Safety Specialist

Safety Specialist

Location: 400 S. Ft. Harrison Avenue, Clearwater, FL 33756

Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Flexible shift, also to be available to cover weekend events as needed

***ONLY PINELLAS COUNTY EMPLOYEES MAY APPLY***

The Safety Specialist is responsible for occupational safety including employee hazardous material training, fire protection and prevention requirements, public facility and event safety. This position provides technical assistance and oversight of BCC departments and some appointing authority safety programs, monitors compliance with County Safety program and provides a broad range of training such first aid/CPR/AED, Safe Driving, the safe use of equipment and occupational safety training.

What Will You Do?

• Participates in safety and loss control programs including the development and presentation of occupational safety and health training programs.
• Coordinates and participates in Accident and Safety Review Board and Safety Council meetings and promotes, develops and implements Action Teams.
• Conducts safety inspections at all work sites to assure compliance with OSHA, state and county directives, standards and laws; inspects facilities for hazardous conditions.
• Recommends changes and additions to ensure compliance with fire protection and prevention requirements.
• Communicates to others about the recognized standards covering workplace safety, fire prevention techniques and procedures; fire prevention ordinances and fire related building codes.
• Implements corrective action by use of tact and firmness in dealing with all levels of management in gaining acceptance of good occupational safety, health, and fire prevention practices.
• Conducts an information program and secure client involvement in fire prevention, detection, and suppression.
• Interacts with a wide variety of employees and others in all aspects of fire prevention.
• Coordinates established fire watch programs with designated building, facility, or installation program representatives, and fire marshals.
• Participates with occupational safety and health committees along with fire prevention officials on matters to ensure a safe and healthy workplace.
• Develops materials, and provides situational and classroom training on numerous occupational, safety and health topics.
• Attends conferences, workshops and meetings to ascertain new developments or changes in law pertaining to assignments.

• Performs related work as assigned or required.

What Do You Need?

Experience: Comprehensive occupational safety and health programs.

Education: Major course work in occupational safety/health, risk management, public administration, business administration, or related field.

• 6 or more years’ experience as described above.

• Associate’s degree as described above, and at least 4 years of experience as described above.

• Bachelor’s degree as described above, and at least 2 years; as described above.

• Master’s or higher-level degree as described above.

• An equivalent combination of education, training and/or experience.

• Possession and maintenance of a valid Florida Driver's License.

• Assignment to work a variety of work schedules including compulsory work periods in special, emergency, and/or disaster situations.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of appropriate safety laws, codes, standards and regulations such as OSHA and ANSI.
• Knowledge of appropriate federal laws, codes, standards and regulations such as FMLA, FLSA and HIPAA.
• Knowledge of standard office software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, email, internet access and risk management software applications.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to resolve stressful and difficult situations.
• Ability to conduct effective negotiations with all levels of employees, individuals, professionals, the public, and organizations with tact and diplomacy.
• Ability to conduct in-depth investigations of accident and loss circumstances and responsibilities and to write special studies and reports.
• Ability to maintain and analyze statistical and factual reports, exercise sound judgment, and determine appropriate action.
• Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely, verbally and in writing.
• Ability to analyze facts and to exercise sound judgment in arriving at conclusions.
• Ability to develop, prepare and conduct training classes on a wide variety of occupational safety and health as well as fire safety, CPR and other training of safety and risk management subjects.

Safety Specialist