Penn State Job Catalog

The defined natural career progression within or between job profiles.

Occupational Health and Safety

The Occupational Safety Specialist is responsible for promoting and ensuring a safe work environment; identifies workplace hazards, implements safety programs, conducts inspections, and ensures compliance with local, state, and federal safety regulations within a work unit; works closely with management and employees to reduce risks, prevent accidents, and foster a culture of safety; serves as a liaison for the work unit to the Office of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS).

• Conduct regular workplace inspections and risk assessments
• Develop, implement, and maintain safety policies and procedures for a work unit, in collaboration with (EHS)
• Ensure compliance with OSHA and other regulatory standards
• Investigate workplace incidents, accidents, and near-misses; prepare detailed reports and recommend corrective actions
• Implement and manage injury and illness prevention programs by performing root cause and failure analysis for incidents
• Conduct ergonomic evaluations
• Ensure regulatory compliance for safety programs through auditing and surveying work processes
• Monitor workplace conditions and recommend improvements to reduce risks
• Deliver safety training programs and educational workshops for employees
• Implement Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) programs, including selecting appropriate PPE, ensuring proper usage, conducting fit testing and training, and monitoring compliance to protect employees from workplace hazards
• Maintain safety records, reports, and documentation
• Analyze injury data to determine trends and set focus on injury prevention strategies
• Collaborate with management to promote a culture of safety and continuous improvement
• Stay up to date on changes in safety regulations and industry best practices
• May supervise staff members, including hiring, development, and performance management

Level:

– Senior Supervisor

Base Description:

– Supervises direct reports, but primarily completes activities, tasks, and/or projects of a functional nature.

Level Summary:

– Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge to perform own work; spends majority of time on tasks related to own job responsibilities. May demonstrate subject matter expertise. Demonstrates intermediate to advanced planning, organizing, directing, and facilitating skills. Demonstrates the ability to coach assigned employees. Assigns and reviews completed work to verify accuracy, quality, and adherence to professional standards. Trains, coaches, mentors, and motivates staff. Anticipates potential problems, issues, and opportunities; researches and recommends solutions within defined policies. May develop creative recommendations for solving problems.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

– Typically oversees at least 2 full–time direct reports or equivalent team of part–time and/or student workers (for Professional track, performs work at the Senior Professional level or higher)

Fiscal Responsibilities:

– May validate and pay invoices
– Monitors and tracks budgets for specific area and/or grant(s)
– May assist in planning and forecasting budgets

Problem Solving:

– Encounters moderately complex problems
– Applies general precedents and practices and specialized knowledge and skills to resolve problems
– Understands benefits, limitations and impact of potential solutions
– Anticipates potential problems and recommends possible solutions within general guidelines

Independence of Action:

– Works independently on moderately complex work assignments, reviews progress, and evaluates results
– Organizes work of direct reports and sets team priorities
– Reviews the work of others to verify accuracy, quality, and adherence to professional standards

Communication and Collaboration:

– Communicates internally within working unit and the University
– Communicates with external audiences for scheduling/coordination
– May communicate with external audiences for business purposes
– Collaborates closely with team members; may interact with other staff outside of area
– Utilizes a communication style that is appropriate for a given situation
– Interprets and communicates information, ideas and instructions clearly, accurately and persuasively both verbally and in written materials intended for distribution

• Comp Grade – 10
• Minimum – $65,508.00
• MidPoint – $80,244.00
• Maximum – $94,980.00

• Accident investigation
• Attention To Detail
• Data Analysis
• Organizational training
• Regulatory compliance
• Risk analysis