OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY CONSULTANT 1
DEFINITION:
Under the limited supervision of a supervisory official in a state department, institution, or agency, conducts either on-site safety enforcement inspections to identify workplace hazards or occupational safety consultation visits to assist employers in developing and implementing an effective safety program and in expediting compliance with the standards, rules, and regulations of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and/or the Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health Act (PEOSHA); does other related duties as required.
NOTE: The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.
EXAMPLES OF WORK:
Assists with complex inspections, investigations, and field consultation visits. Personally conducts general inspections and assigned program visits to require occupational safety compliance, provide assistance in developing an effective safety program, and to identify and recommend solutions to existing unsafe occupational conditions in accordance with the rules, regulations, and standards of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and/or the Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) regulations, Right-to-Know, and other applicable standards.
Plans and conducts safety enforcement inspections at public employer facilities and submits a corresponding case file and report to the supervisor for issuance of an Order to Comply (OTC) to the employer.
Conducts assigned on-site and off-site education and training of management and employees in the aspects of industry-specific model safety and health programs, development of forms and procedures, self-inspection procedures, jobs hazard analyses, employee notification systems, as well as training and education relevant to hazard control, personal protective equipment, handling and storage of hazardous materials, emergency procedures, and all other aspects of an effective safety and health program.
Utilizes the necessary techniques to identify unsafe conditions as they apply to the workplace including machinery, handling, and storing materials, construction practices, electrical usage, and fire hazards.
Conducts follow-up inspections and visits to ensure the abatement of a serious hazard condition(s) or reviews documentary evidence certifying the elimination of the violation.
Compiles data about the individual on-site visits relevant to occupational safety principles involved with the hazards common to an industrial workplace and makes determinations on findings consistent with OSHA standards.
Interprets the technical language and application of federal and state safety laws, and OSHA rules, regulations, and standards to employers; explains which apply to the specific employer and whether the firm is in compliance.
Assists employers in the development and implementation of hazard control, loss prevention and accident control systems, risk analysis, and occupational safety and health trend analyses.
Conducts an opening conference with employers to advise them of the inspection process and on-site consultation program content and regulations; performs workplace walk-throughs to identify problem areas and initiates a closing conference to provide the employer with a verbal summary to advise them of all violations identified, and to answer pertinent questions.
Develops and initiates preparation activities prior to consultative visit in the aspects of reviewing appropriate work processes and associated hazards, and applicable federal and state codes and regulations.
Prepares written reports of consultation visits for the employer which contains program assessments, action plans, identification of specific safety hazards, whether hazards are serious or not; number of instances of hazards and their location, reference to OSHA Standard for each occupational safety hazard, and suggested means for eliminating the conditions. Prepares an Order to Comply (OTC) detailing the safety standard violation, its location, a brief description of the hazard(s), and a date by which the violation must be abated.
Advises employers about any unsafe conditions, discusses options for alleviation, and offers the method or means to effect elimination of the condition, if feasible.
Requests immediate elimination of safety hazards in cases in which a condition exists that could reasonably cause death or serious physical harm, or if immediate abatement is not possible, takes action to prohibit employees in the dangerous area.
Notifies the supervisory official in cases in which the employer has not taken action to alleviate a serious safety hazard.
Encourages employers to adopt a committed approach to safety issues.
Conducts interviews with employees and/or union representatives.
Provides assistance in promoting the availability of programs to small businesses.
May assist in special studies, investigations, and research projects relevant to occupational safety, assists in the compilation and interpretation of the information acquired through such studies.
Maintains an itinerary of priority visits to be conducted.
May participate as a witness in administrative or legal proceedings as required by OSHA.
Reviews literature and keeps current with new developments in the field of occupational safety; assists with the development and compilation of data to serve as informational materials concerning the on-site consultation service.
Prepares technical correspondence and clear, scientifically sound, accurate, and factual reports, containing findings, interpretations, conclusions, and recommendations.
Maintains an up-to-date OSHA Field Operations Manual, and other records, files, and equipment.
Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
REQUIREMENTS:
NOTE: Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience.
Six (6) years of experience in the identification, analysis and/or solution of workplace safety hazards involving the application of Federal OSHA and/or nationally recognized safety standards.
OR
Possession of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; and two (2) years of the above-mentioned professional experience.
NOTE: Appointees will be required to complete a specialized training course for Compliance Safety and Health Officers conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
NOTE: “Professional experience” refers to work that is analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range of basic knowledge of the profession’s concepts and practices; and is performed with the authority to act and make accurate and informed decisions.
LICENSE:
Appointees will be required to possess a driver’s license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of the techniques to be used in the development and establishment of safety and health programs.
Knowledge of occupational safety hazards.
Knowledge of the techniques employed in hazard assessments.
Knowledge of the principles, objectives, standards, and techniques of accepted occupational safety practices and their application to specific situations.
Knowledge of loss control, risk assessment, and accident prevention methods, procedures, and systems currently used in an industrial setting.
Knowledge of the techniques employed to educate and train employers, employees, and union representatives in industrial safety.
Knowledge of industrial equipment and hazardous conditions that could be causative factors of occupational injury.
Knowledge of solutions which may be used to abate safety hazards.
Knowledge of the calibration of direct-reading equipment.
Ability to organize field assignments and develop effective work methods.
Ability to conduct on-site consultation visits or safety inspections in accordance with OSHA and state standards.
Ability to tailor solutions to problems and fit them to the needs of both small and large employers.
Ability to demonstrate to various employers the cost effectiveness of making safety and health issues an operative goal.
Ability to pass a Respirator Medical Clearance Examination, Respirator Fit Test, and maintain the ability to wear an elastomeric half or full-face respirator, if required. Alternative forms of respiratory protection may be used, if recommended by the physician or other licensed health care provider (PLHCP).
Ability to work in potentially hazardous environments while utilizing required personal protective equipment (PPE).
Ability to pass a fitness for duty medical examination, if required.
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
Ability to effectively negotiate standard industrial walking-working surfaces such as stairways, ladders, catwalks, scaffolding, as necessary to access all areas requiring inspection.
Ability to calibrate necessary equipment.
Ability to apply accepted principles and standards of occupational safety to on-site consultations.
Ability to provide feasible and warranted solutions to identified safety hazards in the workplace.
Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
Ability to respond to queries from the public and either assist directly or refer to appropriate agencies or sources.
Ability to interpret and apply OSHA standards, rules, and regulations.
Ability to prepare written reports of consultation visits and the means of eliminating hazardous conditions.
Ability to present evidence of a concise and coherent nature at hearings or legal proceedings.
Ability to explain pertinent OSHA regulations, rules, and standards.
Ability to interpret technical language and explain the application of OSHA standards to employers.
Ability to take necessary action upon determining that a workplace may have a hazard which could reasonably cause death or serious physical harm.
Ability to prepare clear, scientifically sound, accurate, and factual reports, containing findings, interpretations, conclusions, and recommendations.
Ability to maintain required records, reports, files, manuals, and equipment.
Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of the position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
This job specification is applicable to the following title code:
