Position Title: Safety Specialist

Employee Classification: Safety Specialist

College/Division: Administration and Finance

Department: 500200-ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SAFETY & RISK

Internal or External Search: External - Open to all applicants

Location: Las Cruces

Offsite Location (if applicable):

Target Hourly/Salary Rate:  $53,165.80

Appointment Full-time Equivalency:  1.0

Exempt or Non-Exempt:  Exempt

Summary:  We are looking for a motivated individual to join our team and help in keeping the NMSU community safe!

Classification Summary:
Under general supervision, responsible for evaluating and assisting in mitigation of health and safety hazards. Develops, organizes and facilitates applicable safety programs and safety training for NMSU employees; reviews accidents, injuries and loss controls as needed to determine cause and trends in area of responsibility. Coordinates and provides assistance with inventories, inspections and maintaining records and programs.

Classification Standard Duties:
Manages various safety programs and operations in focused areas. As directed develops and promotes general safety programs, policies and procedures to further support and facilitate safety, compliance and injury prevention. Advises university community regarding safety protocols and procedures to ensure regulatory compliance as mandated by local, state and federal agencies. Provide employee safety training to prevent worker injury/illness and facilitate OSHA, EPA and other regulatory agencies compliance. Evaluates health and safety hazards according to environmental, health and safety principles and legal requirements. Provides reports on inspections and activity reviews which include recommendations for correcting operations and building safety deficiencies. Establishes procedures to eliminate injury, illness or hazards. Interprets data, prepares reports and provides recommendations regarding employee exposure. Recommend overall procedural changes to supervisor for any safety policy or recommended departmental program change in accordance with NMSU safety policy and procedures and under final authority of Environmental Health Safety & Risk Management. Provide safety planning and ventilation assistance to ensure safe operations. Performs related duties as required, including emergency response after-hours. Supervises, directs, delegates, and evaluates work of assigned staff.

Required Education, Experience, Certification/License, Equivalency
Required Education:Bachelor's degree in a related field.; Required Experience:Three (3) years of professional experience related to the standard duties as outlined.; Equivalency:Any equivalent combination of education, training and/or experience as approved by Human Resource Services.; Required Certification/License:

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
KNOWLEDGE:University and department policies and procedures; principles and practices of organization and administration; principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation; knowledge of federal, state and local regulations, protocols and/or safety procedures; knowledge of use, storage, transport, and emergency response procedures for hazardous materials; selection and use of personal protective equipment.; SKILLS:Performing inspections and developing reports and safety procedures that facilitate compliance with EPA, OSHA and other applicable safety standards; skill in developing safety procedures and protocols; short- and long-term range planning; problem analysis and resolution; public contact and relations; supervisory and people skills; good organizational and record keeping skills; data management; developing innovative training sessions; independent thinking and judgment; imparting technical knowledge and information to workers of differing backgrounds.; ABILITIES:Ability to react calmly and effectively in emergency situations. Ability to develop, implement, and enforce safety programs and protocols. Ability to lead and train staff and/or students. Ability to gather data, compile information, utilize data management tools, and prepare reports and other material. Ability to operate, test and/or repair monitoring, sampling and/or analytical equipment and instruments. Ability to investigate and analyze information and draw conclusions. Ability to communicate technical information to non-technical personnel. Ability to work effectively with diverse populations. Ability to design and present informational programs and presentations, based on assessed needs.

Job Duties and Responsibilities
Support EHS&RM by assisting with the Fire and Life Safety Program as directed. Coordination of 3rd party contractors to perform applicable routine fire system testing per the International Fire Code and requirements by the NM State Fire Marshal Office. This coordination includes, PO management, testing witness, coordination of repairs and maintenance as a result of testing. Document and maintain appropriate, accurate, and complete records of inspections, corrective actions, investigations, and other Fire and Life Safety Program related records as directed. Provide technical guidance to faculty, staff, and students related to fire safety, prevention, and/or emergency procedures. Develop, update, coordinate, and present fire safety or other related safety training. Development, maintenance, review and updating of EHS&RM plans, procedures and web-based information in regard to fire-life safety. Support University events as directed (inspecting, monitoring, performing fire watch, etc.). Assist with other fire-life safety and EH&S department projects as assigned, such as scheduling and coordinating 3rd party vendor to perform annual fire suppression testing in applicable buildings.

