Safety and Health Specialist

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

SAFETY SPECIALIST 2

Safety and Health Specialist

$44,820 to $65,940/Year

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Health and Safety Section of DEQ’s Management Services Division (MSD) is recruiting to fill a full-time Safety Specialist 2 position located in Portland. The MSD assists the Department in achieving its mission by providing central management services for the agency in accounting, budgeting, data processing, word processing, purchasing, property control, health & safety, intergovernmental coordination and pollution bond fund and tax credit program assistance. 

One of the Programs receiving services from MSD and in particular from the Health and Safety Specialist is the Vehicle Inspection Program. The Vehicle Inspection Program is a highly technical program working with continually evolving technology creating potential challenges and hazards to the program's employees. 

The purpose of this job is to develop and oversee ongoing safety, health and security programs for the Vehicle Inspection Program. The position supports DEQ in performing various tasks intended to develop, improve and implement safety programs, processes and procedures. The position represents management’s interest in safety issues and effectively recommends management actions and policies for implementation.

BENEFITS OF WORKING FOR DEQ 

The Department of Environmental Quality is a regulatory agency whose job is to protect the quality of Oregon’s environment.

DEQ offers an attractive cafeteria-style benefits package, which includes liberal employer contributions toward a variety of medical/vision/dental plans covering employees, dependents, and domestic partners. For a summary of benefits, please refer to: http://www.deq.state.or.us/msd/hr/benefits.htm.

AS A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT

As a DEQ employee, you are required to maintain a drug/alcohol free workplace in accordance with Department Policy and the 1988 Drug Free Workplace Act. 

TO QUALIFY

Your PD100 application form will be reviewed to verify that you meet the qualifications stated in this section. To receive credit, your application form must clearly show that you have:A Bachelor's Degree in Safety, Industrial Hygiene, or related field; and two years of experience in Workers' Compensation insurance loss prevention or as an occupational health and safety representative in an industrial, manufacturing, government, utilities, institutional, or agricultural setting. 

ORFive years of experience in developing employee training programs or internal procedures, interpreting occupational or environmental regulations, or consulting with public or private sector employers regarding occupational or environmental health or safety issues. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential to this position.

NOTE: In the "Work History" section on your application, you must clearly describe your experience in the areas listed. Failure to provide this information may result in eliminating your application from further consideration. 

IF YOU QUALIFY

Please see the TEST SECTION of this announcement. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES – include but are not limited to:Work with program managers to develop, implement and monitor health and safety programs, including but not limited to: hazard communication, premises safety, and ergonomics. Research and keep current on state-of-the-art safety management principles. Maintain current expertise on all the state/federal safety, health, and security standards that apply to DEQ activities. Investigate health and safety concerns and makes recommendations based on findings. Research, analyze, and prepare proposals to address health, safety and security issues in collective bargaining. Travel by state-owned motor vehicle to VIP Clean Air Inspection Stations and other DEQ facilities as assigned to perform safety management tasks. Collaborate with the VIP Training Manager to assure the implementation of a safety, health, and security training program for the VIP program. Conduct health and safety training needs assessments and make recommendations. Participates in and provides guidance to the Department’s safety committees. Develop a system to detect and evaluate safety hazards and recommend hazard abatement projects and monitoring programs to reduce or eliminate accidents and injuries.  Conduct industrial hygiene surveys to monitor employee exposure to hazardous conditions, and recommend health and safety strategies.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Principally an office position, however the person in this position has exposure to occasional hazards through hazard identification and assessment. Conducts periodic field visits, including sites containing hazardous materials, to audit Agency compliance with applicable health and safety requirements or to provide technical assistance to achieve compliance.

Employee is required to drive a State-owned vehicle and therefore must have a valid drivers’ license and acceptable driving record.

THIS IS THE TEST

YOU MUST ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. 

Use a separate piece of paper. Limit your answer to each question to no more than one page per question. Describe work experience (paid or unpaid) and training that you have that is related to each question. Be sure that the jobs where you gained experience are listed in the Work History action of your PD-100 application form. Your grade will be based upon both the content and clarity of your answers. Attach the answer sheet(s) to your application. Your application will not be accepted if it is incomplete.Describe a recent situation where you explored, recommended and acted upon new ideas and creative strategies that met customer needs. Describe your vision for a cost-effective Health & Safety Program and the actions you would take to partner with others to make the Health & Safety program an integral, strategic component of DEQ’s daily operations. 

APPLICATIONS - How to apply

OBTAIN a State of Oregon Employment Application (form PD100) and submit it to the Department of Environmental Quality, Human Resources Office 811 SW Sixth Ave., Portland OR 97204. If you have a disability and need assistance completing the application form (PD100), you may call DEQ Human Resources at 229-5382 or TTY 229-6993 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. You may FAX application materials, to (503) 229-5787 or email them to jobs@deq.state.or.us Application materials must be received by 5 p.m. on the close date and must be complete and legible.

NOTICE of results will be sent by mail. Although agencies are not required to delay their selection process, you may request a review of the results. Your request must be received within 10 days from the date of the notice. Additional information cannot be accepted. However, if the recruitment is still open, you may submit a new application which must be received in our office by April 17, 2008 .

SUBMIT only the required materials. Reference letters or work examples should be kept for interviews.

KEEP a copy of your application for job interviews. COPIES ARE NOT PROVIDED. The pay on all announcements may change without notice.

CURRENT JOB openings at DEQ are available by calling the JOBLINE at (503) 229-5785, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week and INTERNET address http://www.deq.state.or.us/msd/hr/jobs.asp TTY access is available at (503) 229-6993 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY APRIL 17, 2008 
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER