Safety Specialist

**Job Posting**
- Under the direction of the Team Lead - Corporate Safety, the Safety Specialist provides leadership and technical support in the implementation and maintenance of the Municipality’s Occupational Health and Safety program. The Specialist provides expertise in assessing risks in the work environment, designing health and safety programs to eliminate or control hazards and to prevent illness and injury in the workplace. The Specialist enforces established workplace safety procedures and has authority to halt or suspend activities that pose unreasonable risk. The Specialist collaborates with the Human Resource Business Partner to identify client needs and to provide solutions.
- **DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES**
- Responsible for development and implementation of corporate procedures and safe work practices (SWPs)
- Promotes leading safety strategies and practices by providing advice and guidance to all levels of management on the interpretation, implementation, and administration of health and safety legislation, policy, and other related standards and codes of practice
- Identifies actual and potential hazards in the workplace which could result in injury or loss of life and leads the implementation of best practice and standardization of programs to eliminate or control hazards in the workplace to consistently prevent injury across the organization
- Assumes responsibility as Corporate Lead Investigator for high risk/high exposure accidents in consultation with Corporate Safety Team Lead. Assist with other incident investigations as required.
- Determines scope of the safety audit process in consultation with managers and business unit representatives to develop the appropriate format and process to be used
- Monitors the adoption, effectiveness, and compliance of safety program by coordinating and participating in safety assessments and audits
- Conducts industry research to provide business unit Managers and Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees (JOHSCs) with current industry standard / best practices
- Functions as a liaison between Municipality and external government agencies such as the Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration
- Analyzes statistical information on first aid, near miss incidents, critical accidents, and injuries to provide information on trends and develop strategies for corrective action and the elimination of potential hazards
- Analyzes trends and changes to health and safety legislation and standards, in order to anticipate their impact on the organization
- Monitors the operation of the organization’s JOHCs and provide guidance and direction to ensure their effectiveness and compliance with the requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and function as a liaison between management and the committee to facilitate the resolution of issues and concerns; act as a resource to the JOHSCs in the investigation of safety complaints
- Conduct site assessments and needs analysis in relation to specific health and safety concerns; research, review, and evaluate training resources and options available from different suppliers and service delivery organizations
- Educates employees at all levels of the organization on new policies and delivers training, presentations and seminars on safety strategy and tools that will be useful in meeting each business unit’s safety needs
- Using the Environment, Health & Safety Management software, prepares reports; analyzes organizational trends; and keeps system information current to ensure accurate data
- Respond to emergency situations as a safety representative under the Emergency Management Organization chain of command

**QUALIFICATIONS**
**Education & Experience**
- Minimum of 5 years of related health and safety experience with at least 3 years leading, developing, and integrating health & safety programs
- University degree, diploma or certificate in occupational health, safety, or a related field such as engineering, biology, or chemistry
- Canadian Registered Safety Professional designation is an asset

**Technical/Job Specific Knowledge and Abilities**
- Demonstrated experience working in a unionized organization
- Demonstrated ability in developing and preparing correspondence and reports
- Proficiency using Microsoft Office Applications and employee health and safety on-line systems and workplace testing equipment
- Demonstrated ability to communicate understandable safety instructions and concerns to employees
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively within a team environment maintaining productive working relationships

**Security Clearance Requirements**:Applicants may be required to complete an employment security screening check.- **COMPETENCIES**:Valuing Diversity, Analytical Thinking, Communications, Customer Service, Teamwork & Cooperation, Organizing & Planning, Organizational Awareness, Values & Ethics, Conflict Management, Risk Management
- **WORK STATUS**:Permanent, Full-t