual Orientation.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. NOTE: We do not accept resumes from external staffing agencies or independent recruiters for any of our openings unless we have a signed recruiting agreement in place to fill a specific position.