SAFETY CONSULTANT

BASIC PURPOSE:

Positions in this job family are assigned responsibilities involving the administration of an agency safety program or providing consultative services to the public or private sector in planning, developing, implementing and administering occupational health and safety programs.  This includes promoting the adoption by agency management and safety personnel of new policies, safety equipment and programs directed toward reducing accidents and improving safety awareness; preparing and delivering public group presentations pertaining to health and safety practices; and  providing guidance, assistance and training to other safety personnel in the performance of assigned tasks.

TYPICAL FUNCTIONS:

The functions within this job family will vary by level, but may include the following:
•    Plans, organizes, conducts and maintains occupational health and safety programs for the prevention of industrial, motor vehicle and/or workplace accidents within an agency or business.
•    Prepares and revises safety rules for the operation of equipment, for classes of work such as construction and maintenance, and other work areas where safety hazards exists.
•    Inspects facilities and work in progress to determine where hazards exist; makes on-site corrections of flagrant safety violations and hazardous conditions; stops work in progress in extremely dangerous situations; determines action to be taken; and prepares reports of findings and action taken.
•    Reviews publications, surveys and programs of other organizations; examines and evaluates new safety devices and equipment; attends local, regional or national safety conferences and recommends changes in agency safety programs to lower accident frequency or severity; recommends acquisition of new equipment or modification of existing equipment which will eliminate or minimize occupational hazards.
•    Provides technical training in the operation of sophisticated detection equipment and in the identification of actual and potential hazards and dangers; and serves as a specialized training instructor in areas such as defensive driving and first aid.
•    Provides advice and guidance to site and agency managers regarding inspection procedures and statutory regulations; provides pertinent OSHA materials to employers; makes related referrals and recommendations as indicated.
•    Investigates workplace fatalities, other accidents and complaints made against employers.
•    Operates state-of-the-art equipment and measuring devices, such as receptacle tension testers, voltage detectors, ground fault circuit interrupter testers, electrical continuity testers, air velocity meters, pressure gauges and other equipment and machinery needed to detect safety hazards.
•    Conducts safety analyses with the use of pre-calibrated equipment; collects data by recognized sampling techniques; prepares and sends filter samples for laboratory analysis; reviews laboratory results.
•    Performs a variety of risk management functions including evaluations and recommendations pertaining to automobile operations, liability exposure, property and casualty.

LEVEL DESCRIPTORS:

The Safety Consultant job family consists of four levels which are distinguished by the complexity of assignments, the size and scope of the program, the level of expertise required to perform the duties assigned, and the responsibility assigned for providing leadership to others.

Level I:                Code:  J31A            Salary Band:  H

This is the basic level of the job family where incumbents perform routine entry level work in a training status to build their skills in planning and conducting workplace inspections and programs related to occupational health and safety for public or private sector employers.  In this role, incumbents will perform beginning-level tasks in the identification of mechanical, structural or other hazards which result in physical injury to the worker or damage to the workplace or in the identification of physical hazards and/or potential safety hazards which would impair workers’ health or safety.
 
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required at this level include knowledge of occupational health and safety standards and procedures; of safety devices and protective equipment; of federal and state laws and agency regulations and policies governing agency operations and regulating worker’s compensation; of safety consultation methods and analysis techniques and procedures; of report writing; of personnel practices and principles; and of public relations.  Ability is required to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; to follow written and oral instructions; to review and analyze technical information; to read and comprehend policies and procedures, manuals, rules and regulations; to detect hazards and recommend remedial action; to analyze situations and formulate effective courses of action; and to express ideas clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of a bachelor’s degree in geology, safety, engineering or a closely related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience, substituting one year of experience in industrial relations, safety, safety inspection, safety education, engineering or risk management for each year of the required education.

Level II:                Code:  J31B            Salary Band:  I

This is the career level of the job family where employees are assigned duties and responsibilities at the full-performance level and perform a wide variety of tasks involving planning, organizing and implementing an occupational health and safety hazards program which is small in size and scope.  Some positions may be assigned responsibility for conducting workplace inspections as a Safety Consultant or Loss Prevention Specialist and/or providing assistance to employers in the prevention of industrial or other accidents.  Employees will conduct comprehensive industrial and/or other workplace inspections to identify actual or potential safety hazards and other dangers.  Inspections are performed in either public or private sector workplaces according to the division to which the position is assigned.  Tasks are performed independently and are concerned with the identification and correction of mechanical, structural or other hazards which result in physical injury to the worker or damage to the workplace.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required at this level include those identified in Level I plus demonstrated ability to conduct work place inspections and identify and correct potential safety hazards.

Education and Experience requirements for this level include those identified in Level I plus two additional years of qualifying experience.

Level III:            Code:  J31C            Salary Band:  J

At this level of this job family employees are assigned responsibilities involving advanced level professional work related to an occupational and health safety program.  This may include responsibilities such as directing or coordinating a safety program of limited to moderate size and scope, independent responsibility for planning and implementing safety programs at an institution or facility, or similar responsibilities.  Direction or supervision will be provided to assigned staff as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required at this level include those identified in Level II plus additional knowledge of training techniques; and of supervisory principles and practices.  Ability is required to anticipate, identify and resolve safety problems; and direct the work of others.

Education and Experience requirements at this level include those identified in Level II plus one additional year of qualifying experience.

Level IV:            Code:  J31D            Salary Band:  K

At this level of this job family employees are assigned responsibilities for directing and coordinating an occupational safety and health program which is large in size and scope.  This may include programs in large agencies, programs involving statewide functions or positions, or other similar programs.  It may also involve direction or oversight of facility or institutional programs, risk management analysis and planning and similar activities.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required at this level include those identified in Level III plus the ability to administer a large occupational health and safety program.

Education and Experience requirements at this level include those identified in Level III plus one additional year of qualifying experience.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants must be willing and able to fulfill all job-related travel normally associated with this position.

Some positions may require possession of a valid Oklahoma Driver’s license in order to operate state owned vehicles.