Water Safety Officer

Position Summary

Under the general direction of the Water Services Special Projects Manager, and in coordination with Water Services Department Division Managers and Superintendents, ensures all Water Services Department employees are working in a safe environment and are following all of the correct safety procedures and policies.

The position commonly entails collaborating with Division Managers, Superintendents, and Supervisors in locating sources of potential hazards in the workplace or on project sites, including toxic materials, potential electrocution, and structural threats to human life, and finding ways to reduce or eliminate such hazardous threat from the sites.

Safety officers spend a lot of their time on or around job construction sites to ensure safety. They must be knowledgeable and abide by all relevant safety policy and procedures.

Their work description also involves developing, enforcing, and implementing policies that reduce the risk of accidents and any other tasks assigned by their organizations.

• Develops, evaluates, implements and enforces Water Services Department workplace safety programs, strategies, and procedures.
• Develops and implements a Water Services Department safety training program and ensures that all employees receive adequate safety training as it pertains to their job.
• Conducts routine and random verifications of personal protection equipment (PPE), tools and equipment to ensure they are in a safe working condition.
• Conducts environmental and safety audits and inspections of workplace or project sites to ensure compliance with all applicable safety policies, procedures, or regulations.
• Understands all Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) policies, procedures, rules, and regulations and ensures that all Water Services Department employees understand and are in compliance with OSHA standards.
• Become certified to train Water Services in Traffic Control, Confined Space, and other OSHA policies as required.
• Develops, evaluates, and implement an Emergency Operations Plan for each division within the Water Services Department.
• Responds to employees’ safety concerns.
• Promotes a professional climate within the department and the business community.
• Represents the Water Services Department on various City emergency and/or safety committees.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Typical office environment with comfortable working conditions using standard office equipment. Duties also involve fieldwork with exposure to outdoor weather conditions. Moderate physical activity. Required to push, pull, or lift medium heavy weights. Uncomfortable working positions such as stooping, crouching, and bending. May have a few disagreeable elements such as appearance of workplace, poor ventilation, or uneven temperature. Requires light physical activity exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or 10 pounds of force frequently.

May be exposed to discomfort associated with constant use of computers. Intermittent exposure to stress as a result of human behavior, human error, work deadlines, and the demands of multiple complex projects. Work includes pressure generated by deadlines, volume of work, and frequent interruptions.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education:
  
  High school diploma or equivalent.
• Experience:
  
  Minimum of two (2) years full time experience with a water and/or wastewater utility or experience in a similar field, with experience in conducting safety training for other employees and conducting safety inspections of tools, equipment, and the workplace environment.

• Must possess a valid driver license. A valid Utah Driver License must be obtained within 60 days of hire and be maintained throughout employment.

• Recent developments, current literature, and sources of information pertaining to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) policies, procedures, rules, and regulations.
• Safety regulations, safe work practices, and safety equipment applicable to work.
• Principles and practices of management and…