Job Description

Posting number: 35M00000749

Department: Public Utilities

Job classification: Health and Safety Specialist*

Posting type: Open

Categories: Utilities

The City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities is seeking a qualified Health and Safety Specialist to ensure a safe and compliant work environment by identifying potential hazards, conducting risk assessments, and recommending effective control measures. The incumbent will develop, implement, and maintain health and safety policies and procedures in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations, including OSHA standards. The Health and Safety Specialist leads workplace inspections, incident investigations, and compliance audits, ensuring that all findings are documented, and corrective actions are taken. Additionally, they design and deliver employee training programs to promote safety awareness and ensure staff understand proper protocols. This position plays a key role in emergency preparedness by coordinating response plans, conducting drills, and training employees on emergency procedures. By collaborating across departments and promoting a culture of safety, the incumbent will help minimize workplace injuries and illnesses while enhancing overall organizational performance. The incumbent also involves maintaining accurate safety records, tracking key performance metrics, and staying informed on emerging regulations and best practices in occupational health and safety.

Examples of duties

• Conducting regular workplace inspections and hazard/risk assessments to identify and control potential safety issues

• Developing, implementing, and maintaining health and safety policies, procedures, and programs in compliance with OSHA and other regulatory standards

• Leading investigations into workplace incidents, accidents, and near-misses, including root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions

• Coordinating and delivering health and safety training sessions and onboarding programs for employees at all levels

• Maintaining accurate records related to incidents, training, inspections, audits, and regulatory compliance

• Assisting in the development and execution of emergency response plans, including organizing drills and training staff on emergency procedures

• Collaborating with management, supervisors, and employees to foster a strong safety culture throughout the organization

• Monitoring safety performance indicators and recommending continuous improvements based on data and trends

• Staying up to date with changes in health and safety regulations, standards, and industry best practices

• Supporting internal and external audits, inspections, and regulatory visits

This is an essential position, which requires the selected candidate to report to work for an emergency and on call duty in response to inclement weather/natural disaster.

Qualifications

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's degree in and occupational safety, safety management, environmental management, or a related field
• 2 years' experience in the occupational safety field
• May require additional training such Workers Compensation, 40-hour HAZWOPER training courses, etc.
• An equivalent combination of training and experience (as approved by the department) may be used to meet the minimum qualifications of the classification

LICENSING, CERTIFICATIONS, and/or OTHER SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• A valid Driver's License with a satisfactory driving record, and acquisition of a valid Commonwealth of Virginia Driver's License within 30 days of hire (position specific)

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
TYPICAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: These are a representative sample; position assignments may vary.

Knowledge (some combination of the following):

• Occupational and general safety principles, processes, and procedures
• OSHA regulations and compliance, such as the use and placement of gas monitors, lanyards and harnesses, respirators, and fall protection equipment
• Risk management and process safety management guidelines
• OSHA 300 log, including understanding of recordable, lost workday, and lost time injuries
• Health and occupational safety machines, tools, and equipment such as hard hats, confined space permits, fall protection equipment, automated external defibrillators (AED's), and hemostatic dressings
• OSHA reporting procedures

Skills (some combination of the following):

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
• Oral and written communication
• Public speaking/presentations and training
• Project management

Abilities (some combination of the following):

• Work on multiple projects at a time
• Recognize an IDLH (Immediately Dangerous to Life & Health) condition and address the situation with authorized and affected personnel
• Follow directions
• Function independently with minimal supervision
• Pay attention to detail in writing and proofreading
• Manage timelines and deadlines
• Problem-solve

Supplemental information

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS: Working conditions may include exposure to travel to other locations within the City of Richmond as well as outside of the City of Richmond; exposure to hazardous physical conditions such as mechanical parts, electrical currents, vibrations, etc.; atmospheric conditions such as fumes, odors, dusts, gases, and poor ventilation; inadequate lighting; intense noise; and environmental hazards such as disruptive people, imminent danger, and a threatening environment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT: Due to the nature of work assignments, incumbents must be able to perform detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks, with frequent interruptions and under time constraint. While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk, stand, talk, see, and hear. The employee is climb, occasionally required to balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach extending hands and arms, push, pull lift, feel, grasp or finger, and use hands, wrist, or fingers in a repetitive motion. In terms of the physical strength to perform the essential duties, this classification is considered to be light work (exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects), but may differ based on area of focus.

* Internal use: HR Generalist to review.