HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SPECIALIST

Code: 07953 Local Competitive

Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.

Definition

Under direction, supervises and coordinates an assigned staff responding to emergencies relating to the release or discovery of hazardous materials into the environment for the purpose of protecting public health, safety, welfare, and the environment; may act as site liaison with federal, state, local, or other government authorities with regard to site activities; does related work as required.

Examples of work

• Under direction, responds to, administers, or supervises a team of technicians responding to hazardous materials emergencies on a 24 hour, 7-day a week basis.
• Supervises the emergency response measures such as plugging, patching, or using other measures to prevent damage to public health, safety, welfare, and the environment resulting from releases or potential releases of hazardous substances and materials.
• Implements safety rules and regulations.
• Plans, organizes, and assigns the work of the organizational unit and evaluates employee performance and conduct, enabling the effective recommendation of the hiring, firing, promoting, and disciplining of subordinates.
• Participates in meetings, hearings, seminars, conferences, training sessions, and other gatherings associated with assigned duties.
• Supervises the maintenance of files, equipment, vehicles, and program facilities.
• Takes decisive action without undue delay.
• Supervises the utilization of field monitoring equipment to assess enviornmental conditions for potential health and safety hazards in a hazardous environment.
• Assists in the preparation and development of detailed specifications for vehicles, equipment, supplies, and materials required by the program for hazardous materials containment.
• Prepares correspondence and reports in the course of official duties.
• Maintains constant contact with the county's Centralized Communications Center during emergency situations.
• Implements policies and procedures for responding to hazardous mateials emergencies.
• Supervises the inspection of sites to determine compliance with existing hazardous materials, rules, and regulations and makes recommendations for compliance.
• Provides technical advice to staff, peers, or management.
• Supervises the completion of investigative and incident reports regarding hazardous materials emergencies.
• Reviews and evaluates incident reports of staff of lower rank.
• Trains lower level employees on the job.
• Monitors the efficiency and effectiveness of the program.
• Authorizes the overtime work of assigned staff as required for staff training and response.
• Maintains an assuring and calming attitude during periods of stress and emergency.
• Maintains and, as required, supervises the maintenance of essential records.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and computerized information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Requirements

Applicants must show completion of: Eighty (80) hour Level 3 Haz-Mat Technician training Sixteen (16) hour Level 5 On Scene Incident Commander training and Advanced Incident Command System ICS-400

Course must be in compliance with any one of the following: National Fire Protection Association 471 standard; revised NFPA 472 standard; 473 standard New Jersey State Police and Health Administration Regulations 29 CFR 1910-1206(q) 6ii United States Department of Transportation

Experience

Six (6) years of experience responding to and containing releases, spills, or other incidents of exposure to hazardous materials including those involving potential acute hazards to public health or environmental contamination.

Such situations will include, but not be limited to, all reports of spills, discharges, and other releases into the environment of oil, petroleum products, and other hazardous materials from any source or cause including pipeline or tank ruptures, train derailments, highway accidents, deliberate illegal dumping of waste (whether free-flowing or drummed), and releases from residential, commercial, government, and industrial sites.

<b>SUBSTITUTIONS</b>

Applicants who possess an Associate's degree from an accredited college with a major course of study in Biological, Chemical, Environmental, Fire or Physical Science, or Engineering or a minimum of 32 semester hour credits in the areas listed may be substituted for two (2) years of required experience.

<b>OR</b>

Applicants who possess a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college with a major course of study in Biological, Chemical, Environmental, Fire or Physical Science, or Engineering may substitute this education for four (4) years of the required experience.

<b>SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS</b>:

Appointees will be required to carry a personal paging device and must be able to respond to hazardous materials emergencies on a 24 hour, 7-day a week basis.

Appointees will be required to participate in the department's medical surveillance and physical fitness conditioning program pursuant to OSHA Regulation 29 CFR 1910-120 (f).

Appointees will be required to obtain a special driver's license from the New Jersey Division of Motor Vehicles to operate the type of vehicles assigned to the program within six (6) months of being hired.

License

Appointees will be required to possess a valid New Jersey driver's license.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of the Incident Command System as it relates to containment of hazardous materials.
• Knowledge of the principals, techniques, and methodologies utilized in emergency response field activites associated with hazardous materials incidents which pose the potential for public health and/or environmental impacts with particular emphasis on those involving potentially acute hazards.
• Knowledge of the relationship and coordination required at state, county, and local levels, as well as with other intra and interstate and federal agencies concerned with or responsible for emergency response programs relating to the discharge and/or release of hazardous materials and/or substances.
• Knowledge of principles and techniques of supervision.
• Knowledge of record keeping procedures.
• Ability to interpret and apply federal, state, county, and local laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and standards governing releases and containment of hazardous materials and emergency response.
• Ability to use and direct the use of specialized chemical protective clothing, self-contained breathing apparatus, and other personal safety equipment.
• Ability to maintain an assuring and calming attitude during periods of stress and emergency, and to respond to emergency situations with clear and accurate decisions.
• Ability to function within an assigned role in the Incident Command System.
• Ability to implement and supervise the implementation of safety rules.
• Ability to organize technical, administrative, and supervisory work, and analyze problems and work methods to maintain response capability on a 24 hour, 7-day a week basis.
• Ability to schedule and organize work activities for others.
• Ability to identify problems in the administration or coordination of programs, plans, or projects.
• Ability to prepare clear, accurate, and concise correspondence in the course of official duties.
• Ability to keep accurate records.
• Ability to maintain physical fitness, as required, to perform the essential functions of the job. Fitness shall be determined by a specialized medical physician and as established by applicable health and safety regulations.
• Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

Appointees may be required to attend training for additional certifications in a specified timeframe as determined by the appointing authority.

Such training may include but not be limited to: NFPA 1001, Basic Firefighting or equivalent New Jersey Emergency Medical Technician Certification or equivalent

The responsibility for ensuring that employees possess the required motor vehicle license, commensurate with the class and type of vehicles they operate, rests with the Appointing Authority.