See Occupational Safety and Health Specialist 1.

This is the journey level of the series. Positions at this level apply professional working knowledge of occupational safety and health laws, rules regulations and codes by developing and/or implementing safety, health, and industrial hygiene programs to comply with state and federal requirements.

Manages, conducts, and coordinates a comprehensive occupational safety, health, and industrial hygiene 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 and promotes agency safety rules and policies;

Reviews accident investigations for proper corrective or preventive actions; recommends solutions for controlling accidents and injuries; assesses and confers with higher level positions within the series if a case is reportable or recordable in compliance with reporting requirements;

Conducts inspections/evaluations of workplaces, equipment and environment of safety practices and compliance and to assess existing and potential safety and health hazards;;

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 federal and state requirements, building codes, and other appropriate codes, regulations and standards;

Identifies and evaluates situations of unsafe equipment or work practices; determines the necessity to stop unsafe work in the interim until such time confirmation can be authorized by a higher-level employee per agency/institution policy;

Collects air and bulk samples of dusts, mists, fumes, gases, vapors and other hazardous materials; measures noise frequency and intensity; measures air flows, temperatures, chemical contamination and evaluates ventilation; uses equipment to identify and measure specific contaminants and physical hazards;

May perform simple laboratory procedures and occasionally participates in complex analyses or experiments;

Analyzes survey and laboratory data and reviews appropriate literature to formulate conclusions about type and extent of exposure to occupational health hazards;

Determines type and extent of procedures or controls necessary to minimize occupational health hazards and writes reports of investigation and recommendations; typical recommendations include change in ventilation, personal protective equipment, including respirators and hearing protection, reduction of noise or vibration, ergonomics, substitution or elimination of chemicals, processes or procedures;

Conducts required and voluntary fit testing for use of respirators and self-contained breathing apparatus;

Reviews engineering drawings and specifications; recommends modifications to minimize environmental/occupational health hazards;

Maintains, calibrates, and repairs industrial hygiene equipment;

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; provides training, presentations, and workshops for assigned areas;

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

Presents written and oral reports covering the inspection/consultation performed, the conclusions reached and the minimum standards which must be met; advises regarding probable abatement strategies; follows up to check progress and effectiveness of changes instituted;
Conducts/monitors accident/injury/illness investigations;

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

Supports efforts in response to tort claims and other litigation or legal activities;

Performs other duties as required.

Knowledge of: principles and practices of employee and public safety and health administration including safety and health education and training, industrial hygiene, 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; sampling and direct measuring techniques for chemical and physical hazards; industrial processes and occupational hazards; common industrial chemicals, chemical by-products and their air contamination potential; hazard potential of dusts, gases, vapors, noise and non-ionizing radiation; routine analytical procedures.

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; communicate clearly; explain technical procedures and findings; establish and maintain effective working relationships; use industrial hygiene sampling equipment such as gas and vapor detectors, noise dosimeters and direct reading instruments; speak effectively; write clear, concise reports.

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.

Some positions may require certification as a Certified Safety Professional granted by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals and/or Certified Industrial Hygienist granted by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene.

Persons legally authorized to work in the U.S. under federal law, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, are eligible for employment unless prohibited by other state or federal law.

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 of the three years of the above professional work experience requirement.

Equivalent education/experience.

New class, consolidates 2688 Safety Professional II, 43940 Safety Officer 2; adopted May 10, 2007, effective July 1, 2007.
Revised Legal Requirements; effective June 6, 2024, due to adopted legislative action.
Revised job title, definition, distinguishing characteristics, typical work, knowledge and abilities, legal requirements and desirable qualifications; added class series concept; base range increase from 53 to 58; adopted June 23, 2025; effective July 1, 2025.