Health and Safety Specialist

The City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities is seeking a qualified Health and Safety Specialist to ensure a safe and compliant work environment by identifying potential hazards, conducting risk assessments, and recommending effective control measures.

About the role

The anticipated hiring range is $64,621 - $82,979.

The incumbent will develop, implement, and maintain health and safety policies and procedures in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations, including OSHA standards. This position leads workplace inspections, incident investigations, and compliance audits, ensuring documentation and corrective actions. Additionally, the role designs and delivers employee training programs to promote safety awareness, coordinates emergency response plans, and collaborates across departments to foster a culture of safety. The incumbent maintains accurate safety records, tracks performance metrics, and stays informed on emerging regulations and best practices in occupational health and safety.

This is an essential position requiring the selected candidate to report to work during emergencies, inclement weather, or natural disasters. The role includes 24-hour on-call duty, as well as weekend and holiday call duty as scheduled.

Responsibilities

• Conducting regular workplace inspections and hazard/risk assessments to identify and control potential safety issues
• Developing, implementing, and maintaining health and safety policies, procedures, and programs in compliance with OSHA and other regulatory standards
• Leading investigations into workplace incidents, accidents, and near-misses, including root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions
• Coordinating and delivering health and safety training sessions and onboarding programs for employees at all levels
• Maintaining accurate records related to incidents, training, inspections, audits, and regulatory compliance
• Assisting in the development and execution of emergency response plans, including organizing drills and training staff on emergency procedures
• Collaborating with management, supervisors, and employees to foster a strong safety culture throughout the organization
• Monitoring safety performance indicators and recommending continuous improvements based on data and trends
• Staying up to date with changes in health and safety regulations, standards, and industry best practices
• Supporting internal and external audits, inspections, and regulatory visits

Requirements

Minimum Training and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in occupational safety, safety management, environmental management, or a related field
• 2 years' experience in the occupational safety field
• May require additional training such as Workers Compensation, 40-hour HAZWOPER training courses, etc.
• An equivalent combination of training and experience (as approved by the department) may be used to meet the minimum qualifications

Licensing, Certifications, and/or Other Special Requirements:

• A valid Driver's License with a satisfactory driving record, and acquisition of a valid Commonwealth of Virginia Driver's License within 30 days of hire

Skills

Knowledge (some combination of the following):

• Occupational and general safety principles, processes, and procedures
• OSHA regulations and compliance, such as the use and placement of gas monitors, lanyards and harnesses, respirators, and fall protection equipment
• Risk management and process safety management guidelines
• OSHA 300 log, including understanding of recordable, lost workday, and lost time injuries
• Health and occupational safety machines, tools, and equipment such as hard hats, confined space permits, fall protection equipment, automated external defibrillators (AED's), and hemostatic dressings
• OSHA reporting procedures

Skills (some combination of the following):

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
• Oral and written communication
• Public speaking/presentations and training
• Project management

Abilities (some combination of the following):

• Work on multiple projects at a time
• Recognize an IDLH (Immediately Dangerous to Life & Health) condition and address the situation with authorized and affected personnel
• Follow directions
• Function independently with minimal supervision
• Pay attention to detail in writing and proofreading
• Manage timelines and deadlines
• Problem-solve

Benefits

• Virginia Retirement System (VRS)
• Language Incentive
• Referral Bonus
• Tuition Assistance Program

Pay

The anticipated hiring range is $64,621 - $82,979.

Environmental Hazards

• Exposure to travel within and outside the City of Richmond
• Exposure to hazardous physical conditions such as mechanical parts, electrical currents, vibrations, etc.
• Atmospheric conditions such as fumes, odors, dusts, gases, and poor ventilation
• Inadequate lighting and intense noise
• Environmental hazards such as disruptive people, imminent danger, and a threatening environment

Physical Requirements

Due to the nature of work assignments, incumbents must be able to perform detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks, with frequent interruptions and under time constraints. While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:

• Walk, stand, talk, see, and hear
• Climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, push, pull, lift, feel, grasp, or use hands, wrists, or fingers in a repetitive motion

This classification is considered light work (exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects), but may differ based on area of focus.