Definition

Positions develop and administer environmental health and accident prevention programs for employee, student, and visitor protection.

Positions may also administer an agency/institution’s comprehensive employee occupational safety and health program to comply with state, and the Department of Labors’ Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) and the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA) rules, regulations and codes including developing and implementing any agency or geographic unique safety and health programs.

Distinguishing Characteristics

Positions at this level are structured in one of four ways: 

1.        Located in the agency’s central office, manages an agency/institution’s total Safety and Health program, or as a statewide assignment manages a major component which is characterized as a subprogram of the agency’s total safety and health program, i.e., accident investigations and work site surveys, ergonomics, compliance audits, infectious diseases, blood-borne pathogens, etc.

OR

2.        Manages an agency’s total Safety and Health program for a region within the Department of Transportation or Department of Corrections. 

OR

3.        Manages an agency’s total Safety and Health program for two regions within the Department of Social and Health Services. 

OR

4.        Manages an agency’s total safety and health program for multiple institutions in the Department of Corrections.

Typical Work

Manages, conducts, and coordinates a comprehensive occupational safety and health program for a district or region to comply with agency program requirements;

Develops and implements safety programs for institutional employees, students, and visitors;

Reviews reports and evaluates data concerning occupational injuries and public liability accidents; determines necessity and scope of further investigation;

Directs the activities of a hazardous waste disposal program;

Ensures maintenance of all records for the safety and health program performance analysis statistics, technical publications, reports of inspections, accident investigations, safety meeting minutes and other program related data and correspondence;

Advises the managers, supervisory staff, safety committee and employees as to program status and performance;

Confers with and advises managers, supervisors, and employees on occupational safety and health activities, problems and needs;

Implements agency safety rules and policies;

Reviews accident investigations for proper corrective or preventive actions; recommends solutions for controlling accidents and injuries;

Conducts local facility/unit inspections of safety practices and facilities compliance; conducts interviews with employees, supervisors and management personnel in order to identify unsafe practices, establish strategy for suitable corrective measures to manage the risk of accident and injury losses in accordance with OSHA, WISHA, NFPA, IMR, JCAH, building codes, and other appropriate codes, regulations and standards;

Conducts safety studies and analysis; develops disaster plans, emergency response and evacuation plans/procedures, hazard reporting/identification procedures, local occupational safety and health policy;

Designs and implements special emphasis safety awareness efforts;

Reviews and processes accident/injury reports pertaining to job related injuries/illnesses;

Conducts/monitors accident/injury/illness investigations;

Administers institution safety awards/recognition program; promotes employee/ supervisor communication; monitors maintenance of safety bulletin boards;

Performs other duties as required.

Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge of: principles and practices of employee and public safety and health administration including safety and health education and training, accident investigation, self inspection, record keeping, publicity, safety committee operation and other services common to employee and public safety; principles and practices of organization and management.

Ability to: interpret safety rules and policies; establish and maintain a safe and healthful working environment within the assigned institution, maintain effective working relationships with officials, employees and the public; analyze and resolve a variety of safety and health problems; speak and write clearly.

Legal Requirement(s)

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

Desirable Qualifications

A Bachelor's degree in occupational safety and health, safety studies, natural science, business or public administration, education or allied field.

AND

Three years of professional experience in occupational safety and health programs. 

A Master’s degree in occupational safety and health, safety studies, natural science, business or public administration, education or allied field may be substituted for two years of the above professional work experience requirement.

OR

Equivalent education/experience.

Class Specification History

New class, consolidates 2688 Safety Professional II, 43940 Safety Officer 2; adopted May 10, 2007, effective July 1, 2007.