Safety and Training Specialist III

The City of Independence is seeking a highly skilled, detail-oriented, and motivated individual to serve as a Safety & Training Specialist III. This position plays a key role in planning, developing, and maintaining parts of the City's safety programs in compliance with established safety standards and any applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.

Supervision Received & Exercised

This position is under the general supervision of the Safety & Compliance Program Administrator and will work closely with Municipal Services management to control safety risks within the division, including water and wastewater utilities, stormwater systems, and street construction.

This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities.

Essential Functions

The Safety & Training Specialist may perform a combination of some or all of the following responsibilities and duties, and perform related duties as assigned.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Assists in planning, developing, and maintaining the Municipal Services department's safety programs in compliance with applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.
• Monitors compliance with Municipal Services safety policies and ensures documentation meets compliance standards, including Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) general industry and construction standards, or another applicable industry safety standard.
• Assists in designing, implementing, and monitoring safety related training that maximizes employee wellbeing, preserves organizational resources, and promotes regulatory compliance, including compiling metrics and maintaining monthly activity reports.
• Conducts safety audits on assigned projects by identifying, documenting, and recommending risk mitigation measures of hazardous/potentially hazardous conditions.
• Develops and maintains records for tracking employee injuries and illnesses and conducts investigations of accidents to identify causes and needed improvements in the safety program to prevent future accidents.
• Serves as facilitator of departmental safety committees. Facilitates monthly labor/management safety meetings and weekly safety talks. Conducts or assists with safety orientations.
• In partnership with Municipal Services management, establishes safety standards for work activities, equipment, machinery, buildings, and grounds. Participate in emergency planning efforts. Conducts inspections of department buildings and job sites to determine compliance with established safety standards and practices.
• Designs and produces internal and external communication materials as required. May assist multilevel leadership across the City in managing risk and hazard exposure to all City employees.
• Monitors changes in federal, state, and local regulations, as well as industry standard practices regarding safe working practices and hazardous material compliance. Maintains professional knowledge and skills by attending seminars and training programs and reading trade and professional journals and publications.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Environmental, Risk Management, Fire Protection, Emergency Management, or related field.

AND

Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in occupational safety and health.

OR

Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to nine (9) years of experience in occupational safety and health. Relevant professional certifications or specialized training programs may be credited as equivalent to multiple years of the required experience, depending on their scope and rigor.

Special Requirements and/or Qualifications:

Must have a valid driver's license.

Must complete NIMS training within six months of hire.

OSHA 500 or 501 Authorized Instructor, preferred.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities Required:

• Knowledge of principles and practices of safety, training, worker's compensation, loss prevention and corrective methods; recordkeeping, report preparation, filing methods and records management techniques; methods and techniques of research, statistical analysis and report presentation.
• Knowledge of applicable state, federal and local laws, rules and regulations such as Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P OSHA Excavations Standards, 29 CFR 1910.146 OSHA Confined Spaces Standard, 29 CFR 1910.147 OSHA Control of Hazardous Energy Lockout/Tagout Standard, NFPA 70E Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace; safe use of hazardous chemicals as obtained from 29 CFR 1910.1200 OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, 40-hour HAZWOPER, or US DOT PHMSA ERG.
• Knowledge of computer usage and applications related to the work (including Microsoft office suite); must demonstrate mastery of computer software which includes, but not limited to Outlook, Word, Excel, Visio, and PowerPoint.
• Must possess skills in understanding adult education training and program development; presentation experience; communicating clearly and effectively, orally and in writing; as well as successful interpersonal, analytical and organization skills.
• Skill in researching, compiling, and summarizing a variety of informational and statistical data and materials; organizing work, setting priorities, meeting critical deadlines, and following up assignments with minimal direction; conducting training classes.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operation and maintenance instructions, procedure manuals, and regulatory standards; speak effectively before groups of employees, supervisors, or managers; read, analyze, and interpret professional periodicals and journals, technical procedures, and government regulations; write reports, correspondence, procedure manuals, and training materials; apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations; work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

Frequently required to stand, walk, and sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; talk or hear; lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Office environment, typically moderately quiet. Occasionally exposed to outdoor weather conditions, work near moving mechanical parts, traffic, water, toxic or caustic chemicals, and risk of electrical shock.

Drug Testing

Background Check

In addition to the application, testing and/or examinations may be required for further consideration on this position.

Position Open until Filled.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The City of Independence is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and it is our policy to provide equal opportunity to all people without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, age, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, citizenship status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other legally protected category. The City of Independence is a background screening, drug-free workplace.

The City of Independence provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation in order to apply for a job, please submit your request to humanresources-coi@indepmo.org.

Disclaimer: The above statements describe the general nature, level, and type of work performed by the incumbent(s) assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, demands, and skills required of personnel so classified. Job descriptions are not intended to and do not imply or create any employment, compensation, or contract rights to any person or persons. Management reserves the right in coordination with the governing union (if applicable) to add, delete, or modify any and/or all provisions of this description at any time as needed without notice. This job description supersedes earlier versions.