Advisor | Health, Safety

Position Summary
Interior Health is hiring a permanent full-time Advisor, Health, Safety & Prevention who is passionate about making a difference in healthcare.

Location: This position is flexible within the Interior Health Authority- North Okanagan Region

What we offer:
• An attractive remuneration package
• Excellent career prospects
• Employer paid training/education
• Employer paid vacation
• Medical Service Plan
• Employer paid insurance premiums
• Extended Health & Dental coverage
• Work-life balance
• May be eligible to contribute to MPP

Salary range for the position is $74,618 to $107,264. Interior Health establishes salaries within the minimum and maximum of the salary range based on consideration of the qualifications, experience of the applicant, and an internal equity review of the salaries of other employees.

Come join our team and see why we’re one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers Explore our extensive benefits, career growth opportunities, and lifestyle in one of the most beautiful and diverse regions of Canada. Ready to love where you live and work? Join our team today

How will you create an impact:
The Advisor, Health, Safety, and Prevention participates as a key member of the Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) and provides advice, guidance, and resources in the development, implementation, sustainability, evaluation, and continuous improvement of an integrated system-based approach for all Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) programs and practices in IH. In addition, the Advisor provides support, guidance, resources, and training to facilitate organizational compliance with legislated occupational health and safety requirements to protect and improve the quality of work life balance and healthcare in IH.

A key priority of the role is working with key partners to build and sustain a systemic framework that links all aspects of patient, staff, and public safety into a comprehensive cultural vision aligned with the strategic directions of the Health Authority.

In alignment with IH’s Occupational Health & Safety Program, employees shall adhere to all Occupational Health and Safety policies and procedures at all times and attend all required training. Employees are responsible to report any identified hazards, unsafe conditions or incidents to your manager or supervisor immediately.

What will you work on:
• Provides guidance and support to assigned site leadership by interpreting applicable legislation, supporting the implementation and sustainability of the Health and Safety Management System, and other related organizational targets.

• Develops positive working relationships and partnerships with key internal (e.g., Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees) and external (e.g., WorkSafeBC,) partners to garner collaboration, involvement, and support towards the development of an overall systemic approach to OHS for those who work within IH and those who access our services.

• Uses a health and safety management system framework to guide IH into adopting a systemic approach to building a culture of physical and psychological health that extends beyond regulatory compliance.

• Provides guidance and advice to members of the organization with respect to their roles and responsibilities in the internal responsibility system (i.e., the BC Occupational Health and Safety Regulation and Workers Compensation Act).

• Supports Leaders and Managers in providing feedback on their operational plans to maintain alignment with the organization’s health and safety strategic priorities consistent with the philosophy, goals, and objectives of IH.

• In the context of the Health and Safety Management System (HSMS), provides guidance to the organization for meeting and exceeding regulatory compliance by:
o Coaching and guiding leadership, management, human resources, and appropriate site personnel during site-based implementation of OHS programs and regulation requirements.
o Participates in the development of site policies and procedures relating to OHS issues by interpreting WorkSafeBC (WSBC) and other legislated requirements, researching current literature and analyzing statistics, develops tools, guidelines, and training resources to support sites and department-based implementation of regional and corporate OHS program policies and procedures.
o Develops and provides reports as requested.

• Provides technical OHS advice and guidance to Managers on interpretation of regulations, application of safety procedures and standards of practice, appropriate intervention, and/or preventative measures.

• Monitors and/or audits worksite safety activities to identify trends and provides appropriate recommendations to management to correct unsafe and hazardous conditions and/or processes.

• Supports site leadership with:
o OHS Training requirements.
o WSBC inspections, directives, and orders.
o The development of quality Notice of Compliance responses.
o WSBC High Risk Strategy.
o Monitoring and tracking completion of compliance agreement action items.
o Corporate annual OHS program requirements.

• Provides, coordinates, supports, and monitors the provision of OHS training and education to workers, site leads, and/or Managers/supervisors.

• Supports the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees (JOHSC) to full scope of regulatory requirements.

• Ensures the completion of hazard identifications and risk assessments (i.e., Violence, Safe Patient Handling, First Aid, Biological etc.).

• Monitors, audits, and evaluates the effectiveness of OHS programs and reports findings to WHS Leadership.

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Interior Health strives to create an environment where you enjoy the work you do, the place where you work, and the people around you. Together, we create great workplaces. Apply today

Honouring Interior Health’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation and the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA), and Pursuant to Section 42 of the BC Human Rights Code, preferential consideration and/or hiring will be given to qualified applicants who self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit).

Qualfications
Education, Training and Experience
• A Bachelor’s degree in a health-related and/or occupational health and safety discipline.
• Five to seven years of recent, related experience working in a healthcare environment, including, change management, quality improvement experience, and experience with large-scale organizational change efforts.
• Demonstrated knowledge related to prevention of violence in the workplace and ergonomics.
• Or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

Skills and Abilities
• Working knowledge of BC Occupational Health and Safety Regulation and the Workers Compensation Act.
• Ability to apply Health and Safety Management System concepts/systems approach.
• Knowledge of change management principles and methodologies.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Team player and ability to work with and through others at all levels of the organization.
• Excellent active listening skills.
• Problem solving and root cause identification skills.
• Strong analytic and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to influence others and move toward a common vision or goal.
• A valid BC Driver’s license as local and provincial travel is required.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.
• Intermediate knowledge with Microsoft products such as Word, Excel, and Power Point.