Manages focused EHS&RM programs, as assigned, designed to safeguard employee and public safety, minimize property loss, protect the environment and help ensure the university complies with the regulatory requirements in areas administered by the EHS&RM department. Examples of the types of programs managed by EHS&RM include, but are not limited to, hazard communication, chemical / hazardous material safety, accident, injury / illness investigation and reporting; exposure evaluations, laboratory safety, shop safety, laser safety, radiation safety, indoor air quality, respiratory safety/respirator fit-testing, lock-out/tag-out, permit-required confined spaces, hazardous material shipping / receiving, general construction safety, agricultural / field safety, forklift, aerial/man lifts, crane and rigging safety and fire-life safety.

Perform routine and non-routine inspections and formal assessments to identify and correct health and safety hazards in NMSU facilities and operations including laboratories, shops, farms, mechanical rooms, other hazardous areas, offices, classrooms and common areas. Inspections, evaluations and certification of hazardous equipment and processes in research, industrial or agricultural operations and as well as special activities/events may also be required. Provide written reports, which include recommendations for mitigating or correcting physical and operational safety deficiencies.

Develop and deliver an assortment of employee safety training, in both instructor-led and online formats, as assigned. Examples of the types of safety courses that are offered include, but are not limited to, asbestos awareness, hazard communication, laboratory safety, shop safety, lock-out/tag-out, fall protection, confined space, aerial-lift, forklift safety, scaffolding / ladder safety, respiratory safety, crane / rigging safety, UAS/drone safety, agricultural / field safety and fire-life safety.

Advise different constituents within the university community on appropriate protocols and procedures designed to enhance employee / public safety, minimize property losses, protect the environment, and help ensure the university remains in compliance with applicable EHS&RM regulations. Participate in the coordination, planning and presentation in various EHS&RM working groups and committees including various other safety committee meetings.

Other duties will vary as needed but may include, but not be limited to performing indoor air quality assessments, incident / accident response and investigations, worker exposure assessments, workplace and operational hazard evaluations and other types of industrial hygiene assessments and evaluations. The use of common industrial hygiene equipment used to measure workplace conditions, evaluate worker exposures and perform various safety assessments is required.

Development, maintenance, review and updating of EHS&RM plans, procedures and web-based information, in the areas of responsibility is required.

Position is responsible for evaluating and assisting in mitigation of health and safety hazards in buildings and support facilities throughout NM. Travel to remote NMSU facilities may be required. Performs other related duties as required.

Preferred Qualifications

Special Requirements of the Position
This position has been established as a primary key position under the “All Hazard Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP)” and is essential to operational continuity and/or recovery. In an emergency situation, primary key positions are required to report to work unless directed by supervisor or public safety authorities not to report for health and safety reasons.

Department Contact:  Rebecca Torres, 646-3342, rtorres@nmsu.edu

Contingent Upon Funding: Contingent upon funding

Bargaining Unit Eligibility: This is NOT a bargaining unit position with American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

Standard Work Schedule: Standard (M-F, 8-5)

If Not a Standard Work Schedule: Some after-hours work due to emergency situations.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Environment: Work involves moderate exposure to unusual elements, such as extreme temperatures, dirt, dust, fumes, smoke, unpleasant odors, and/or loud noises.

Physical Effort: Moderate physical activity.

Lifting Requirements: Requires handling of average-weight objects up to 25 pounds or standing and/or walking for more than four (4) hours per day.

Risk: Work environment involves exposure to potentially dangerous materials and situations that require following extensive safety precautions and may include the use of protective equipment.