Senior Safety Officer

SENIOR SAFETY OFFICER

Hospital/Clinic Safety and Training Section

1911520

Your Role:

This staff position within Vanderbilt Environmental Health and Safety provides direct customer support to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Supporting the Assistant Director, the position is responsible for ensuring that the facilities maintain compliance with the standards promulgated by The Joint Commission, CAP, OSHA/TOSHA, TDEC, EPA and other applicable regulatory and accrediting agencies. This position will provide primary support for the Respiratory Protection Program and the VEHS's responsibilities for the VUMC Industrial Hygiene Program. This position requires an individual with personal initiative and motivation to accomplish tasks without direct supervision and oversight. This position requires someone with a wide breadth of general safety knowledge and good communication skills.

1. Respiratory Protection Program Oversight: Assumes primary responsibility for the Respiratory Protection program: assists safety tech with development of schedule, development of reports, oversight of data input, etc.

2. Industrial Hygiene: Schedules and assists with responsibility for the VEHS duties with respect to the VUMC Industrial Hygiene Program. Performs hazardous materials monitoring (environmental and personal monitoring) and communicates results to applicable managers. Provides follow-up for corrective action plans

3. Assists with development and distribution of safety metrics, safety reports, and risk assessments pertinent to the HCST section.

4. Provides direction/assistance to other safety officers as needed.

5. Assists in the development and implementation of safety policies/procedures, safety education, and hazard surveillance programs for Vanderbilt Medical Center and on- and off-site associated clinics.

6. Assists with responsibility for the overall fire/safety plan in the hospitals and clinics. Assists with fire drills and emergency preparedness drills within the VUMC hospitals and clinics

7. Performs Indoor Air Quality evaluations using standard assessment tools, reporting results to applicable managers.

8. Participates on various associated committees, subcommittees and task forces by appointment; provides recommendations and assists with corrective actions.

9. Works collaboratively with other VEHS staff, Facilities Management, Environmental Services and other key departments to assist VUMC in meeting federal, state and local requirements, Joint Commission and OSHA/TOSHA standards.

10. Provides technical assistance and support to various hospital departments in the development, review, and evaluation of departmental-level safety programs.

11. Presents departmentally specific safety information and training for new employees and re-training for current employees as required.

12. Participates in Emergency Preparedness and response activities to include training activities, drills and plan activations.

13. Carries the VEHS 24-hr emergency pager in a rotation that includes all exempt staff for on-campus emergencies.

14. Provides VEHS support for the construction safety program; participating in construction safety surveys, project permitting, policy development, training, and problem resolution.

15. Responds to emergencies as appropriate for training and assignment within VEHS and needs of the organization.

16. Other duties relevant to the Hospital/Clinic Safety and Training Program, as assigned.

17. Assumes responsibility as team lead for at least one EOC survey team, assisting with scheduling, surveillance and follow-up as required.

18. Participates in regulatory inspections as needed.

COMMUNICATION
Working Environment
Job related skills
MINIMUM EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

Internal: Frequent contact with all levels of administration, faculty, staff, students, visitors and patients including the presentation of information where detailed explanation is required to obtain cooperation.

External: Frequent contact with consultants and vendors.

Physical Requirements

Be able to lift 50 lbs. Must be willing and able to wear required personal protective equipment including protective clothing and gloves, eye/face protection, and, in some cases, negative pressure respiratory protection.

Position requires entry into areas where biological and infectious agents, hazardous chemicals, and ionizing radiation may be used.

Applicant must possess excellent written and verbal communication skills for effective report writing, training, and consulting. Must be familiar with common computer programs including, Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Access.

Bachelors plus 5 years or Masters plus 2 years exp in environmental engineering, public health, occupational health and safety or other appropriate science-related field of study (i.e. chemistry) is required. Experience should be in an environmental, healthcare, or safety related field. Equivalent combination of experience and education accepted.

LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION

Not required but safety/Industrial Hygiene related certification preferred. Experience is considered in lieu of certification.

Click here to learn how we are: Defining Personalized Care