Job & Business Opportunities

Job Summary

This is the advanced journey-level classification in the Safety Specialist series. Under general supervision, the Senior Safety Specialist is responsible for the development, implementation and monitoring of safety programs to achieve regulatory compliance and ensure performance to District standards.

Supervision

Supervision Received: N/A

Supervision Exercised: N/A

Distinguishing Characteristics

Employees at this level are distinguished from other classes within the series by any of the following level of responsibility assumed, complexity of duties assigned, independence of action taken by the nature of public contact made, and by the direct supervision provided to lower level professional staff. Employees perform the most difficult and responsible types of duties assigned to classes within this series including serving as the lead staff on projects.

Essential Functions

Implements and monitors comprehensive environmental, health, and safety programs. Develops and coordinates activities to prevent or correct unsafe working conditions utilizing knowledge of industrial health and safety laws.

Inspects District facilities, equipment, and working conditions to identify and correct potential hazards. Investigates reports of unsafe conditions and industrial incidents. Determines requirements for safety clothing and devices. Revises safety plans. Reviews plans, diagrams and projects, including building construction/remodels, roadwork, etc. Inventories hazardous materials, waste, and substances handled and stored by various departments. Conducts tests and field investigations using precision instruments to obtain data to determine sources and methods of controlling hazardous substances in air, water, and soil. Collects samples of potentially hazardous materials for analysis. Stores and retrieves data using computer. Compiles, analyzes, and interprets data to assess regulatory compliance. Prepares complex technical reports, including observations, analysis of contaminants, and recommendations for control and correction of hazards. Develops and distributes accident investigation reports. Informs personnel and assists in development of corrective action. Reviews effectiveness of remediation effort. Maintains liaison with technical professionals and various governmental agencies to ensure local environmental quality standards, industrial practices, and new developments, and to provide technical assistance. Coordinates inter-agency projects including drills. Provides oversight of District construction projects with regards to safety conditions. Conducts training on safety-related topics. Plans prioritizes, assigns, supervises and reviews work of staff; provides or coordinates staff training; works with employees to correct deficiencies. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Job Demands

Physical and Mental Requirements:
Work is primarily performed indoors, although field surveys and site inspections require outside work with exposure to varying weather conditions. While performing the duties of the job, the incumbent must regularly:

• See, frequently walk, talk, and hear.


• Occasionally stand, sit, smell, use hands and fingers to manipulate objects, tools, or controls.


• Climb ramps, stairs, and ladders.


• Use arm/hand and leg/foot to control machinery.


• Lift and/or move up to 30 pounds


• Specific vision abilities include near acuity and color discrimination.


• Work environment has frequent exposure to fumes, odors, gases, airborne particles and toxic/caustic chemicals.


• Occasional exposure to moving mechanical parts and slippery/uneven walking surfaces


• Intermittent exposure to vibration and loud noise.


• Necessary aptitudes include understanding of instructions, reason and make judgements, verbal, numeric, and spatial aptitudes, perception of detail in verbal.


• Understand tabular and graphic materials, finger and manual dexterity, general motor coordination, initiative, alertness, precision, analytic and problem solving ability, memory, concentration, judgement and patience.


• Must have the ability to meet deadlines.

Knowledge and Abilities

Required Knowledge of:

• Federal and state environmental, health, and safety regulations.


• District policies and procedures.


• Nationally recognized consensus standards.


• Monitoring equipment and precision instruments such as air monitor, water sampler, color metric tubes, noise dosimeter, combustible gas analyzer, etc.


• Safety procedures, equipment, and supplies.


• Loss control and prevention theories, principles, practices and techniques.


• Software and data processing applications.


• Principles and methods of supervision, training, motivation and counseling.

• Read, interpret, and apply state codes, standards, and regulations relating to environment, health, and safety.


• Learn transit related trade association guidelines.


• Learn techniques of accident investigation and prevention.


• Implement and monitor safety/loss control activities.


• Inspect and analyze occupational safety health related hazards.


• Coordinate instruction and training for environmental, health, and safety issues.


• Interact professionally with various levels of District employees and the public.


• Maintain confidentiality in handling documents and information.


• Communicate effectively in oral and written form.


• Work independently.


• Write complex technical reports, business correspondence and procedures.


• Define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.


• Plan, organize, develop and supervise the work of subordinate staff.

Minimum Qualifications — Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Required Prior Experience:
Four years professional work experience in environmental, health and/or safety program development and implementation. Emphasis with industrial hygiene preferred.

Required Prior Education:
Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in an Environmental Health or Safety Field.

Special Requirements:
Possession of a valid Class C California Driver's License.