WHO WE ARE

What you would do in this job

The Occupational Safety Specialist will work closely and report to the Metro Transit Industrial Safety Manager. Major responsibilities include:

• Perform safety audits of facilities, records, and consults with responsible persons in different areas on safety, environmental and health issues/concerns. This could include auditing facilities for confined spaces and then assessing the hazards associated with the confined space, inventorying fall protection equipment, auditing hoist inspection records and observing compliance with lock/out, tag/out procedures.
• Consult and respond to employee safety concerns. Complaints can include working with broken or poor equipment, the job causes stress or pain to their limbs and joints.
• Interpret and determine appropriate application of State and Federal OSHA standards and other relevant codes, standards, and regulations as they apply to Metro Transit work sites.
• Assure that required and needed safety training is conducted and records are kept.
• Identify, design, develop and deliver (or assist others in delivering) health and safety training. Training will include delivering Annual RTK Training to employees in multiple locations and on three different shifts. There will also be a need for fall protection training and permit required confined space training or oversight.
• Consult with departments to develop safety training plans that fit the department's needs and meet OSHA requirements. The training needs of different departments vary, as well as the type of training that is appropriate and practical. The Occupation Safety Specialist will meet with department management and supervisor to determine training priorities and what type of training is needed.
• Review and update written safety programs on a routine basis and with developing new written programs in compliance with OSHA regulations. Examples: Employee Emergency Action Plans for multiple facilities, A Workplace and Accident Injury Reduction (AWAIR) Program, Right to Know Program, Confined Space Program.
• Conduct audits of the safety programs and report and follow any corrective action needed. An example would be auditing the effectiveness of current hazard reporting done as part of the AWAIR Program, recommending needed changes, and then implementing those changes.
• Chair and provide leadership to facility AWAIR Safety Committees. Currently there are 8 active AWAIR Safety Committees with a need for two more. This position will establish, schedule, create agendas, and conduct safety inspections each month at the two new facilities. They will also provide technical support and guidance to current committees by attending meetings, recommending agenda items (season safety concerns or new emerging issues), and assist with the safety inspections.
• Review and approve new hazardous materials for use and recommend appropriate personal protective equipment including SDS database management. All new materials at Metro Transit must be approved by the Safety Department and by an Environmental Engineer.
• Maintains OSHA Logs and trains and oversees OSHA Logs at other facilities.
• Investigates injury/illness accidents and near misses, fires, and other property accidents and losses. Each investigation will be conducted at the appropriate level. The first line supervisor's reports are appropriate for the less severe injuries or accidents, more serious accidents or potentially serious accidents will require more extensive investigations. Often an investigation involves multiple departments to be involved and the Occupational Safety Specialist leads the team investigation, gathers the information and writes a report identifying the cause and recommendations for remediation.
• Address and respond to OSHA inspections, formal and informal complaints.
• Review plans for new construction, new equipment, or changes in operations. This would include metal working and cutting machines, exhaust ventilation systems, fall protection systems, materials handling equipment, and public and non-revenue facilities.

What education and experience are required for this job (minimum qualifications)

Education

• A High School Diploma or GED and eight (8) or more years of related experience in Occupational Safety, Construction Safety, Safety Engineering, or other closely related experience

OR

• An Associate's degree in occupational Safety, Construction Safety, Safety Engineering, or closely related field and six (6) or more years of closely related experience

OR

• Bachelor's degree (BA/BS) in occupational Safety, Construction Safety, Safety Engineering, or closely related field and four (4) years of related Industrial and Construction Safety experience.

What knowledge, skills, and abilities you should have within the first six months:

• Local, state and federal laws, rules and regulations pertaining to occupational health and safety, hazardous materials, noise exposures and hazardous waste.
• Safety systems including audits, inspections, committees, accident prevention, policy development and occupational health and safety promotion.
• Fall protection, machine guarding, confined spaces, safety data sheets, engineering controls, ergonomics, and personal protective equipment.
• Fire protection, suppression systems, hazardous materials storage, and fire prevention.
• Ability to read and interpret capital project design prints and specifications.
• Windows XP, Outlook, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Articulate.
• Written and verbal communication, including presentations and training.
• Investigating accidents, evaluating, and determining cause and making recommendations to prevent a recurrence.
• Ability to work independently.
• Manage multiple tasks and programs simultaneously.
• Work cooperatively with others and to interface with people at all levels of the organization in all types of situations.

What you can expect from us:

• We offer the opportunity to make a difference and positively influence the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
• We encourage our employees to develop their skills through on-site training and tuition reimbursement.
• We provide a competitive salary, excellent benefits, and a good work/life balance.

More about why you should join us!

Additional information

Union/Grade: AFSCME/Grade H
FLSA Status: Exempt
Safety Sensitive: No

What your work environment would be: work is performed in a standard office setting, with required travel between your primary work site to other sites.

What steps the recruitment process involves:

• We review your minimum qualifications.
• We rate your education and experience.
• We conduct a structured panel interview.
• We conduct a selection interview.

Once you have successfully completed the steps above, then:

If you are new to the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (safety sensitive positions only), and a background check which verifies education, employment, and criminal history. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the job. If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they are related to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.

If you are already an employee of the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (if moving from a non-safety sensitive position to a safety sensitive position) and criminal background check if the job you're applying for is safety sensitive, is a supervisory or management job, is in the Finance, Information Services, Audit, or Human Resources departments, or has access to financial records, files/databases, cash, vouchers or transit fare cards. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the position.

IMPORTANT: If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration.

The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the region and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply. If you have a disability that requires accommodation during the selection process, please email HR-OCCHealth@metc.state.mn.us .

We believe our employees are a key to our agency's success! In order to attract and retain high quality employees, the Council provides a highly competitive benefits package both in choice and coverage levels. Some highlights about our benefits are listed below:

• Guaranteed monthly retirement income through Minnesota State Retirement System pension fund
• Opportunity to save additional funds for retirement on a tax-deferred basis through a voluntary deferred compensation (457) plan
• Two or more medical plans from which to choose, with employer contribution towards premiums over 80%
• Dental insurance, life insurance and vision insurance

The following benefits are provided to all employees as part of working for the Council. You will have access to free:

• Well@Work clinic
• bus/rail pass valued at over $1200 per year
• parking at many job locations
• fitness centers at many job locations
• Employee Assistance Program
• extensive health and wellness programs and resources