Safety Officer

Job Description:

The Calvert County Department of Public Works is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Safety Officer to join our team. This role offers the opportunity to make a direct impact by promoting safe work environments and ensuring compliance across all county departments. The ideal candidate will be well-versed in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and other Microsoft products to prepare reports, maintain accurate safety records, track training and compliance data, and share important safety information with staff countywide.

Develops, implements, and coordinates occupational health and safety programs for Calvert County to encourage safe working habits and environments and reduce risk/liability for the county. The work involves work site inspections to identify and resolve safety issues. Provides required safety training for county workers. The Safety Officer works under the general supervision of the Buildings and Grounds Division Chief.

Essential Job Functions

Develops, implements, and coordinates occupational health and safety programs within all county departments; serves as technical expert on applicable federal, state, and local occupational health and safety laws, rules, and regulations; disseminates health and safety information to departments and employees.

Analyzes injury/accident reports to determine safety issues and trends, investigates safety concerns, recommends corrective action, and ensures implementation of corrective plans. Provides assistance in the development of programs designed to reduce the incidence of job-related accidents and illnesses; monitors the effectiveness of safety programs.

Plans, implements and delivers safety training programs for county employees such as forklift certifications, confined spaces safety and gas monitoring, lock out/tag out, blood borne pathogens, self-contained breathing apparatus; fit testing for respiratory protection; identifies and acquires necessary training and informational materials; develops and maintains required record keeping for safety and health programs.

Oversees the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) contract and work with Community Resources staff to ensure ADA compliance is up to date and projects/repairs are completed and documented.

Ensures safety equipment, precautionary devices, flags, sign barricades and other safety items are available and in use at all times; inspects equipment regularly and recommends replacements as needed.

Coordinates annual inspections of all county occupied facilities in accordance with Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) workplace requirements; performs spot inspections.

Coordinates routine fire/evacuation drills and updates evacuation maps for county buildings.

Responds to employee concerns on occupational health and safety issues; promotes better occupational health and safety practices; reviews, develops, and recommends procedural changes when necessary.

Evaluates hazardous conditions and practices and develops hazard control practices and programs; performs safety audits; advises management on solutions.

Reviews worker’s compensation claims for corrective action.

Leads monthly Safety Committee meetings; maintains safety logs and related files; prepares educational and public informational material; attends a variety of meetings related to safety.

Reviews and updates to the County Risk Management and Safety Manual. Drafts and implements internal safety policies.

Other Duties

Performs related work as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (These are pre-employment KSA that apply only to Essential Job Functions.)

Knowledge of--

• Principles and practices relating to occupational safety, risk analysis, MOSH/OSHA and accident prevention.

• Applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations regarding employee safety and workers compensation.

• Common occupational and environmental health hazards.

• Loss control methods, principles, and techniques.

Ability to--

• Conduct effective safety/loss control inspections and accident investigations.

• Identify problems and potential loss situations and make appropriate recommendations.

• Speak publicly.

• Establish and maintain effective record keeping systems.

• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.