Occupational Safety Specialist

WHO WE ARE

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services.

More information about us on our website.

We are committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

Metro Transit is the largest provider of transit service in the Minneapolis-St. Paul seven-county metropolitan area and one of the country's largest transit systems.

We operate bus and rail service, essential to the region's mobility, and provide resources for carpooling, van pooling and bike commuting.

Metro Transit helps people get where they're going, makes a dent in the region's ever-growing congestion and promotes a cleaner environment.

How your work will contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region :

The Occupational Safety Specialist position will support Metro Transit safety programs by protecting the safety, health and welfare of Metro Transit employees and its impact on the environment.

The Occupational Safety Specialist will recognize and apply principles of safety to Metro Transit employees to maintain a healthier and less hazardous work environment and provides technical support to maintain compliance with local, state and federal laws, standards and regulations and performs related duties as assigned.

What you would do in this job

The Occupational Safety Specialist will work closely and report to the Metro Transit Industrial Safety Manager. Major responsibilities include :

• Perform safety audits of facilities, records, and consults with responsible persons in different areas on safety, environmental and health issues / concerns.
• Interpret and determine appropriate application of State and Federal OSHA standards and other relevant codes, standards, and regulations as they apply to Metro Transit work sites.
• Identify, design, develop and deliver health and safety training including annual RTK and new employee orientation.
• Review and update written safety programs on a routine basis and assist with developing new written programs in compliance with OSHA regulations.
• Chair and provide leadership to facility AWAIR Safety Committees.
• Review and approve new hazardous materials for use and recommend appropriate personal protective equipment including SDS database management.
• Maintains OSHA Logs and oversees OSHA Logs at other facilities.
• Investigates injury / illness accidents and near misses, fires, and other property accidents and losses.
• Address and respond to OSHA formal inspections and informal complaints.
• Review plans for new construction, new equipment, or changes in operations.

What education and experience are required for this job (minimum qualifications)

Any of the following combinations of related work experience in Occupational Safety, Construction Safety, Safety Engineering or closely related, and completed education (in Occupational Safety, Construction Safety, Safety Engineering or closely related field) :

• High school diploma / GED and eight (8) years of experience
• Associate degree AND six (6) years of experience
• Bachelor's degree AND four (4) years of experience

What knowledge, skills, and abilities you should have within the first six months :

• Knowledge of local, state and federal laws, rules and regulations pertaining to occupational health and safety, hazardous materials, noise exposures and hazardous waste.
• Knowledge of safety systems including audits, inspections, committees, accident prevention, policy development and occupational health and safety promotion.
• Knowledge of fall protection, machine guarding, confined spaces, safety data sheets, engineering controls, ergonomics, and personal protective equipment.
• Knowledge of fire protection, suppression systems, hazardous materials storage, and fire prevention.
• Skilled in Microsoft Windows, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Articulate.
• Skilled in written and verbal communication, including presentations and training.
• Skilled in investigating accidents, evaluating, and determining cause and making recommendations to prevent a recurrence.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and programs simultaneously.
• Ability to work cooperatively with others and to interface with people at all levels of the organization in all types of situations.

What you can expect from us :

• We offer the opportunity to make a difference and positively influence the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
• We encourage our employees to develop their skills through on-site training and tuition reimbursement.
• We provide a competitive salary, excellent benefits, and a good work / life balance.

More about why you should join us!

Additional information

Union / Grade : American Federation of State, County, Municipal Employees ( AFSCME) / Grade H

FLSA Status : Exempt

Safety Sensitive : No

What your work environment would be : work is performed in a standard office setting, with required travel between your primary work site to other sites.

What steps the recruitment process involves :

• We review your minimum qualifications.
• We rate your education and experience.
• We request and review Work Record Evaluations (WRE) (for internal ATU employees).
• We conduct a structured panel interview.
• We conduct a selection interview.

Once you have successfully completed the steps above, then :

If you are new to the Metropolitan Council , you must pass a drug test (safety sensitive positions only), and a background check which verifies education, employment, and criminal history.

A driving record check and / or physical may be conducted if applicable to the job. If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail.

The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they are related to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.

If you are already an employee of the Metropolitan Council , you must pass a drug test (if moving from a non-safety sensitive position to a safety sensitive position) and criminal background check if the job you're applying for is safety sensitive, is a supervisory or management job, is in the Finance, Information Services, Audit, or Human Resources departments, or has access to financial records, files / databases, cash, vouchers or transit fare cards.

A driving record check and / or physical may be conducted if applicable to the position.

IMPORTANT : If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration.

The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the region and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply.

If you have a disability that requires accommodation during the selection process, please

email [email protected]