SAFETY ADMINISTRATOR
(An Unclassified, At-Will Position)

Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

Under direction of the Risk and Safety Manager, the Safety Administrator plans, organizes, coordinates, and implements comprehensive safety and loss control/prevention programs and activities for the City; implements program goals and objectives; evaluates safety training requirements; inspects facilities and equipment for compliance with mandated safety regulations; performs a variety of administrative tasks in support of assigned area of responsibility; and exercises fairly independent judgment and decision making in the course of duties performed.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Plans, organizes, oversees, coordinates, and implements City-wide assigned loss control/prevention and safety programs in order to promote safe work practices and prevent City losses.
• Participates in the development of goals and objectives as well as policies and procedures; makes recommendations for changes and improvements to existing standards, policies, and procedures; participates in the implementation of approved policies and procedures; monitors work activities to ensure compliance with established policies and procedures.
• Monitors program performance; recommends and implements modifications to systems and procedures as necessary.
• Conducts periodic audits, maintains records, and prepares reports concerning new or ongoing safety and health programs and program effectiveness.
• Develops, implements, conducts, maintains, and monitors safety training, programs, procedures, manuals and educational materials designed to achieve compliance with current state, federal, and local laws and regulations.
• Surveys and inspects City facilities and equipment to determine compliance with local, state and federal safety regulations; recommends corrective measures as needed.
• Suspends work at job sites when they are not in compliance with safety regulations as necessary.
• Consults with, advises and assists City departments regarding procurement of safety equipment and hardware, conduct of safety and training meetings, and resolution of problems related to risk and safety issues.
• Investigates and analyzes incident reports and complaints involving work-related injuries and illness; prepares reports noting hazards, violations, and accidents; recommends measures to prevent recurrence.
• Serves on and coordinates a City Safety Committee composed of managers, supervisors, and employee representatives.
• Conducts and coordinates research studies and analyses pertaining to risk and safety programs and projects, including collection of data from multiple agencies and sources.
• Prepares oral and written reports, including technical and presentation reports, tables, charts, slides, and computer-based presentations; assists in presentations to management, City Council, and other agencies.
• Recommends and implements plans to resolve administrative, management, and operational problems and issues related to risk and safety; assists with the development of long range plans and programs.
• Develops and maintains computerized record keeping, documentation and database systems for accident, CALOSHA, safety training and related reports.
• Participates in the preparation and administration of assigned budget; submits budget recommendations; monitors expenditures.
• Attends and participates in seminars and meetings related to safety; maintains liaison with professional safety organizations and other agencies to obtain and exchange current developments in providing a safe work environment for municipal government operations.
• Trains and oversees the work of technical and clerical staff as assigned. Performs a variety of administrative duties as assigned.
• Performs related duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of:

• Operations, services, and activities of a safety and training program.
• Principles, practices, materials, equipment, methods and techniques of safety program development and implementation.
• State, federal, and local occupational, environmental safety and health laws applicable to Public Works, utilities, and other City departments.
• Modern and complex principles and practices of project organization and coordination.
• Methods and techniques of research, statistics, and analysis.
• Recent developments, current literature and information related to safety regulations.
• Accident investigation techniques; accident/incident record keeping techniques.
• Principles and practices of customer service.
• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.
• Basic principles and practices of municipal budget preparation and administration.
• Principles and procedures of record keeping and purchasing.
• Principles of business letter writing and basic report preparation.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.

Ability to:

• Develop, coordinate and direct effective safety and training programs.
• Recommend and implement goals, objectives, policies and procedures for providing risk management loss control/prevention and safety programs.
• Read, interpret and apply a variety of regulations related to industrial/occupational safety.
• Conduct research, interpret data, and prepare complete and accurate analyses, reports, and recommendations.
• Ensure compliance with appropriate safety practices and regulations.
• Assess and evaluate safety training needs and develop appropriate programs and/or make recommendations for improvement.
• Conduct accident and workplace safety investigations; identify existing or potential hazards.
• Understand the organization and operation of the City and of outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities.
• Understand, interpret, and apply general and specific administrative and departmental policies and procedures as well as applicable federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations.
• Prepare clear and concise oral and written reports, both narrative and statistical and assist in presenting them.
• Coordinate projects and programs among City departments and outside agencies.
• Participate in the preparation and administration of assigned budgets.
• Operate and use modern office equipment including computers and supporting word processing and spreadsheet applications.
• Adapt to changing technologies and learn functionality of new equipment and systems. Work independently in the absence of supervision.
• Effectively represent the City to outside individuals and agencies to accomplish the goals and objectives of the unit.
• Work cooperatively with other departments, City officials, and outside agencies.
• Respond tactfully, clearly, concisely, and appropriately to inquiries from the public, City staff, or other agencies on sensitive issues in area of responsibility.
• Demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the cultural diversity of the community.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience Guidelines - Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education/Training: Equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in occupational health and safety, industrial hygiene, safety engineering, public health or a related field.

Experience: Five years of increasingly responsible occupational health and safety, industrial hygiene, and/or safety engineering experience, including developing and implementing safety training programs, inspecting equipment and facilities for compliance with Federal and State OSHA requirements, and conducting field investigations.

License or Certificate - Possession of an appropriate, valid driver’s license. Certified Safety Professional designation is highly desirable.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Environment: Standard office setting. CONTINUOUS working indoors, dust from paperwork. Work schedule is 9/80 with alternating Fridays off in a biweekly period. Work environment is both formal and informal, team oriented, having variable tasks, pace, and pressure. Work is performed indoors in office and in meeting rooms.

Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability to work in an office setting and operate office equipment. CONTINUOUS sitting and upward and downward flexion of neck; fine finger dexterity; light to moderate finger pressure to manipulate keyboard, equipment controls, and office equipment; pinch grasp to manipulate writing utensils. FREQUENT side-to-side turning of neck, walking, standing, bending, stooping, pushing/pulling, and twisting at waist; moderate wrist torque to twist equipment knobs and dials; lifting objects weighing up to 20 lbs. from below waist to above shoulders and transporting distances up to 50 yards. OCCASIONAL squatting, kneeling, and reaching above and at shoulder height; moderate grasp to manipulate reference books and manuals; lifting objects weighing 20-35 lbs. from below waist to above shoulders and transporting distances up to 50 feet.

Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction; vision sufficient to read computer screens and printed documents and to operate equipment.

Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

Date: April 2003
Johnson & Associates