ASSISTANT CHIEF, OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY

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 the direction of a manager in a state department, institution, or agency, administers and directs the work of one or more occupational safety programs involved with Safety and Health Enforcement, consultation or training; supervises staff and work activities; prepares and signs official performance evaluations for subordinate staff; does other related duties as required.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

Knowledge of occupational health and safety hazards. Knowledge of the methods used to develop and implement occupational health and safety programs. Knowledge of loss control, risk assessment, and accident prevention methods and systems. Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and objectives involved in the enforcement of safety and health standards established under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Knowledge of the principles of occupational safety, and health hazard identification and control. Ability to read and interpret OSHA standards, regulations and laws, and apply them to specific situations. Ability to mediate or informally resolve disputes arising from the application of PEOSHA laws or from State Plan administration. Ability to promote safety and health training initiatives . Ability to supervise assigned staff and plan, organize, and implement projects within the unit. Ability to design and implement loss control/accident prevention programs. Ability to address lay and professional groups on safety health problems and programs. Ability to maintain cooperative working relationships with various federal, State, and local officials. Ability to analyze proposed legislation and administrative regulations in the area of public employee safety and health. Ability to administer an occupational safety program. Ability to supervise the reporting, and maintenance of accurate occupational health and safety statistics. Ability to pass a Respirator Medical Clearance Examination, Respirator Fit Test, and maintain the ability to wear an elastomeric half or full-face respirator, if required. Alternative forms of respiratory protection may be used, if recommended by the physician or other licensed health care provider (PLHCP). Ability to work in potentially hazardous environments while utilizing required personal protective equipment (PPE). Ability to pass a fitness for duty medical examination, if required. Ability to lift up to 50 pounds. Ability to effectively negotiate standard industrial walking-working surfaces such as stairways, ladders, catwalks, scaffolding, as necessary to access all areas requiring inspection. Ability to provide appropriate assignments, instructions, and supervision to professional and clerical staff. Ability to organize a statewide program of inspections designed to enforce New Jersey's occupational safety and health laws. Ability to prepare a budget for an occupational safety and health program. Ability to initiate corrective action for violations. Ability to prepare and supervise the preparation of clear and accurate reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Ability to direct the establishment and maintenance of records and files. Ability to learn how 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, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform 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 if they can perform the 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

The examples of work or this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed. EXAMPLES OF WORK: Administers a statewide occupational safety program, applying uniform standards, rules, and regulations. Executes program priorities. Develops and designs internal methods to monitor and evaluates the quality of the staff and services. Interprets OSHA standards, regulations, and laws; advises staff of changes to ensure uniform application. Develops and implements public relations programs to notify employers of safety and health enforcement, consultation, and/or training programs. Initiates corrective action, when employers fail to alleviate a serious occupational safety hazard or violate provisions of the Worker and Community Right-to-Know Act. Ensures planning and implementation of appropriate staff training on safety and health issues. Addresses meetings of lay and professional personnel regarding safety and health programs and problems common to places of employment. Prepares budget and reimbursement requests and evaluates program needs and available funding in accordance with guidelines. Works in conjunction with other state departments to cooperate on special emphasis programs. Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring firing, promoting, demoting and/or disciplining of employees. Prepares, and supervises the preparation of, clear, accurate, and timely reports containing findings, conclusions, or recommendations on enforcement, training, and/or consultative matters. Provides assignments and instructions to employees and supervises the performance of their work. Develops and implements promotional and outreach activities to market occupational health and safety programs. Establishes case monitoring or tracking systems to monitor work and staff. Oversees the development of customized and general training programs to ensure that subject area and content is in conformance with all OSHA and/or PEOSHA Standards. Oversees the establishment of hazard corrections dates and follow up activities for verification of abatement activities. Plans and establishes programs for the processing of employer, employee, or labor representative appeals for compliance orders, variances, or other PEOSHA administrative actions or alleged employer acts of discrimination to the Commissioner or the PEOSHA Review Commission. Works with labor and management to mediate or informally resolve disputes arising from state plan administration, compliance orders, variance insurances, or the application of PEOSHA laws or rules. Administers a program for the collection of fines on public entities in violation of the Public Employees Safety and Health Act. Reviews requests for variances from the requirements of laws, rules, and regulations for which the office is responsible. Establishes and coordinates safety and health complaint processing and tracking mechanisms in cooperation with the Department of Health. Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office or related units. REQUIREMENTS: NOTE: Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience. Eight (8) years of professional experience in in the identification, analysis and/or solution of workplace safety hazards involving the application of Federal OSHA safety standards, two (2) years of which may include mine safety inspections or safety and health training. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and four (4) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, two (2) years of which may include mine safety inspections or safety and health training. OR Possession of a master's degree in industrial hygiene, industrial or chemical engineering, the physical, environment or biological sciences or occupational health; and seven (7) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, two (2) years of which may include mine safety inspections or safety and health training. Appointees will be required to complete a specialized training course for Compliance Safety and Health Officers conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. "Professional experience" refers to work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession's principles, concepts, theories, and practices; and is performed with the authority to act according to one's own judgment and make accurate and informed decisions. LICENSE: Appointee will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.