Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

Safety Specialist (#20002522)


General Statement

Under general supervision, performs responsible safety inspection and instruction duties related to the safety program throughout the District.

Essential Job Functions

Essential job functions are fundamental, core functions common to positions in a classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class. Since class specifications are designed to be descriptive and not restrictive, incumbents may complete one or all of the job duties listed or tasks of similar kind not specifically listed here.

  • Makes continuous inspections of operations, vehicles, equipment and grounds to ensure compliance with OSHA, State, and MWRD requirements and to check for hazards such as electrical, mechanical, fire, and health.
  • Responds to calls of safety hazards and emergencies.
  • Investigates accidents to determine causes and prevent similar accidents.
  • Conducts or assists in providing OSHA or District training, such as first aid and CPR, asbestos and lead awareness, hearing conservation, confined space entry, lockout/tagout, HAZCOM, and the operation and maintenance of safety equipment such as respirators, gas meters, firefighting and other safety equipment.
  • Responds to calls of medical emergencies. Administers first aid as needed.
  • Stays thoroughly informed on new safety regulations, safety practices and equipment.
  • Conducts regularly scheduled inspections of safety equipment, fire equipment, portable gas meters, water safety equipment, and equipment for confined space entry.
  • Conducts regular audits of District Safety programs such as Hot Work and Lockout/Tagout, Confined Space Entry and assists with corrective actions when required.
  • Performs miscellaneous other assigned tasks such as audiometric testing on employees and conducting surveys for different aspects of asbestos and lead related projects.

Other Job Functions

  • Participates in regularly scheduled safety committee meetings and preconstruction meetings.
  • Prepares labels for various hazardous materials. Obtains new and revised Safety Data Sheets (SDS). Generates SDS's as requested by employees. Collates and assembles SDS's into booklets to match individual building or plant inventories.
  • Prepares accident summaries and memoranda concerning safety related activities.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Environmental Conditions

May involve exposure to a variety of operating mechanical equipment and loud noise and/or noxious odors. May include working in all types of weather conditions throughout the plant facility and collection system.  Typical office environment.  May use standard office equipment and computer terminals.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Some knowledge of the principles, practices and procedures of plant and office safety.
  • Some knowledge of the principles, practices and procedures of first aid.
  • Some knowledge of recent developments, current literature and sources of information in industrial safety.
  • Ability to interpret and apply safety rules and regulations.
  • Ability to conduct safety inspections, determine accident causes and prepare recommendations as to corrective actions.
  • Ability to conduct or to assist in the conduct of training classes and in the instruction of others.
  • Ability to express oneself clearly and concisely, orally and in writing.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Graduation from a four-year accredited college or university majoring in occupational safety and health, industrial hygiene, safety technology, engineering or science.

Substitution

Professional experience in the development, implementation and communication of safety programs in the workplace may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis. Certification as an Associate Safety Professional by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals may be substituted for the required education to a maximum of two years.  Certification as a Certified Safety Professional by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals may be substituted for the required education.

Promotional Requirement

  • None

CLASS: 20002522; EST: 1/1/2013; REV: 5/1/2023;